The children of a Nepali migrant couple in Kerala have achieved remarkable academic success, defying linguistic and economic challenges to secure full A+ grades in the SSLC examination.

Debi Kami and Naveen Kami, children of Naribankami and Eshwari Kami, who migrated from Rukum district in Nepal nearly two decades ago, have both excelled in their Class X exams at Chattanchal Higher Secondary school. While Debi secured A+ grades in all subjects last year, her younger brother Naveen repeated the feat this year – testimonies to their resilience and Kerala’s inclusive education system.

The Kami family arrived in Kerala when Debi was only one-year-old, and with no knowledge of Malayalam. Settling in Panayal, the couple took up daily wage work in quarries to sustain their family. Despite financial struggles and language barrier, they remained focussed on their children’s education, communicating in Nepali at home while their children gradually picked up Malayalam at school.

Speaking to The Hindu, Eshwari Kami said the education in Kerala is excellent.

“When I told our family back in Nepal that Naveen scored full A+, they were thrilled. We want our children to continue their education here.”

Teachers at Chattanchal school played a vital role, giving the children individual attention when they initially struggled with Malayalam. Today, the siblings speak fluent Malayalam and Nepali.

Naveen’s achievement is especially remarkable considering his daily routine includes walking two kilometre to reach school and fetching water from a nearby well due to a persistent water shortage at home. A recipient of both the LSS and USS scholarships, Naveen is a member of the Student Police Cadet and aspires to study Computer Science in plus two.

For the past 19 years, the Kami family has lived in a rented home in Panayal village. They plan to take their children to visit their ancestral home in Rukum next year – a journey involving a full day’s bus ride from Kathmandu followed by a jeep trip to their remote village.

Despite the distance from their roots and daily hardships, the Kami children have turned adversity into achievement – symbolising the transformative power of education and perseverance.