Despite battling with cancer, Tushar Rishi, from Ranchi, Delhi Public School, scored 95 in English, 95 in physics, 93 in mathematics, 89 in computer and 100 in fine arts in his CBSE Class 12 board examinations, 2017. He has broken shackles and secured a 95% without any additional coaching. Not only this, in spite of missing his 10th class exams and dropping one whole year for his chemotherapy, he made it out in the next year by attaining 10 CGPA in his class 10 board exams. He is also the Author of the book, “The patient patient”, which highlights the story of a boy who has faced various challenges in his treatment of his Bone Cancer and the book has received a lot of appreciation. He is a true inspiration for all of us.
We at Student Stories salute him for his enormous will power and courage.
His mother, Ritu Agarwal, is a professor at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, and father Shashi Bhushan Agarwal works with the state agriculture department.
According to Hindustan Times, Tushar’s mom said :
“He was solely dependent on the classes at school as he did not go to tuition. I am more than happy with his performance. I have seen him battle cancer and I know how difficult it was for him. I hope he stays healthy and achieves all his career goals.”
In conversation with Tushar :
1. When did you get to know that you have Bone Cancer? How did you react at that time?
I was diagnosed in January 2014. The initial shock lasted for quite some time and the first few months I was very down and spent my time in isolation. I just couldn’t believe what was happening to me and what my family had to go through because of me.
The first few months were very bad.
2. You missed out your 10th class exams, how did it affect you? Did it lower your morale?
It did. The fact that I had to drop a year for no fault of mine was very upsetting. The kind of student I was, Academics was everything to me. But with time I realized that School marks and Grades are not everything and there’s much more to life and somehow I coped with the disappointment.
3. Did you go to any coaching or your brilliant result was just an outcome of Self-Study?
No I didn’t go for any coaching because firstly I don’t believe in the whole Coaching Culture and also health wise it wasn’t practical for me.
I studied mostly by myself and some help from my family and relatives or anybody I could find to clear my doubts.
4. Many Cancer Patients fail to get back to what they were before but you did it in and excellent way. How? What are your principles for life?
I think it’s a personal choice and if someone doesn’t want to go back to his normal life, post treatment then that’s okay too, provided he/she is happy at the end of the day.
That’s my basic principle for life, to find joy in whatever we have.
5. What was your schedule? Like how did you manage Studies with simultaneously fighting the disease.
I didn’t have a proper schedule. I just kept on finishing chapters from syllabus and things just fell in place.
I did have health issues as my immunity is a little compromised so I fall sick very easily but I have learned to work with it over time.
6. You have also written the book, “The patient patient”. When did you publish your book? What is it all about?
The book is about my experiences at AIIMS DELHI where I was under treatment for a year. It’s about how a young boy deals with bigger uncertainties in life and how the people he meets in his journey help him get a new perspective towards life. It’s all about family, friends, love and all the beautiful delights of life. I’m glad that West land decided to publish it and from the feedback I have received, I think people have been inspired after reading it.
7. Before and After the chemotherapy, how did your life transform?
I had eleven chemotherapy sessions with a limb salvage surgery in between, so physically the treatment made a huge impact in my life. I can’t run or play. But I’ve learned to adjust and adapt.
8. How did your family and friends support you during this phase of your life?
My family and friends have been my biggest support throughout the journey. Even during the treatment, they never treated me differently from before. My family and all relatives were always there for me.
My friends never lost touch with me.
Also read “16 year old Raghav combats Cancer, Scores 95.8% in ICSE examination“
9. What are your areas of Interest?
I am interested in Reading and Writing, Watching movies and TV series.
10. What are your Career Goals?
I don’t have any goals as such. I just want to end up doing something I love. That’s it.
