Balasore: People of Ganipur under Remuna block in this district are proud of Rehana Khatun (18), a girl of minority community, as she shot to fame after being adjudged winner of a competition on Bhagwad Gita organised by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
She exhibited her in-depth knowledge on the holy book.
Khatun, who pursues Plus-III at Remuna College, emerged first among 2,500 participants in the Gita competition
organised by the local chapter of ISKCON.
By dint of her sheer determination, the girl belonging to a lower middle-class family has not only acquired deep knowledge about the Gita but also about the holy Bible and the holy Quran.
Khatun says she would strive more to gain knowledge on religions.
Majoring in History and Sanskrit, she had developed a keen interest about the Hindu holy book.
When she came to know about the competition, she conveyed her interest to the college authorities to take part in it.
Over 2,500 selected students from 55 colleges took part in the competition held November 5.
She was given a cash reward of Rs 10,000 at Gandhi Smruti Bhawan.
History lecturer of her college, Jayant Kumar Pradhan, said Khatun has an insatiable hunger for religious studies.
Her father Anwar works as a daily wager but despite his poverty meets the education expenses of his daughter, it was learnt.
Anwar says Khatun’s mother Amina Biwi always inspires their daughter to give importance to education. The girl also teaches to some poor students of her village free of cost. PNN