Prachi Nigam Story- The UP board results were on their fifth day. As early as 7:30 in the morning, the school surroundings buzzed with pupils ranging from ninth to twelfth grade.
At dawn, kids lined up. This image came straight from the school grounds. The scholar, Prachi Nigam, stood out among roughly 550,000 high school students on the UP board. Spotting Prachi Nigam, dressed in a white shalwar with a red dupatta, was a moment we’d been eagerly waiting for.
Prachi walked into school, her friends greeting her with smiles. They all knew – today was her interview. The routine had been the same for the past few days at Sita Inter College. This school, situated in the Mehmoodabad area of Sitapur district in UP, buzzed with excitement for over a week.
Because of 19 scholars – Prachi Nigam and Shubham Verma being two of them – they made it to the top in the UP Board. They excelled in both high school and intermediate studies.
All applaud these high achievers, yet Prachi Nigam received some backlash. The reason behind it? Some noticed her short upper lip hair, which is completely normal for biological reasons.
If you don’t top it doesn’t matter
“Observing the negative commentary and the masses, I’ve started to think that maybe fewer marks would have been better,” Prachi reflects. Without a top on, maybe my look wouldn’t be such a focal point for everyone.
“I first noticed my facial hair in high school, and now, people often bring it up.” Prachi’s face sprouted hair more rapidly than her ninth-grade classmates. Nobody at home or in school said anything about her changing looks. Prachi herself wasn’t aware of her facial hair increase.
Prachi Nigam scored 591 points this round in high school. The oldest sibling in a family of four, Prachi has two younger sisters and a brother. She dreams of becoming an engineer. With a sparkling smile, Prachi reveals, “Without winning this round, I wouldn’t have gained such fame.”
“Social media has catapulted me into the limelight. Calls from various places bombard me. My home bustles all day. Yet, Prachi seems troubled by the relentless calls and interviews.”
Prachi mentions, “Each interview includes discussions about trolling. Queries about my appearance popped up all week. “I’ll pamper myself when required”. However, my current focus is on my education.”
Prachi had stopped watching social media
Prachi has quit checking social media to steer clear of trolls. Yet, she conveys her gratitude to the very trolls. Actually, thanks to them, she has achieved social media fame really early in life.
“No beards, no trolls,” she playfully declares. Without being trolls, people-watching wouldn’t be their forte. These days, Prachi dreams of calculus and gears. She’s set her sights on an engineering degree next.
The headmaster of Sita Inter College, Ramesh Vajpayee, states, “I’m confident that the online bullies wouldn’t dare a two-minute conversation with Prachi.” This doesn’t mean it’s insignificant. It matters.
“We’ve instilled plenty of bravery,” expresses Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak. Prachi frequently chats about how her pals and mentors in school never remarked on her looks.
Not long ago, her mom expressed the need to see a doctor after her final school test. “Our girl’s upper lip hair didn’t really concern us,” remarks Prachi’s mom, Mamata Nigam. I appreciate my girl just as she is. The idea of bringing her to a beauty salon hadn’t crossed my mind.
He Mentioned that his Beard is Growing Fast
After his test, he plans to see a doctor. However, folks have already made a fuss about it.
“It’s a shame when folks concentrate more on our girl’s looks rather than what she can do,” she shares. Be your own person. Ignore any negativity, since nobody at home is glued to their phones checking social media.”
Prachi’s dad, Chandra Prakash, is a worker at Nigam Municipal Corporation. He states, “Speaking frankly, I prefer ignoring trolls.” Lots of folks stood up for Prachi – he’s grateful. Admitting his pain and anger when faced with anonymous harshness, he urges action. Measures should be taken to hold those accountable who toy with others’ emotions.
Prachi shared, ‘Being the top performer, I sense increased expectations, which nudges me to strive even more. I simply don’t have the time or interest to follow trolls. I’d like to message other girls. Especially, those girls who aren’t physically similar to the norm, it’s vital to disregard distractions and concentrate on studying.’
Prachi’s classmates started a campaign against trolling
Prachi’s peers have launched a movement online to support her. Hemant Verma, a fellow student of Prachi’s, scored a ninth-place rank in UP’s high school.
“I use Instagram,” states Hemant. In most cases, I respond to the posts about Prachi. Negative comments and harsh language were often targeted at me. However, we continuously pen positive messages for Prachi. There’s still a long journey ahead for him.
One of Prachi’s peers, Gyaninder Verma, shares, ‘As Prachi was being unfairly criticized online, we joined forces to start a campaign. It’s simple to mock someone from behind a screen, oblivious to their feelings or location. But a troll won’t shatter Prachi Nigam’s achievements.’
Gyanendra continues to add that now, every home in the village owns a phone. All have witnessed these online trolls. For parents of girls who might have a somewhat unique physique due to biological reasons – how will they guide their daughters? The question they’ll ponder is, what does this mean? From what the study indicates, their daughter might be subjected to trolling if her name gets disclosed.
“Body shaming can make kids feel less than,” says Dr. Neha Anand, a seasoned psychologist who’s been counseling in Lucknow for 18 years. She drew insights from Prachi and her parents’ conversation on a video.
More–
India World Cup squad- India announces 2024 ICC T20 World Cup squad
IPL 2024 Match 49 CSK Vs PBKS- Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings
Dr. Neha Emphasized the Deep impact Body
“Her parents and teachers seemed to get her. They accepted her without question, helping her stay engaged with school to the point where she became a top student.” Dr. Neha emphasized the deep impact body shaming can have on youngsters, leading some into a dark world of depression.
They might see themselves as less than others and could even hurt themselves. Teachers and parents have a critical role to play. They’re tasked to foster a positive vibe, encouraging kids to embrace their own strengths and capabilities. “Look beyond superficial beauty,” she urges.