Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant last month provided financial help to a girl from Karnataka for pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree. Jyoti Kanaboor Math, a resident of Rabakavi village in Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district, had scored 83 per cent in her Class 12 exams, but higher studies looked uncertain due to her family’s financial circumstances.
Jyoti’s parents, Tirthayya and Roopa, operate a modest eatery in their village, earning approximately Rs 15,000 monthly. The youngest of four children, and the first to pursue a degree course, Jyoti completed pre-university education at New English PU College in the neighbouring Galagali village. Despite the difficulties, her family borrowed money from fellow village residents to secure her admission at the Bijapur Lingayat Education Association’s (BLDE) Arts and TGP Science College in Jamkhandi.
Beyond cricket: Rishabh Pant keeps Karnataka girl’s higher education dreams alive
Jyoti’s family had initially sought help from Anil Hunashimatti, a local contractor and well-wisher, who told them about cricketer K L Rahul’s previous assistance to a student in Dharwad. Hunashimatti reportedly leveraged his connections to reach out to someone who knew Pant, and the wicketkeeper-batter responded immediately to the request for help.
Pant’s staff contacted the college authorities in Jamkhandi and paid Jyoti’s fees on July 17. Even Jyoti’s family came to know about Pant’s contribution when the college administrator Srikant Lagali discovered that Jyoti had inadvertently paid her fees twice, once by her family and once by Pant. The college then refunded Rs 40,000 to the student.
Jyoti said, “I had a great desire to do BCA, but my family’s financial situation was not good. So, when I approached Anil Anna Hunsikatti, he asked his friends in Bengaluru. They reached out to Rishabh Pant sir. He contributed Rs 40,000 for my education, which helped me a lot.”
The college also sent a thank-you note to Pant, acknowledging his contribution to the student’s educational journey. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation for your generous gesture of personally paying the first semester admission fee. We sincerely hope your support to underprivileged students continues,” it said.
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