Pakistani-Sikh girl tops matriculation exams

A 15-year-old Pakistani Sikh girl has become the first girl from the Sikh community to top the matriculation exam in the country.

Manbir Kaur, daughter of Giani Prem Singh the head granthi at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib, scored 1,035 marks of 1,100 and emerged on top.

Kaur’s accomplishment is no ordinary feat as Sikhs only comprise 1% of Pakistan’s population.

“She achieved what even boys of the community could not. I think Manbir’s hard work has paid off. She has always been a diligent student,” Kaur’s proud father said, while speaking to the Hindustan Times.

Further, her father said that the 15-year-old had taken admission in a pre-medical course at the Punjab Group of Colleges in Lahore as she wanted to grow up to be a doctor.

Reagrding girls’ education in Pakistan, Kaur’s father said, “I think women should be treated no differently from men as they have as much a right to pursue their dreams. If they can run homes so efficiently, why shouldn’t they be allowed to conquer the world outside?”

Claiming that Kaur’s cousins had also done really well in the Class 10 exams, Giani Prem Singh said that the 200 Sikh families living in Nankana Sahib were encouraging their daughters to excel in every field.

After the result was announced, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee honoured Kaur with a siropa (robe of honour).

The Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education announced results of the secondary school certificate examination across Punjab last week.

This article originally appeared on Hindustan Times