In India, many kids grow up being terrified of their parents’ reactions to bad marks. The pressure to perform well in school is so high that a report card can feel like a judgement day. We’ve all heard stories of parents comparing marks, calling their kids “useless”, or punishing them for scoring less than 90. But one family in Karnataka did the opposite.
Meet Abhishek Cholachagudda, a class-10 student from Basaveshwar English Medium School in Bagalkot, Karnataka. The teenager recently got his SSLC board exam results and he failed all six subjects. With just 200 out of 625 marks, Abhishek’s score stood at 32%. However, instead of scolding him, Abhishek’s family threw him a party to celebrate his efforts!
In a video that’s now being widely shared online, Abhishek can be seen surrounded by his loving family, cutting a cake that proudly displays “32%” written on it. His parents, sister, grandmother, and relatives are seen cheering, smiling, feeding him cake, and offering words of encouragement.
“Abhishek scored 32%, and this number was designed on the cake. As Abhishek cut the cake, we, all family members, fed him and encouraged him to do better next time,” his father said, quoted Hindustan Times.
Abhishek’s father further mentioned that his son had studied hard and taken the exams seriously, even if the marks didn’t reflect that. He believes that standing by his child during tough times is more important than punishing him for not meeting expectations.
“Even though I failed, my family encouraged me. I will retake the exam, pass, and achieve success in life.” Abhishek said.
Here’s a video capturing the celebration:
VIDEO | Karnataka: Parents celebrate their son after he fails in Class 10 exam by cutting a cake to boost his morale in Bagalkote. He got 200 marks out of 600, which is 32 percent, below the passing marks. #Karnataka #Bagalkote pic.twitter.com/YJzSBm3Gvq
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2025
Wouldn’t all of us have done better in life if our worst failures had been met with this kind of support?