Thiruvananthapuram: The quintuplets of Kerala are in the news again. They — Uthara, Uthraja, Uthrajan, Utthara and Uthama — have scored exceptionally well in the Grade 10 examination, results of which were announced on Thursday.
Thus, the four sisters and the lone brother fulfilled their promise to their mother Remadevi, who works as a peon at the Pothencode branch of the District Cooperative Bank in Thiruvananthapuram.
She single-handedly takes care of her five children since the demise of her husband Premkumar seven years ago.
The couple was happy at the birth of five children, though they had wished for one. But their happiness was short-lived.
"They were not healthy. They fell sick frequently. We took them to hospital regularly and it was unimaginable to take care of the five together," Remadavi recalled.
Adding to the couple's woes, Premkumar's business (a stationery shop and bakery) ran into trouble. As losses mounted, he committed suicide.
"Some newspaper carried my ordeal. Thus, the government offered me the current job. Several people came to help. I had decided that I would not follow the path of my husband. I decided to bring up my kids by doing any job at any cost.
"I don't know how the money will be raised for their education. Some organisations have come forward," Remadevi said.
The five are on cloud nine as wishes and blessings are pouring in from near and far to their home at Venjaranmood.
"I want to be a doctor," Uthraja said. Uthara dreams of being a journalist. Their brother Uthrajan aims to be a computer engineer. Utthara and Uthama are confused about what course to pursue. While Uthraja has scored six A+ (for Grade 10 exams, grades are given, not marks — A+ is top scoring), her sisters and brother have fared equally well.
Uthrajan and Uthara prefer the computer science group for Grade 11 and 12 while the rest have decided to pursue the science stream. They plan to continue their studies at Lourde Mount Higher Secondary School, Vattapara.
"The school authorities have offered them seats," Remadevi told Gulf News.
They were born through a Caesarean section at the SUT hospital in Thiruvanathapuram in 1995.
