Madhyamik topper dies 17 days before results, scores 674 of 700 despite battling jaundice

Thaibi Mukhopadhyay, a student of Umarani Gorai School in Asansol, was declared the school topper in the West Bengal Madhyamik Examination 2025 with a total score of 674. The results were announced 17 days after her death on April 16. She had been suffering from jaundice and underwent treatment before appearing for the board exams.

Thaibi’s marks included 99 in Bengali, 98 in Mathematics, 97 in Physical Science, 98 in Life Science, 95 in History, and 95 in Geography. Despite her illness, she completed all her examinations. Her father, Vivekananda Mukhopadhyay, is a homeopathy doctor, and her mother, Piu Mukhopadhyay, is a homemaker. Thaibi was known for consistently securing top ranks in her school.

She was diagnosed with jaundice before the exams. Her parents took her to Vellore for advanced treatment, where doctors advised a liver transplant. The estimated cost of the procedure was ₹1 crore. The local community and others raised ₹45 lakh through contributions. However, the full amount could not be arranged, and she passed away on April 16.

After the Madhyamik results were published on May 2, her family members and school teachers were seen weeping while holding her photograph. Teachers stated that she excelled not only in academics but also in painting and music. One teacher said, “She was first in everything—studies, drawing, singing. If Thaibi had been healthy, she might have been the state topper.”