From Orphanhood to State Topper: Devyani Bhade of Dhondewadi Shines in German Olympiad

Bhor, 10th July 2025: In an inspiring academic milestone, Devyani Bhade, a Class 7 student at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Dhondewadi (Bhor Taluka), has earned the top rank across Maharashtra in the German Olympiad (A1 level), scoring a flawless 50 out of 50.

This achievement is a result of the foreign language initiative launched in Zilla Parishad schools under the leadership of Education Officer Sanjay Naikade, which aims to introduce international languages to rural students. At the Dhondewadi school, German has been taught to students of Classes 5 through 7 for the past year by teacher Savita Tanpure.

The German and French Olympiad, conducted online by the Flora Institute on June 1, saw participation from over 1,400 students across the state. Among them were seven students from Dhondewadi school. When results were announced on July 8, Devyani emerged as Maharashtra’s state topper, bringing pride and joy to her school and community.

Other Students Also Excel
Devyani wasn’t alone in her success. Fellow students Swara Dhonde, Sai Shirgaonkar, Janhavi Dhonde, Sudhir Dhonde, Shreya Shirgaonkar, and Aarav Saste also passed the examination with impressive scores. Their preparation was guided by Headmaster Jaywant Jadhav, along with teachers Savita Tanpure and Anita Pawar.

Local educational officials and community leaders came forward to applaud the young achievers. Group Education Officer Rajkumar Bamane, Cluster Head Anjana Wadkar, Extension Officer Sushma Patil, members of the Gram Panchayat, and representatives from Dhruv Pratishthan all offered their congratulations and best wishes to Devyani for her future academic pursuits.

Devyani’s story is not just about academic success — it’s a tale of resilience. Orphaned at a young age, she moved from Mhakoshi village to live with her aunt Sarubai Dhonde in Dhondewadi, where she began her schooling in Class 1. Her teachers describe her as a focused, intelligent, and ambitious student with dreams of becoming a government officer.

Now admitted to Ravdi School for her 8th standard, Devyani continues to inspire not just her classmates but the entire village. Her siblings are currently residing with relatives in Majgaon (Bhor Taluka). Today, Devyani stands as a symbol of hope, perseverance, and academic excellence for rural Maharashtra.