Bratati Baral, OP
Fifteen-year-old Jyoti Prakash Parida, a black belt in karate, has a passion for the martial art. He has participated in national and state level competitions several times and won many prizes. Born to Trilochan Parida and Kabita Parida of Satyabhamapur in Cuttack district, Jyoti started training in karate at the age of six. Aside from his achievements in karate, he is also a meritorious student and, hence, popular with his teachers. The youngster has also won many prizes in school-level singing competitions.
Soon after Jyoti started karate training at Madhusudan Karate Academy, his instructor Magnajeet Sahoo noticed the boy’s interest in the sport and asked his father to send him for training regularly. “I observed that he followed the instructor very keenly,” said Trilochan Parida. “The academy soon became his favourite place. In 2010, he was selected to participate in a national level karate competition in Punjab along with fou
r other kids from the academy. They did not win prizes, but, all the same, that was a big boost for my son and he started focusing more on karate.”
The competition in Punjab was only the first of many for Jyoti. “That competition was like a ladder,” he said. “Since then, I have participated in several competitions and won many prizes. In 2012, I won the bronze medal in a national level competition in Pune. In 2014, I bagged the gold medal in kumite and bronze in kata in a state level competition in Cuttack. In 2015, I won a gold in kumite and silver in kata. In 2015, I secured a bronze medal in an event in Goa. In 2016, I won two golds and one bronze in a national level competition at the Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. Last year, I participated in a national level competition in Maharashtra and won two medals, a gold and a bronze.”
Jyoti is a meritorious student of Saraswati Sisu Vidya Mandir of Bhahu Gram in Cuttack. He passed his matriculation exam this year and is now preparing for higher studies. “In school, my teacher Dambarudhar Sahoo was always my inspiration. His words are my strength. He encourages me to study hard. Karate is my passion, but I will focus on my higher studies now. I know it is very tough for my father to arrange for my higher studies with his limited income. But like in karate, I will work hard and eventually try to get a good job,” said Jyoti.
Among the many awards Jyoti has won are the Birupa Krida Samman and Sarala Krida Prativa Samman. His school has also recognised him every year for his achievements in national and state level karate competitions.
Jyoti’s teacher Dambarudhar Sahoo said, “He is the star of our school. All the teachers are proud of him. He is good in studies, well behaved and popular among his classmates. Jyoti has also imparted karate skills to the girls in the school. His father is a farmer and is trying his best to ensure that Jyoti can pursue higher studies.”
“Jyoti is our only son,” said his mother, Kabita Parida. “We are very proud of him. Since his childhood, he has worked hard for success. We did not expect Jyoti to achieve so much in karate. Thanks to his instructor, who has done a lot for Jyoti, and his school teachers, he has secured a good position in his matriculation exams. He is an ideal son who always keeps in mind his father’s financial problems and tries to adjust in every way.”
