Thursday 17 April 2025
Paragliding to the Rescue: The 19-Year-Old Who Didn’t Miss His Exam
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A first-yearstudentrecently demonstrated that tense situations can be handled with ease by staying calm and adventurous, as he paraglided to the exam hall to attend his exam.
On a crispwintermorning at Harrison’s Folly, a breathtaking cliffside viewpoint 5 km from Panchgani, 19-year-old Samarth Mahangade was hard at work. His hands were sticky with the juice of freshly pressed sugarcane as he served weekend travelers at his family’s roadside stall. The peaceful morning was soon interrupted by a frantic phone call.
“Samarth, where are you? The exam’s already starting!” his friends shouted over the phone.
Samarth froze. The natural dissolution management paper, his first-semester university exam, was scheduled to be held that day. He had completely forgotten because his hall ticket hadnt been updated. Panic surged through him. The exam center was in Pasarni village, at the base of the steep and winding Pasarni Ghat15 km away. The serpentine road, known for its slow-moving traffic, would take at least 30 minutes to traverse. But he had only 10 minutes.
Samarths mind raced. He needed a miracle. Then he looked up at the sky and saw his only chanceparagliding. Across the clearing stood Govind Yewale, a paragliding instructor who ran adventure flights from Harrison’s Folly. Without hesitation, Samarth sprinted toward him.
“Bhau, I need your help! I have an exam in 10 minutes. Can you take me down there?” he pleaded.
Yewale frowned, eyes narrowing. “An exam? And you forgot the date?” He shook his head in disbelief. But the urgency in Samarths eyes was impossible to ignore. After a brief pause, Yewale waved one of his paragliders over. “Strap in,” he instructed. “Hold on tight.”
With his heart pounding, Samarth was buckled into the harness. Then, with a running start, they leaped off the cliff. The ground disappeared beneath them as they soared through the sky. Below, the winding roads and slow-moving traffic seemed insignificant. The wind rushed past him as they descended swiftly toward the school grounds.
Meanwhile, one of his friends dashed to his house to collect his hall ticket, writing pad, and pens. Every second counted, and they had no time to waste. As the glider neared the school, the pilot expertly maneuvered for a smooth landing within the premises.
Samarth unbuckled himself mid-stride and ran toward the exam hall, lungs burning with effort. The question papers were just being handed out when he burst through the doors.
A brief silence fell over the room. The invigilator looked at him, assessing the situation. Then, with a nod, he allowed Samarth to take his seat. Relief washed over the young student as he picked up his pen, determined to make the most of this opportunity.
Later, reflecting on the mornings adventure, Samarth said, “I work to support my family, but my education is just as important. Missing the exam was never an option.”
Satara SP Samir Shaikh noted that while traffic congestion along Pasarni Ghat was common, it wasnt unusually severe that day. However, for Samarth, every moment had mattered. His determination and quick thinking led to a breathtaking yet successful journeyone that proved a cool and adventurous mind can overcome even the tensest situations.
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