Page 29 - EW March 2025

Young Achievers

in technology”. children of Balaji Paramashivan, a
This bright, popular Tamil film star and Chitra
technophile M, a biotech scientist, Garuda’s
class IX student public speaking career began under
who bested the influence of his maternal grand-
over a half a mother, T.R. Tara Bai, a spiritualism
million partici- preacher, who delivered motiva-
pant students tional speeches at cultural events.
is delighted Discerning his interest, his grand-
with his notable aunt Devika started teaching him
triumph. “I am Sanskrit shlokas, math, Kannada,
very thankful and introduced him to the reading
to the school habit. At age 4 (2022) on Shivaratri,
management Tara Bai took him to a Brahma Ku-
which is very mari ashram where he delivered his
supportive of first public address.
co-curricular ac- What began as a learning exer-
tivities such as cise has totally transformed this
TANISH KUMAR SAHU debates, quizzing, environment clubs young prodigy’s life. Last Novem-
etc. In particular, my computer sci-
ber (2024), the seven-year-old was
ence teacher Ashish Gupta took great invited as chief guest to a Makkala
pains to prepare me for TCSITRQ. Habba (children’s festival) where
class IX student of Chhat- I am also grateful to my parents he delivered a motivational speech
tisgarh’s Bhilai Steel Plant for encouraging me to participate, to 400 children from orphanages in
A Senior Secondary School, and above all my elder brother and Bengaluru. Since then, he has de-
Tanish Kumar Sahu (14) was class XII student Netransh Kumar livered four Rajyotsava (Karnataka
crowned national champion at the for guiding me in the run-up to the Day) speeches including one in his
25th edition of TCS IT Rural Quiz final,” says Tanish, who also makes school.
(TCSITRQ) 2024 staged last No- time for playing football. “Public speaking is a great educa-
vember. The quiz attracted partici- Currently, in the thick of prepar- tion experience, and ever since I took
pation from over 5.6 lakh students ing for his class IX annual exam, to it three years ago, I have noticed a
from rural and small town India. Tanish intends to sign up for more marked improvement in my concen-
Following two elimination national and international quiz com- tration and math scores. I’m lucky to
rounds which began in September petitions. “However my career ambi- have a supportive school Principal
in the national TCSITRQ 2024 tion is to qualify for the officer cadre Suneetha Kalla ma’m and teachers
finale staged in Bengaluru during of the Indian Army. With modern who always encourage me to speak
the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, warfare becoming highly technologi- up at major school events. These
14-year-old Tanish outsmarted ten cal, I’m sure my IT knowledge and opportunities helped me showcase
finalists to win a Rs.1 lakh educa- skills will prove very useful,” says my talent and develop my public
tional scholarship. Eklavya from this young whiz. speaking skills,” says Garuda, who
Swami Vivekanand Govt. Model adds that when he is older he wants
School, Suratgarh was adjudged to spread Indian culture and intro-
runner-up. duce ancient Sanskrit and Kannada
The annual TCSITRQ is a gen- GARUDA BALAJI literature to the general public.
eral knowledge/new technologies Wind beneath your wings!
testing quiz started in 2000 by the Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru)
Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy or fearlessly captivating audi-
Services Ltd — India’s most valu- ences in schools,
able company in terms of market Fcolleges, orphanages,
capitalisation (Rs.14,385 lakh crore) NGOs, and temples with
— in collaboration with the Depart- his extraordinary grasp
ment of Electronics, IT, BT and Sci- of Sanskrit shlokas and
ence and Technology, Government wisdom beyond his years,
of Karnataka. Open to class VIII-XII Bengaluru-based Garuda
rural children countrywide, this Balaji (7), a class II student
testing initiative includes online of the city’s Orchids The
tests, virtual rounds, and quiz International School, has
competitions introduced by TCS recently merited entry into
with the objective of “enhancing IT the India Book of Records
awareness among students from and also the Asia Book of
smaller towns and districts across Records as “Asia’s youngest
India, equipping them with knowl- public speaker”.
edge about the latest advancements The first of three

MARCH 2025 EDUCATIONWORLD 29