Page 36 - EducationWorld March 2023

Young Achievers

Neha attributes her im- first app with 1,400 lines of code
pressive achievements in which took me three months to
sports to her parents and write,” recalls Rishi.
school. “Thanks to my sup- Raising a gifted child in India has
portive school management, I its challenges. “Rishi is very active
am never barred from par- and it’s difficult for his teachers and
ticipating in state, district and parents to keep up with his learning
national-level competitions. speed. Several well-meaning people
I am also truly grateful to my suggested we enrol Rishi in a higher
teachers for organising special class. But we are very clear that we
classes for me and granting will not compromise his childhood. I
permission to write exams at am informed that the NEP 2020 has
my convenience. Now I believe recommended enhanced curricu-
that I am ready to compete in lums for gifted children. Meanwhile
the Triathlon event of the Na- I have connected with Potential Plus,
tional Games 2024 for which a UK-based Facebook group which
I am training intensively,” she discusses ways and means to manage
says. gifted children,” says Recheshwari.
Currently in the middle of The youngest Indian member of
writing her class XII ISC board the Caythorpe (UK)-based MENSA
NEHA SANNABHADTI exams, Neha is intent on joining International, a society of high IQ
the defence services after complet-
individuals, Rishi is also an avid
ing Plus Two. “Given the plethora YouTuber. In 2018, he launched
lass XII student and captain of opportunities for women in the the Rishi Shiv Show on YouTube
of sports at Kolkata’s top- Indian armed forces today, I believe presenting education videos that
Cranked The Heritage School, my physical fitness and community have attracted 2,300 subscribers. In
Neha Sannabhadti (17) is shaping service record will stand me in good 2021, he published a 13-page book
into a national triathlon (swim- stead,” she enthuses. Learn Vitamins with Harry Pot-
ming, cycling and running) cham- ter followed by Elements of Earth
pion. On January 8, she won the 10 Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata) (2022) in which he recommends
km Ekal Run Marathon which drew how children can do their bit to save
participation of 4,000 enthusiasts, Mother Earth from environment
in a “fair” time of 47.56 minutes. RISHI PRASANNA despoliation and ecology disaster.
(National record: 28 minutes). Looking ahead, this gifted
For this promising long-distance engaluru-based Rishi Shiv pre-teen is set on a career in earth
runner, winning is becoming a Prasanna (9) is a boy wonder sciences and research. “My dream
habit. Last year, she won the 10 km Bwho has made it into the list is to become a scientist and social
JBG Kolkata Trail Run (43.41 min- of nationally celebrated social in- entrepreneur to invent products and
utes), Pranathon 5 km (22.35) and novators. On Republic Day (Janu- services that help poor people better
Apollo Sreebhumi 10 K Gold (45.14) ary 26) this year, Rishi was one of their lives while living in harmony
marathons. 11 children conferred the Pradhan with nature,” says this young genius
Long-distance running is not Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar award with a conscience.
Neha’s sole passion. She was intro- by President Draupadi Murmu at a
duced to swimming at age two by grand ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan, Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru)
her father Nagaraj, a corporate ex- Delhi. Little Rishi has designed three
ecutive in IFB Agro Industries, who digital apps — IQ Test App for Kids,
signed her up for training at Kol- Countries of the World and CHB —
kata’s Indian Life Saving Society’s Covid Help Bangalore. The award
pool in 2016. Under the guidance included a cash amount of Rs.1 lakh,
of SAI-trained coach Biswajit Dey a medal and certificate. Not bad
Chowdhury, Neha has blossomed pickings for a nine-year-old.
into a promising 400-1,500 metres The only child of Prasanna Ku-
swimming champion with 47 med- mar, professor of computer science
als on her mantlepiece. at the Rajarajeshwari Engineering
Also a cycling enthusiast, she College, Bengaluru and Recheshwari,
won the 10 km static cycling com- senior data analyst at IBM, Rishi is a
petition organised by HDOR Virtual class III pupil of the CISCE-affiliated
Events in 2021. Moreover, Neha is Vidyashilp School, Banashankari. He
a member of the District Interact started learning computer program-
Council, a Rotary-sponsored service ming when he was all of four and
club that provides opportunities to his parents enroled him in a coding
participate in community service class.
projects. “Countries of the World was my

38 EDUCATIONWORLD MARCH 2023