Page 29 - EW March 2021

Young Achievers

parents patiently answer my mother who was restricted to
all my questions to the read only academic textbooks, I am
best of their knowledge. fortunate to be blessed with a parent
My father even gifted who has built a mini-library full of
me a pair of binoculars my favourite books over the years,”
and books on astronomy says this gifted child author.
when I turned ten. Over Inspired by Elisabetta Dami and
the years, I have tried to Clive Cussler, his favourite authors,
gather knowledge about Arnay started writing short stories
our universe and have when he was seven, many of which
participated in science were published in the children’s sec-
competitions from school tion of The H indu and some promi-
until university to help me nent children’s magazines.
understand the vast range Arnay acknowledges the great
of advanced astronomy contribution of Greenwood High’s
and astrophysics,” says English teacher Zara Kunders for
GOPALCHETTY BRAHMA Brahma, winner of the Young Sci- arousing his love for the written
entist India 2017-18 award among
word. Right after release of his first
other encomiums. paperback, this pre-teen author
opalchetty Brahma (21) is Setting the stage for the future, has begun work on his second, Mrs
the latest to join India’s Brahma aspires to qualify as an outer Clark . “My books written for young
Gexclusive club of outer space space scientist after completing his kids are action-packed with a mix of
celebrities. An aerospace engi- bachelor’s degree. “I intend to sign suspense and adventure,” he says.
neering undergrad at the Ludhi- up for an integrated MS-Ph D degree To develop his writing skills,
ana-based Lovely Professional in cosmology and astrophysics from Arnay does two hours of extra-
University — ranked Punjab’s #2 a reputed university in the US or curricular reading every day after
private varsity in the latest EW Germany and continue post-doctoral completing his homework, followed
India Higher Education Rankings research in dark energy and dark by an hour of writing and introspect-
2020-21 — he was among the Top matter. My ultimate dream is to join ing about his next thriller.
100 of 6,500 participants from 98 the Indian Space Research Organ- Driven by a mission to spread
countries conferred the Silver Hon- isation and continue to unravel the joy of reading, in 2018 Arnay
our award in the youth (18-plus) the mysteries of the cosmos,” he launched Reading Rhino, a digital
category of the world’s largest and enthuses. platform to share book summaries,
toughest International Astronomy God speed! short stories and reviews to inspire
and Astrophysics Competition Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru) young readers. “I hope one day to
(IAAC). The event was held online start a non-profit society for under-
in May-July 2020 by the Heidel- privileged children while continuing
burg (Germany)-based company to write stories to encourage children
Edu.Harbour. ARNAY AGARWAL to enjoy and develop the reading
The elder of two children of habit,” says Arnay.
Rayagada (Odisha)-based G. lthough he is only 12 years of Way to Go!
Harishankar, senior pharmacist at age, Arnay Agarwal, a class Amrita Ghosh (Bengaluru)
JK Paper Mills, and homemaker AVII student of Bengaluru’s
G. Swarnalata, Brahma is thankful top-ranked Greenwood High Inter-
for the institutional and parental national School, has authored two
support he has received. “I at- e-books — Most A maz ing Dussehra
tribute my achievement to hard V acations Ever on Kindle in 2019
A
work combined with the invaluable and dventure of J uno and I ra for
support of my parents and mentor Juggernaut Books in 2018 — with his
H
Dr. Amit Kumar Thakur, associate first paperback ap p y H oliday Med-
professor of aerospace engineering ley (Amazon) released last October.
H
at LPU. However, I’m disappointed A slim volume of 40 pages, ap p y
that I fell short of winning the gold H oliday Medley recounts the young
medal. Given limited resources at author’s experiences in the garden
home during the pandemic, I relied city of Bengaluru during a 2018
majorly on the Internet and science Dussehra vacation — ranging from a
magazines,” he recalls. Halloween party to a chance encoun-
Brahma’s interest in astronomy ter with the great grandson of the
was ignited when as a five year old, Dewan of Mysore in the court of the
he witnessed a shooting star streak erstwhile Mysore Maharajah.
across the Rayagada night sky. The only child of Eva Agarwal, a
“Stargazing and moongazing has software professional, reading caught
become a habit since then. Both my Arnay’s fancy at age four. “Unlike

MARCH 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 29