Himalay Senapaty - 2nd in RMTS 2003 exam Makes to India Team

Math prodigy to take part in astronomy contest in Ukraine

Nandadulal Das | Bhadrak

He has not written the Class X examinations as yet. But his elated father is running from pillar to post trying to finalise details of his passport and visa for the past one month.

Meet 14-year-old Himalay Senapaty from the nondescript village of Palli in Bhadrak district. To his credit, he is the only schoolboy from Orissa who has been selected for the International Astronomy Competition in Ukraine. Only three schoolboys from all over India have qualified in the junior group in a test conducted by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, for the competition. The other two belong to Hyderabad and Pune.

"A year ago, Himalay carved a niche for himself by becoming the youngest boy in India to qualify for the mathematics Olympiad talent research test. He was also the lone Oriya boy to come out with flying colours in the talent research test and for his feat. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will felicitate him with a gold medal on June13," said his proud father Niranjan Senapaty.

Himalay appeared for the first screening test conducted by TIFR in November 2005 and TIFR selected 250 boys on an all-India basis including Senapaty. However, the numbers were reduced to 22 in the second screening test held in February, who went to TIFR Mumbai for training and to appear for the final selection for the international astronomy competition.

"The training camp comprising of theory and practical on Astrophysics was held from May 7 to 26 at Nehru science center in Mumbai. But in the final test only three boys qualified to participate in the world astronomy competition to be held on September 28," said Himalay.

He attributes his success to the blessings of his parents and coach Prasanta Kumar Samal, owner of Samal Physics, a coaching centre. "I want to build my career on astrophysics," Himalay said.