Howrah boy bags gold

This boy is on the road to success. After securing second position in medicine in the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination, Subhrashis Guha Niyogi of Howrah has added yet another feather to his cap by winning gold at the 19th International Biology Olympiad (IBO, 2008).

“I gave it my best shot and I am happy to have made my parents and country proud. I want more students to come forward and take these exams,” said the 17-year-old.

IBO, 2008 was held at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education in Mumbai from July 13 to 20. Over 220 students from 55 nations participated in the event.

The Indian team was represented by PG Nandan of Chennai, Siddharth Bharat Iyengar of Bangalore, Sachit Daniel from Mangalore, along with Subhrashis. Nandan and Siddharth won silver while Sachit got a bronze. The four students were selected through a three-tier process. A nation-wide screening on biology for over 10,000 students was followed by another set of written tests and a final round of practicals.

In Mumbai, practical knowledge in plant and animal physiology and anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology and animal behaviour were tested. There were also table-based questions that demanded intense calculations. “The questions were tough but interesting. They were mostly application based,” said Subhrashis.

About his mantra for success, he said: “I never bury myself under a huge pile of books. I always have a storybook with me and switch to it if I am too tired of studying.”

But the seven days in Mumbai were not all work without play. “I have made many friends. I also learnt numbers in Italian and Persian and how to greet people in Japanese, French and Spanish.”

He has also discovered dance. “I never thought I could dance, but an Irish girl taught me. My calf muscles are still aching,” smiles Subhrashis who wishes to pursue research after studying medicine.

Jhinuk Majumdar
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