Lucknow, Aug 23 (Agencies) : A 4-year-old girl in Lucknow will soon start attending Class IX at a local school after permission to do so was formally granted by the education department yesterday, The Times of India reported.
Ananya Verma, whose name means unique, is special indeed. Born on 1 December 2011 to Tej Bahadur, an assistant supervisor (sanitation) at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, and Chaya Devi, who cannot read or write, Ananya demonstrated remarkable literacy and an ability to grasp knowledge since she was very young.
District inspector of schools Umesh Tripathi told TOI, "Ananya was so talented that none of us could stop her taking admission in Class IX. The board permits home education only till Class VIII. So, now that she speaks fluent Hindi and reads Class IX books with ease, she deserves the admission." At 4 years 8 months and 21 days, she will be the youngest student in a class where the average age is around 15.
According to her father, when Ananya was a year and nine months old, she could read the Ramayana and the Hanuman Chalisa. "We never force her to study. We are a blessed family with all wonder kids," he told TOI, attributing his children's extraordinary talents to the grace of goddess Saraswati.
Ananya's brother Shailendra completed BCA when he was 14, while her sister Sushma got into a PhD programme at 15. In 2007, she got into the Limca Book of Records as the youngest student to complete Class X at the age of 7 years, 3 months and 28 days. She finished her BSc at 13.
As the Hindustan Times reported a few days ago, Ananya was already attending St Meera's School before the clearance to be enrolled there came through.
The principal of the school, Anita Ratra, told TOI, "She came to us in June and sought admission in Class X, saying that since Sushma-di got admission in Class IX, she wanted [to be] in Class X. I asked her to read the newspaper and she did like an adult. Her grasping power is commendable. She learns just by seeing and reading."
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, school manager Vinod Ratra added, "We spotted abundant talent in Ananya just like Sushma. We groomed Sushma after she came to our school in Class IX when she was just 5. We will work extra with Ananya also. Her fingers are very small. She needs to be given special attention, particularly in mathematics. Our trained educators will conduct extra sessions with her."