PTI
Chennai, Jul 27: Two years after he became the youngest graduate in India, R Chandrasekar has added yet another feather to his cap – of being the youngest postgraduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M).
On July 25, when he walked upto receive his MTech degree from IIT-M Director, M S Ananth at the convocation, 17-year-old Chandrasekar become the youngest to do so in the history of the 50-year-old institute.
His father, R Subramanian, recollects how his son in school used to finish his assignments quickly and go about "disturbing" others.
"The teachers used to complain about this, following which we asked them to keep him engaged by giving him books to read. But a family friend who noticed my son's ability to finish things quickly asked us to admit him in an intertional certificate programme," Subramanian said.
This resulted in the boy becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Enginner and Cisco Certified Network Associate when he was just 11-years-old.
On the academic front, Sekar, as he is called by friends and relatives, entered the famed portals of Anna University at age of 15, when then Vice Chancellor, Balagurusamy, admitted him to the BE course, but not before testing his abilities.
Later came the big moment, as IIT-M welcomed Sekar into their midst, after the 'teen wonder' scored 99.32 per cent in the Graduate Aptitude Test to join the M-Tech course.
Sekar said he is thankful to Bell Matriculation School in Tirunelveli, "which allowed me to have my way".
Presently working as a researcher at Tata Consultancy Services in Chennai, Sekar wants to continue there and also aspires to become a management graduate.
Despite success coming easily to the teenager, his parents still have a grouse – that their son does not spend much time with them.
"Since he is busy almost everyday, he has lost all the joys of childhood and we have lost the pleasure of parenthood," Subramanian said.
Asked how Sekar spends time at home, Subramanian said "We have given him all freedom. However, he does not relax at home. He thinks a lot (of his work) and tries to perform it well. If he is happy, we are happy."
An auditor, Subramanian is a busy man and usually travels between Tirunelveli and Chennai on official work. He admits that Sekar is always thinking about his work and research.
"I should say that Sekar's achievements have made him more mature and shoulder more responsibility. Sekar has the capacity to work hard and I am sure in future, he will create a lot of job opportunities for unemployed youth," the elated father said.