For someone who will be taking on the best mathematical brains of his age group from around the world, Riddhipratim Basu looks amazingly calm. The 18-year-old, who is part of the six-member team representing India at the International Mathematical Olympiad at Merida, Mexico, is cautiously optimistic as he goes through his final preparations. He is keeping his fingers crossed about his chances of winning a medal at the competition.

The Class XII student of Ramakrishna Mission, Rahara, has been keeping a low profile ever since he made it to the team on June 12. He doesn?t even want his pictures to appear in print before he leaves for the contest for ?Sania Mirza always loses whenever there is a lot of hype surrounding her chances?. But he is quietly confident about tackling the mathematical problems that he has been doing ?ever since he can remember?.

?Maths is my favourite subject and I love playing with numbers. It gives me a kick that no other subject does. Since Class IX, I have been doing out-of-syllabus stuff as well. And this is what I enjoy the most,? says Riddhipratim. Although a good student, he hasn?t always been scoring full marks in the subject but has hovered around the 90 per cent mark quite consistently. This, after devoting a considerable amount of time to solving problems that had nothing to do with the course. His parents ? Prof. Parthapratim Basu and Dr Banasri Basu ? physics teachers at Jaipuria College and the Indian Statistical Institute respectively ? encouraged him to pursue his interest seriously.

As a four-year old, Riddhipratim would do huge calculations orally. ?We were pleasantly surprised by his passion for mathematics. He would solve difficult problems easily, use unconventional methods and ask for more,? says his father, Prof. Parthapratim Basu.

But unlike most other good students he has never been a bookworm. There are periods when he doesn?t touch a text book or scribble numbers on paper.

?I watch cricket on TV, play, read books and just laze around. It feels great to take it easy once in a while and get back to studies with renewed energy,? he smiles.

When he decided to join the Maths Olympiad race last year, Riddhipratim expected tough competition. It turned out to be fairly smooth though. The maths wizard was up against a couple of thousand contestants from around the country, including around 500 from the region, in the first round. Riddhipratim crossed the hurdle with ease and was among the 35 selected from the east.

Medal chance

?Every year we get some really good contestants. Riddhipratim is exceptionally talented because he has originality. I think he has a bright chance of winning a medal,? says Prof. Haimanti Sarbadhikari, regional coordinator of Indian Mathematical Olympiad.

According to her, originality pays at the Olympiad for you have no definite syllabus. The problems challenge your number skills and are of the Plus Two level. But mere practice won?t help you unless your concepts are strong and you can apply them in a pressure situation. ?Only the exceptionally talented can do that,? she points out.

Besting yourself

The month-long camp is where participants are groomed for the final event. Conducted by the National Board for Higher Mathematics, it comprises lectures, classes and five tests that form the basis for selection. ?You have to be at your best for the problems are tough. I was prepared so didn?t have much difficulty,? recalls Riddhipratim who was selected along with Sahil Mharkar, Abhishek Dang, Vaidahee Thatte, Varun Jog, all from Pune, and Movin Jain who is from Chandigarh.

But he is worried about the ?big one? ahead. Several tests are to be taken over two days on the basis of which points will be awarded. He admits to feeling slightly jittery before an international contest of this scale.

His mother complains that unlike other states, there?s ?no training available here for participants?. In the run-up to the event, Riddhipratim prefers to go through what he has already learnt.

He plans to give it his best shot but life doesn?t end on July 19 when the curtains come down on the Olympics. Nor his tryst with mathematics. ?I will definitely stay away from engineering and take up maths, in whatever form,? he says.