Twelve-year-old Satyaki Das, a Class VI student of Springdale High School (HS) in Nadia’s Kalyani, is a global science champ.
Satyaki has come first among students from 70 countries in the Science Olympiad examination held earlier this year.
The boy who lives in Naihati, North 24-Parganas, and commutes every day to his school in Kalyani, 15km away, bagged the first international rank in the final round of the examination held in February this year.
The Olympiads are international exams in maths,science, computer science, commerce, English, social studies and general knowledge. The Science Olympiad is open to students between Classes I and XII. There are two categories, one for students between Classes I and X, and another for those in Classes XI and XII. Satyaki appeared in the exam in the first category when he was in Class V.
The Science Olympiad Foundation will award Satyaki at an event to be held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi on May 28. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a gold medal and a certificate for outstanding performance.
The Science Olympiad Foundation is a New Delhi-based organisation that promotes science, maths, general knowledge and introductory computer education among schoolchildren.
The Foundation’s founding director, Mahabir Singh, said in a letter to Satyaki: “Your performance is all the more noteworthy since during 2022-23 more than 70,000 schools from over 1,400 cities in 70 countries registered for the 7th Science Olympiad, and millions of students appeared.”
“You have done your school, family and country proud by winning accolades at the international level in the largest Olympiad examination in the world,” the letter read.
His school is euphoric.
Springdale High School (HS) headmistress Ranjita Paul said: “This is a great achievement. Such success at a tender age is quite amazing. We are all very happy and proud of him. Satyaki’s achievement is also inspiring to other students.”
Satyaki’s mother Arpita Das said: “It is too early to celebrate. Satyaki has to go a long way.”
Satyaki also wore his success lightly.
“I enjoy studying and reading outside of textbooks. That’s enough for me,” smiled the quiet boy.