Bokaro, Jan. 25: This Republic Day, Bokaro boy Tirthankar Kumar has earned himself the best seat possible — right next to VVIPs — thanks to his exam results.

Tirthankar, a student of Class XI of Delhi Public School, Bokaro, fetched 97.8 per cent in his board exams under the able tutelage of schoolteachers of DAV, Kathara (Bermo), his former school some 40km from Bokaro.

He, and other students like him, would be felicitated by the Union human resource ministry on Republic Day.

The ministry has already sent out invitations to those selected along with a chance to witness the Republic Day gala from the Prime Minister’s box. Today, the CBSE Class X topper boarded the train with his father Udai Shankar for New Delhi.

Tirthankar said the invitation would also help him to interact with other toppers and share his experience as a student from a “so-called smaller town”. “I have watched the parade on television so far. I will get to meet President Pratibha Patil or at least see her. This is the best surprise I have received this year and I want to make the best of it,” he said.

The proud principal of Tirthakar’s present school (DPS), Hemlata S. Mohan, said that her school was proud of its new “star”.