Nibir Sarma, 19, with roots in Assam’s Darrang district who is studying chemical engineering in the University of Minnesota, has won “Jeopardy!” 2020 College Championship, the leading TV quiz show of the US.
The Jeopardy! quiz championship, held between participants of colleges in the US, is one of the biggest and most prestigious championships. It is hosted by Alex Trebek, game show host and actor.
As the news spread, Mangaldoi MLA Gurujyoti Das distributed food packets among residents of Mangaldoi, the headquarters of Darrang district. “Nibir is a real hero. We, the people of Darrang, are proud of him,” he said.
Nibir, who won the championship on April 17, took home a $100,000 prize. His feat has been covered widely in the US, including by the daily USA Today and the television channel ABC News. According to media reports, Nibir is the first winner of the championship from the University of Minnesota, which he represented.
The teenager’s grandfather, Aakalu Sarma, a resident of Dahi village and a retired principal of Dahi Higher Secondary School in Mangaldoi, told The Telegraph, “I am the happiest person. My grandson has become the first champion from his university in the famous championship.”
Nibir’s parents, Pankaj and Namita, who migrated to US in 1992, are also on cloud nine. “We are very happy today,” Pankaj said. Namita said she could not express her happiness in words. Nibir was born in the US.
