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| Soumya Ranjan Behera. Telegraph picture |
Paradip, Feb. 26: Humble background notwithstanding, a 13-year-old schoolboy from a poor weaver’s family of Jagatsinghpur has become the proud winner of a coveted national award for innovative scientific project.
Soumya Ranjan Behera, a Class VIII student of a government high school, received the award from former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam last week.
“It was the unforgettable moment for me when Kalam uncle patted me while giving away the award. His soothing and inspiring words would remain firmly etched in my memory for the rest of my life. ‘Keep it up’ Kalam uncle told me as I was ecstatic,” Soumya said.
Soumya has made the cut by getting the National Innovation Foundation India IGNITE Award for 2013 on February 19 at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad. The award has been instituted by the Union science and technology department.
The student of Brundaban Vidyapitha in Jagatsinghpur bagged the award for his project “Device to indicate sudden fall or onset of convulsions”.
“The project is a wearable device that alerts if its user falls suddenly. It is extremely useful for old people, and those suffering from fits, convulsions, seizures and so on. This will help keeping an electronic eye (if integrated with mobile) on your near ones and finding out if they are okay. The device could save millions of fit-affected persons,” said Soumya.
“I am delighted as my project was picked up for the award,” said Soumya.
“One of my friends, Rani Bej, was suffering from an epileptic attack. When I had come across her condition, the idea for such a device came to my mind. My school teachers also gave me able guidance,” said Somuya.
“I have seen traits of brilliance in my child. Despite fiscal constraints, I would try my best to provide him good education,” said Soumya’s father Suresh Chandra Behera.