Rising stars like Miss India-Universe Tanushree Dutta swear by the steel city for their success

Jamshedpur, May 10: Call it the right dose of morale booster or perfect ambience to nurture young talent, the steel city seems to have administered a magic potion to its kids to make them winners out of performers.

Some attribute the chain of successes to the prevalence of healthy competition among youth while others reckon it is pushy parents who have done the wonder trick.

First a Miss India-Universe, then a world boxing champ, an IIT screening test topper and finally a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa world series winner, the steel city can now boast of its own constellation of rising stars.

Be it Tanushree Dutta with the coveted Miss India-Universe crown, Aruna Mishra bringing home a gold from the World Boxing Championship, Abhishek Gaurav scripting his path to success in the IIT screening test and Ronkini Gupta crooning at the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa world series, winning was the name of the game. The latest of the achievers, Ronkini, who passed from Sacred Heart Convent School and then Loyola (ISC 2002 batch), accredits her success, very much like the others, to the city and its warmth.

“I owe my very existence to Jamshedpur. It has not only helped me tap my talents but also mature as a person,” she said over the phone from Goa, where Ronkini now stays with her parents.

A third-year B Com student of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Ronkini now has several offers for stage shows coming her way.

“There is a lot of scope for learning and honing one’s skills in Jamshedpur. I must confess whatever Ronkini is today is because of what the city has made her,” Sumona Gupta, Ronkini's mother, said.

“Ambition is nurtured here and talent exposure helps our children to bloom and flourish,' said Sister Flavian, principal of Carmel Junior College.

“The opportunities available, the intellectual atmosphere and encouragement from parents and teachers have been the guiding factors for steel city youth. I could safely say these have made winners out of these young people,” she added.

“Inter-school contests provide them a platform to showcase their talents and help build their confidence. The absence of a distracting college crowd has been beneficial to our school students who have been trained to concentrate more on their academics and creative activities,' Sister Flavian said.

N.K. Singh, dean and director of SDSM School for Excellence, said, “Unlike in big cities, where youngsters get swayed by several distractions, here students have scope to pursue their ambitions. Students receive positive support here while in the metros, it is bordering on the lines of indifference.”

“The contribution of parents and their willingness to give quality time to their wards is another important factor in our children emerging winners,” added Singh.