Gangtok, Jan. 25: A 23-year old boy from a village in West Sikkim has been invited to witness the Republic Day parade in New Delhi from the prime minister's box .
The invitee, PhD scholar Pratush Lepcha, is thrilled to be part of the celebrations.
The boy from Dentam village in West Sikkim, 120km from Gangtok, had scored 83 per cent in the MSc (botany) programme and topped at the Sikkim University .
Every year, the government selects 100 students, mostly toppers of educational institutions across the country, to witness the parade at Rajpath and Pratush's academic performance earned him the invite from the Union human resources and development ministry this year.
Pratush is the only one from the state to attend the event this year.
"When the letter (invitation) came in the last week of December , I was in Bangalore for some work. My elder brother informed me and I was surprised. I was overjoyed," said Pratush who is pursuing a PhD in molecular biology from Sikkim University.
Pratush's name was recommended by the state HRD department and the Sikkim University.
He reached New Delhi this afternoon by a train.
The boy's mother Purna Maya Lepcha, four sisters and a brother said they were proud.
"It is by the grace of god and an achievement in itself. We are very happy," said the proud mother.
Pratush lost his father James Lepcha five years ago.
James, a clerk in a government school in Sikkim, was the only earning member in the family.
Now, Pratush's brother Maayal Lepcha, also a government school clerk, runs the family.
Pratush did his schooling from Sombaria Senior Secondary School, in West Sikkim, and topped in the science stream in 2010.
He graduated from the Government College in Tadong.
"The HRD ministry asked us to get security clearance which I have already got and a report has been sent to New Delhi. The travel and accommodation have been organised by the government and the three-days' stay will include briefing by senior officials and a tour of New Delhi. We will be staying at a hotel and we would be taken to the venue in a special bus as only security-cleared vehicles are allowed at the venue," Pratush said before leaving for the capital.
Few years ago, students Saroja and Umesh Pradhan from Sikkim University had got a similar opportunity .
