Fields of Borsi produce scientist | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Fields of Borsi produce scientist

Hindustan Times | ByEjaz Kaiser, Raipur
Dec 10, 2012 10:34 AM IST

The fields of Borsi, a backward village in Chhattisgarh, are light years away from Hyderabad’s National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Mathematics. But for 29-year-old Puna Ram Sinha, that quantum jump was no more difficult than skirting a ditch in his backyard.

The fields of Borsi, a backward village in Chhattisgarh, are light years away from Hyderabad’s National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Mathematics.

But for 29-year-old Puna Ram Sinha, that quantum jump was no more difficult than skirting a ditch in his backyard.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The youngest son of a poor farmer in Borsi, 90 km from Raipur, he joined the department of atomic energy in the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) as a scientist in April 2007.

Hardship never deterred Sinha. On the contrary, it was the fuel that fired his zeal. A single school uniform, missed meals – all was grist to his mill.

"Luxuries cannot motivate one for challenge and growth,” he said. The simplicity of village life was "beyond compare”.

But that simple life came at a price. His village had no hospital, no electricity, no cars and no motorable road. Poverty was universal. It made him realise one thing: "There was no option but to study.”

Today, that perspective has changed. Education, he has come to realise, is only a tool. "It is dedication and sincerity that helps one realise an ambition,” he said.

But those were things Sinha had aplenty. The youngest of four brothers, he had to work in the fields for six hours a day. "Still, he never went to bed before a three-hour study session,” said his father, Bodhan Singh Sinha, 62.

Things would have become difficult if Sinha had not benefited from scholarships. That came easy, for he had been a topper throughout.

The fortunes of his family changed too. Today, they own a house with nine rooms and 4.5 acres of farmland.

But Sinha has a few dreams that concern others as well.

"I want to help poor children achieve their goals,” he said.

"There is no magic wand to realise a dream,” Sinha said. "The role of a school in one’s career is about 5% to 10%. The rest are achieved through hard work and dedication.”

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On