Child prodigy Sushma Verma, India’s youngest graduate, has been awarded with Sulabh Inspirational Award on Sunday. Sushma was given a cheque of Rs 8 lakh to continue her studies, by founder of NGO Sulabh Sanitation & Social Reforms Movement (Sulabh International) Bindeshwar Pathak. She also got an iPhone, iPad, laptop, desktop and lED television set.
Tathagat Tulsi, who graduated at 11 years of age, was also present. Pathak said he would bear all of Sushma’s education expenses in India or abroad. Eager to become a doctor, Sushma has taken admission in the microbiology course at Bhim Rao Ambedkar Central University, as age does not permit her to join a medical course. “After MSc, I will not be able to sit for CPMT because of my age. So, I will go for a PhD,” she said.
Sushma’s father was also given Rs 3 lakh, so the family could tide over financial hardships. Her family has been promised accommodation near the university campus. Tej Bahadur Verma had to sell a fraction of their land to pay for her education. He earns barely Rs 200 a day.
When he saw his daughter’s name on the merit list for microbiology course at lucknow University, he paid the initial fee of Rs 25,000 instantly, not giving a second thought to the remaining Rs 75,000. Sulabh International will also educate Verma.
“I think education is important for my children, so I did not hesitate in selling the land. We never got the chance to study. I don’t want my children to work as labourers, I will not spare any efforts to educate them,” said Verma, pointing out that behind Sushma’s remarkable success lies the story of a family determined to educate their children.
Sushma cleared high school at the age of seven, two years less than Tathagat. Now he is assistant professor at IIT-Mumbai after finishing higher studies at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and in the US. He too had been adopted by Sulabh.
Tathagat said, “It is a great feeling when someone follows your steps. I first came to know about Sushma when she broke my record of being youngest person to pass class X,” for which Sushma is in the limca Book of Records. Pathak said, “The girl is an inspiration for students belonging to elite background. With the prize money, Sushma can fulfil her requirements.”