Mr Muthuraman congratulates Shishir Dash

If Shishir Das, son of Dr B Dash  and Dr Uparna Dash of  Tata main Hospital, is to be believed he "did not really study for the I Sc Examinations." Instead he was completely focussed on the Joint Entrance Examinations of the Indian Institutes of  technology (IIT). But excel he did, having secured 97.25 percent.

Shishir topped the I Sc Examination in the steel city and was ranked third at the All India level in 2003. He also sailed through his IIT-JEE examinations and is due to start there soon. Shishir attributes this success to the months of hard work by him and all his teachers and tutors. "My parents were always there for me and encouraged me but as doctors they could not help me with my studies," he says.

The education in the steel city is "fantastic", says Shishir. "Jamshedpur is the best town to grow up in. It has great opportunities for everyone and make one think of science and engineering as a career choice".

If there is one attribute which sets him apart from other young students about to enter the hallowed portals of an IIT, then it is his determination not to go overseas but rather to stay in India and serve the country. "I want to join ISRO and go into research," he says.

For those who believe that Shishir's success is  a stroke of good luck, think otherwise. Shishir has always been good  at academics, in fact that is his forte through he does play sports. He has always been among the toppers in his class  at school.