Bihar youth among five selected for Rhodes scholarship

An Economics graduate from Bihar town is among five students selected for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship which will enable them to pursue higher studies in Oxford.

Chinmaya Kumar from Sitamarhi district in Bihar was today selected as a Rhodes Scholar and proved to be an icon for many like him who aim big in life despite the social and economic problems confronting them.

Born in a poor family in Sutihara village in the backward region,Chinmaya achieved the rare feat thanks to constant encouragement from his father, who works as a private tutor back home.

"My father is very happy. I am going home tonight to spend some time with my parents," an elated Chinmaya said.

Chinmaya had his schooling in Sitamarhi before he came to Delhi to pursue graduation in Economics in Kirori Mal College.

He will pursue M.Phil in Developmental Studies at Oxford under this scholarship.
Apart from Chinmaya, Dhwani Mehta from Mumbai, Rakesh Sharma and Sishila Rao from Bangalore and Ritika Bhatacharjee were selected for the scholarship by a panel of juries headed by Infosys Chairman N R Narayan Murthy.

"It is a great privilege to get the scholarship and represent India at Oxford. We expect them to get education and add values," Murthy said.

The Rhodes Foundation will take care of the entire expenses of the scholars at Oxford. About 80 students get the scholarship from around the world, including five from India, every year.