PATNA: Pankaj Kumar, 30, is not a character of Slumdog Millionaire. But his story seems to quite similar to the protagonist of Slumdog. Being a son
of a roadside tea vendor in Khagaul (Patna), he not only obtained an IIT degree from Roorkee, but also got scholarship to do his research work in the US. At present, he is doing his PhD from Virginia Technical Institute at SIUC in US under the supervision of Dr Mark A Strembler. He aims to become a role model for all other poor children toiling hard to eke out a living. Son of Manohar Lall Gupta, Pankaj had never thought to be an IITian in life as he was not a brilliant student during his school days. Besides, the stigma of being the son of a tea vendor always made him suffer from inferiority complex. However, he concentrated on his studies. "My family members sacrificed a lot to meet the expenses of my studies. I had put in sustained hard labour to get through IIT examination from Roorkee in 2004. Since then lady luck has always smiled on me giving opportunities to study in the US and specialise in engineering science and mechanics," he said. Talking to TOI, Pankaj, who is at his native home in Khagaul, said that he would be completing his studies in the US next year. Though his passion has been in the field of car and aircraft production, he would love to help poor children working at tea shops financially. He spotted a poor, but an intelligent child working at his father's tea shop. "I will now financially support his education in a better school," he said. As a student, theatre had been his passion. Pankaj participated in several plays staged at Khagaul. "I feel sad to see Khagaul theatre almost on decline. I have decided to extend moral and financial support to the theatre for its survival," he said. Married to a Patna girl, Smita, in 2006, Pankaj is all praise for his wife for inspiring him. Smita, a sportsperson of repute, was vice-captain of India's women basketball team during the early 2000s and represented the country abroad too. At present, she is a coach of basketball team in the US. I would like to train young girls of India in basketball and net ball. I want them to learn new techniques and skills of these games," she said.
of a roadside tea vendor in Khagaul (Patna), he not only obtained an IIT degree from Roorkee, but also got scholarship to do his research work in the US. At present, he is doing his PhD from Virginia Technical Institute at SIUC in US under the supervision of Dr Mark A Strembler. He aims to become a role model for all other poor children toiling hard to eke out a living. Son of Manohar Lall Gupta, Pankaj had never thought to be an IITian in life as he was not a brilliant student during his school days. Besides, the stigma of being the son of a tea vendor always made him suffer from inferiority complex. However, he concentrated on his studies. "My family members sacrificed a lot to meet the expenses of my studies. I had put in sustained hard labour to get through IIT examination from Roorkee in 2004. Since then lady luck has always smiled on me giving opportunities to study in the US and specialise in engineering science and mechanics," he said. Talking to TOI, Pankaj, who is at his native home in Khagaul, said that he would be completing his studies in the US next year. Though his passion has been in the field of car and aircraft production, he would love to help poor children working at tea shops financially. He spotted a poor, but an intelligent child working at his father's tea shop. "I will now financially support his education in a better school," he said. As a student, theatre had been his passion. Pankaj participated in several plays staged at Khagaul. "I feel sad to see Khagaul theatre almost on decline. I have decided to extend moral and financial support to the theatre for its survival," he said. Married to a Patna girl, Smita, in 2006, Pankaj is all praise for his wife for inspiring him. Smita, a sportsperson of repute, was vice-captain of India's women basketball team during the early 2000s and represented the country abroad too. At present, she is a coach of basketball team in the US. I would like to train young girls of India in basketball and net ball. I want them to learn new techniques and skills of these games," she said.
Source : The Times Of India . COM
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