Indian prodigy boy completes PhD in physics at the age of 21

Bombay News.Net
Friday 28th August, 2009 (ANI)

Bangalore, Aug 28 : After creating waves by completing Bachelors' degree at the age of 10 and Masters at 12, Tathagat Avatar Tulsi, well known as child prodigy has achieved another milestone by becoming a PhD in Physics.

He has completed his doctorate in Physics at the age of 21 from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, spending six years like anyone else.

Tulsi has the special distinction of being one of the world's youngest scientists.

He credited his family members especially his father for helping him achieve the feat.

"Of course, there is some gift part there. I cannot ignore that because not all six-year-old boys are that sharp in Maths and have that kind of memory, which I had. So I think that there was a gift and I feel very lucky that I got proper environment in terms of my family members particularly my father. He did his best to encourage my talent," said Tulsi.

The young Indian scientist has an invite from the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, Canada, for post- doctoral work.

But he wants to continue his research in software development for quantum computing, the super fast future of number crunching in India given a chance and proper funding.

He said that he hopes to set up his own quantum computing company someday and is working hard for it.

Tulsi got a place for himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding MSc in physics from Patna University, at the age of 12 years and 2 months in 1999.

A native of Bihar, he was born into a lower middle-class family on September 9, 1987. His over ambitious parents wanted him to finish studies at the very young age to break all the world records.

Apart from spending his time amid an array of computers, Tulsi likes to play badminton, snookers, billiards and loves to listen to music.

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