The son of a shop owner from a remote corner of Garo Hills, Saurav Modak of Tura’s Don Bosco College (DBC), did the entire region proud by becoming one of the toppers in the MBOSE HSSLC Science examinations this year.
The 17-year-old stood eighth in the results for Class XII announced by MBOSE this morning, scoring a total of 462 of a possible 500.
The budding astronomer, who has a confessed obsession with stars and galaxies across the vast universe, wishes to one day become a space scientist and explore what lies beyond our own solar system and galaxies.
“I always dreamt of becoming a space scientist as I have been fascinated with stars and other celestial bodies. I have always wanted to know what lies beyond,” said Saurav.
The topper belongs to the border village of Purakhasia under the Dalu police station in West Garo Hills and had completed his early education in the Purakhasia Secondary School, a government-run institution.
He has been staying in Tura along with his mother for the past two years in a rented accommodation while his father has been looking after his shop and his younger sister’s education in their village. His mother is a home maker.
Talking about what he wants to do next, Saurav said that he would appear for the JEE and continue his study of physics, a subject he is fascinated about.
“I am crazy about astrophysics and maths and hope to make it as a scientist to work in India’s space agency ISRO,” said the teenager.
Incidentally, he topped physics in the state, getting 96 in the subject. He was also the joint topper in maths, securing 99 – a distinction he shared this year with 4 others.
The principal of DBC Higher Secondary wing, Father Jogesh, expressed his happiness at Saurav’s achievement which came despite the impact that the pandemic has had on education for the past year and a half.
“We prepared the students with daily online classes, extra classes and coaching facilities to prepare them for the exams. His (Saurav) dedication to studies and effort paid off,” stated Fr Jogesh.
