FARMER’S SON TO WORK WITH INDIA’S ‘MISSILE WOMAN’

Ranchi: A farmer’s son Vivek Kumar, who lived in extreme poverty and cracked IIT-JEE in 2008, will now work on missile research with the ‘Missile Woman of India’ Tessy Thomas.

Vivek Kumar, 21, has been appointed scientist at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in January (2012). The boy had joined IIT Roorkee as an aspiring mechanical engineer. 

During his training as a scientist Vivek, son of a poor farmer Umesh Prasad, will be working on missile research, fighter aircraft, artificial intelligence, combat vehicles, radar system etc. The training will start in August when Vivek will get the chance to work with Tessy Thomas.

Vivek’s father earns (according to his income certificate available with TOI) Rs 25,000 from his agriculture activities and Rs 50,000 from other sources annually.

“When I was busy in studies, my father was busy selling ancestral lands to support my education. I suffered a lot when I was young, my parents are still suffering,” said 21-year-old Vivek. Now Vivek’s father hardly has any land left to sell.

“I don’t care that I have nothing. Education of my son is my property which is imperishable,” said Umesh Prasad, who himself could not get much formal education because of money (educated till intermediate).

Vivek’s happiness knew no limits when DRDO announced his selection in February (2012). “I was the only one to be selected out of 550 students from IIT Roorkee,” said Vivek.

But the happier he got the more Vivek cried. “I still remember authorities at Surendranath Centenary School Ranchi calling me out of the assembly line for fees,” Vivek said.

Ultimately Vivek’s mother Meena Devi, a standard VI educated lady, sold her jewelleries to support education of Vivek, his elder brother Abhishek Kumar, and two daughters Deepati and Nandita. The family, which hails from Bihar’s Gaya district, live in a rented house in Ranchi. But Vivek's father is still engaged in farmig in Gaya. 

A topper at Bangalore Military School Vivek completed his class VI to IX education free of cost. The boy did his internship last year at Novosibirsk State Technical University, Russia and also got a research paper published in Russia after which he was offered 100% scholarship for a Ph.D programme.

The 16-week training of the boy will start in August at Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune. ARDE is the training centre of DRDO.

On the basis of subject-wise overall merit of marks secured by him, Vivek has also been recommended (a copy of the appointment letter is with TOI) for a scientist position at Aeronautical Development Agency (Bangalore) that develops India’s light combat aircraft programme.

“I am excited that I will work with the missile lady of India. I will devote my body and mind in the training programme. Because on the basis of my performance in training, I will be allotted the desired departments,” said Vivek.


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