HYDERABAD: Home-schooled 16-year-old Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Kompella has cracked the Joint Entrance Examination 2020-21 (Advanced) by securing all-India rank of 1690.
Growing within an atmosphere of learning, free thinking, availability of books and computers, apart from a knowledge-sharing sibling, Ramakrishna could not fit into the classroom system. An avid reader of space science and astrology, he enjoyed solving maths problems from the tender age of five years. Though his parents wanted to admit him to a formal school, he could not fit in a particular classroom. Thus, he had home tutors, who taught him different subjects starting from 10 in morning to 3 in afternoon.
However, to become eligible for writing entrance exams, he joined class 7 of a formal school at the age of 13 years. Says Ramakrishna, "I went to school but felt very sleepy in class, as I had already learnt subjects being taught. My teacher caught me taking a nap and sent me to class 9 to carry out a task, which I completed successfully. I was then called to staff room and a student from class 10 posed a few questions from his grade. I answered these without hesitation."
The incident became a talk of the school. His peers looked up to him as he knew more than the teachers. Within a week, the school told his parents they could not teach him as he had already learnt the subjects being taught. Ramakrishna says, "This was the first time that schools did not want me. All this while, I did not want to go to school, as I found learning easy at home."
Despite this experience at school, Ramakrishna is clear that learning is a never-ending journey. There is never a full-stop to knowledge. His interest in science made him learn life, natural, social, psychological and political sciences. With him clearing JEE, he realises he has to get into college. He is confident he will be able to learn much more than what the syllabus has on offer.
Ramakrishna says, "I want to be a bio-engineer and bridge the gap between doctors and engineers. I am keen to learn immunotherapy, as it is required for cure of various diseases. The current research is presently focused on treating cancers." He believes that research on immunotherapy will revolutionise medicine.
His 19-year-old sister Lopa Mudra is also homeschooled. She is in her fourth year of BTech at IIT Madras. With a sister as role model and parents Vish and Madhavilatha to mentor his life outside home, Ramakrishna is looking forward to his college journey.
Madhavilatha said, "Adjusting children at their tender age in schools was a challenge. That's why we did homeschooling. My daughter Lopa has adjusted well. She is looked up to by her peers on positively tackling challenges. With Ramakrishna too, we look forward for the same."
