A descendant of the noted Bengal philosopher and academic Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Niladri, 24, comes from a rich academic background. Losing his father at a young age, the family had financial difficulties that made his growing years tougher than most. Hardwork and dedication however paid off, and now, Niladri will soon be booking his ticket to Cambridge.
"I always dreamt of being able to go to Cambridge. Probably because I had heard that Isaac Newton studied there. The desire was very persistent, so much so, that it can safely be called a childhood dream," says Niladri.
"Getting a scholarship is not easy. I came to know of the Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship from an announcement in a newspaper. In addition to the financial support this is the first time the scholarship is being awarded and it is an honour to be one of the first recipients of the scholarship."
Apart from his academic pursuits, Niladri is passionate about nature and spends his free time capturing its different aspects on camera. "Photography gives me the opportunity to experiment with subtle expressions and rare moments in nature which the eye cannot capture," he says.
What course are you pursuing right now?
I have just finished my master's (MTech) in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. My area of specialisation was electronic materials, more specifically in the area of organic semiconductors.
Tell us about your academic background thus far.
I finished my schooling from South Point High School, Kolkata, in 2002. After that, I joined BE College, Shibpur, where I earned my bachelors degree in engineering in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.
What motivated you to apply for the scholarships?
As obtaining a scholarship in Cambridge is tough, I was searching for different funding sources. This particular scholarship especially motivated me as this was the first time it was being awarded apart from being a very prestigious one. It was also aimed for scholars at St John's College, which is where I was offered a place to study for my PhD.
What was your reaction when you heard you had won the scholarship?
Obviously winning such a prestigious scholarship makes one feel very good. It was also the time to thank countless people without whose help this would not have been possible.
What course will you pursue at the university?
I will be doing my PhD in Materials Science at Cambridge. My area of study will be investigating properties of materials for spintronic applications.
Tell us a bit about your family background.
The roots of my family can be traced back to Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Most of my family members are deeply associated with academics, so this field was a natural choice for me from a very early age. My father died when I was very young. It was only due to the untiring efforts of my mother who single-handedly raised me despite enormous financial hardships that i am here.
What are your career plans post the course?
I want to remain in the field of academics, doing research in an university or a research institute. I also want to involve myself in teaching which is a good way to interact with fresh young minds, a rich source of new ideas.
Also see: 'Persistence is the sure formula for success'
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