07 September,2010 06:49 AM IST | | Alifiya Khan
All of 16, Abhishek Oswal has made city proud with Astronomy Olympiad silver and many other awards
The average teenager spends his or her spare time partying with friends or browsing through Facebook, but 16-year-old Abhishek Oswal likes to keep himself immersed in complicated maths theorems and calculus problems.
The CBSE Std XII student has represented India on several international platforms in the past two years and harbours the uncommon ambition of becoming an expert in pure mathematics and astronomy. And he is working hard to achieve that goal.
A student of the Army Public School, Abhishek was only 14 when he won the silver medal at the 13th International Astronomy Olympiad in Italy.
That was just the beginning. A look at Abhishek's extracurricular activities and achievements since then makes one marvel how this boy wonder could manage so many awards in such quick succession.
From international events like science programmes in California to Young Physicists Summits in Canada and US-Canada Maths Camps, and even national-level competitions like Homi Bhabha scholarships, research projects for the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and fellowships by the Government of India, Abhishek's kitty of awards is an envious one.
While his obsession with maths might also run him the danger of earning a 'too big for his boots' status, Abhishek isn't bothered about it.
"I am focused on what I want. People might find it weird for a young guy like me to be so interested in pure maths but this is what I like," said Abhishek. "Apart from maths and physics, I also listen to a little music on and off."
He also plays the piano well, Beethoven being his favourite artist.
Another favourite pastime is what he calls 'Facebooking'.
"But I don't overdo it like the others. I log online for a couple of hours in a week, chat, and I am off," said Abhishek. "I'm not yet hooked on to the games or applications."
