Mumbai: 16-year-old's app gets him into Microsoft programme

On Thursday morning while the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Satya Nadella was busy addressing thousands at an event in the city just a few kilometres away a 16yearold student was busy working on new software models to pitch to his companyAfter Umang presented the idea for his app Microsoft BizSpark sponsored the project Umang is part of DreamSpark a Microsoft programme that supports students by giving them professional level developer and designer tools at no cost so that they can chase their dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology PicShadab KhanUmang Raghuvanshi is the envy of almost every student in his college Like everybody else his age this teen loves computers and gadgets and is always busy researching and experimenting with technologyWhat sets him apart however is that Umang is now one of the few people his age to be part of the Microsoft Developer Network MSDN where he gets to ideate with a bunch of brilliant minds working with the company from across the globeldquoI am like any other teenager who stares at his computer and wishes there was an app that could solve problems But while others wait for such an app to be introduced I started work on designing the softwarerdquo said the gritty teenager who is a Std XI Science student at Thakur Vidya Mandir High School and Junior College Kandivli E His aim has been to be stand apart from others his ageJoining a Microsoft programmeAfter designing native apps which could work on computers without the Internet Umang wanted to be a member of DreamSparkA platform for young talent DreamSpark is a Microsoft programme that supports students by giving them professional level developer and designer tools at no cost so that they can chase their dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technologyldquoI pitched in my idea see box to be a member of DreamSpark and immediately got placed on board Whatrsquos amazing is how I get to use all kinds of professional tools to create my own designs That is better than the money any job can giverdquo said UmangA student of Birla Public School in Pilani Rajasthan Umang moved to Mumbai only this year with his parents to a home in Kandivli While computers have always fascinated him the real attraction started once he started learning more about computer language and website making in schoolldquoTechnology is so easy to get hooked on to There are some days when I find it ridiculously difficult to manage studies and my passion for software development but my parents ensure that I am groundedrdquo he saidAsked what is the highlight of being part of one of the biggest software companies in the world at the tender age of 16 he points at the opportunity it provides him with to interact with people from across the globe ldquoI use GitHub to get in touch with various people to design softwareWe share ideas and it is incredible how technology and help from Microsoft makes this world really small and accessiblerdquo he added Today when the young generation is often blamed for being glued to computers Umang said the need of the hour is for youngsters to know where to draw the lineldquoThere are days when I spend hours in front of my computer and forget about the world around me but then there are times when I donrsquot bother checking my computer We need to go with the flow and while technology can be luring one should remember to live life as wellrdquo he said before adding that his parents while excited about his prospects also ensure he doesnrsquot lose touch with realityPreparing for IITAlready preparing for his entrance tests for engineering institutes Umangrsquos primary aim is to get through to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT in USA He is working hard to opt for a course in artificial intelligence in any of the Indian Institutes of Technology IITs as wellAnd while his college and classes kept him from getting a chance to see Satya Nadella in person he isnrsquot disappointed ldquoI am sure some day Irsquoll meet him in person and there will be no crowd to fight through to get to himrdquo he quickly added before going back to class