Chennai-based Anagha Sethuraman (13) is the season VI National Classmate Spell Bee 2014 champion, following her victory in the final round of the all-India competition staged in Mumbai on March 8-9. After rigorous elimination rounds at the city and state levels, this teen bested 250,000 students from 750 schools in 27 cities to bag a cash award of Rs.2 lakh, and an all-expenses paid trip to witness the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington DC, on May 29. The Classmate Spell Bee National English language spelling competition (estb. 2009) is an initiative of the Kolkata-based tobacco, hotels and agri-products behemoth ITC Ltd and Radio Mirchi, a network of 32 FM radio stations, based in Indore.

The only child of engineer V. Sethuraman and banker mother Sujata, Anagha is thrilled with her success after two failed attempts. œI am delighted that my hard work to expand my vocabulary and learn spelling has paid off. I am really grateful to my parents and school for constantly encouraging me, says this gritty class IX student of the CBSE-affiliated Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai.
Anagha’s interest in learning hard-to-spell words and their etymology dates back to 2007, when she registered for the Marrs International Spelling Bee organised by Cochin-based MaRRs Intellectual Services (P) Ltd at age six, and qualified as a national runner-up in the junior category.  In 2011, Anagha bagged the Chennai city crown of the Spartan Spelling Bee organised by Chennai-based Spartan Educational Events and Services. Subsequently she was a national finalist of the HDFC Life Spell Bee (now changed to Classmate Spell Bee) in the 2012 and 2013 editions, prior to winning the national championship this year.

A multi-dimensional youngster, Anagha also plays tennis and listens to music. Moreover, she loves maths and has a flair for writing. œI spend a good amount of time solving math problems from reference books and IIT entrance exam guides. I am also writing my first book, she says.
Looking ahead, Anagha has set her mind on the IITs. My current obsession is to prepare for IIT-JEE. I want to become a successful entrepreneur and contribute to Indian society, says this plucky go-getter.

Go girl!

Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)