Kartik Sawhney

Aclass IX student of the national capitals prestigious Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, Kartik Sawhney, despite being visually challenged, is the recipient of many national and international awards and prizes. On November 14, 2009 (Childrens Day) he added another accolade to his already impressive tally of awards by winning the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievements of the Union ministry of women and child develop-ment. The lone winner from Delhi state, Kartik was among 25 children selected nationwide for exceptional achievements in academics, art, culture and sports. Shruti S. of Karnataka was awarded the gold medal for her exceptional skills in drawing and painting while all others including Kartik, were silver medalists.The award for academics came as the greatest surprise of them all (awards) thus far, says this 16-year-old who has been consistently topping his class for four consecutive years. Attributing his success to the collaborative efforts of his parents, school and friends, Karthik believes that his academic and co-curricular feat could well be an inspiration for parents, teachers and children themselves to overcome physical challenges and mainstream their lives. He also acknowledges the Delhi-based National Association for Blinds pivotal role in boosting his self-confidence. I trained at the association on specially designed computer software, he says. Exceptional scholarship apart, young Kartik is also a gifted singer with many stage performances to his credit. A trained Hindustani classical vocalist, in 2007 he was invited to join the Global Childrens Choir for Peace in Vienna, Austria. I have trained for four years in Hindustani classical music. But music is a hobby rather than a career option. My goal is to enter one of the IITs and qualify as a software tech-nology professional, he says. Kartik is already preparing for this vocation. In 2002 he won a gold medal in computer skills, speed and accuracy in a national competition organised by the National Abilympics Association of India and was ranked first in the 8th National Cyber Olympiad, besides securing 4th rank in the International Informatics Olympiad, 2008. Kartik is also an ambassador of the childrens advisory board of Plan India, an NGO working for the protection of childrens rights. For challenged children and youth across the country, this multi-skilled young achiever has useful advice. Dont lose heart and faith in yourself. Everything is possible. Right on! Autar Nehru (Delhi) S.P. Sethuraman Chennai-based International Master S.P. Sethuraman (15) is still basking in the afterglow of winning the gold medal in the under-16 World Youth Chess Championship held at Anatalya, Turkey last November (2009). This class XII commerce student of the port citys well-known Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, competed with 13 players and defeated fellow Indian International Master Vidit Santosh Gujarati in tie-breaks to make it 1-2 for India. The elder of two sons of former national chess champion S. Panaiappan and homemaker P. Deivanai who are currently full-time chess coaches and run the Kilpauk Chess Academy and Mogappair Chess Centre in Chennai, Sethuraman started playing this complex mind game at the age…