Nasrin Modak Siddiqui (Mumbai)

Mumbai-based Rayaan Naveed Siddiqui (13) is the newly crowned Spell Master of India. In the final round of the national season XIII SBI Life Spell Bee 2024 hosted by popular actress-anchor Mandira Bedi in Mumbai on March 10, this talented teen bested 75 spelling whiz kids who made the final round of the national competition. Over 150,000 students from 350 schools in 30 cities participated in SBI Life Spell Bee 2024. As winner, Rayaan bagged Rs.1 lakh in cash and an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland, Hong Kong.

The Life Spell Bee National English language spelling competition (estb.2011) is an initiative of the Mumbai-based SBI Life Insurance and Radio Mirchi, a network of 76 FM radio stations.

“I am delighted that my hard work of poring over guidebooks and dictionaries has paid off. I am very grateful to my parents, my little sister Myra and school for constantly encouraging me,” says this gritty class IX student of the CISCE-affiliated Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, and elder of two children of banker Naveed Siddiqui and homemaker Sujata.

Rayaan’s interest in expanding his vocabulary and etymology dates back to the time when he registered for his first SBI Life Spelling Bee competition in school at age six. Although he was routinely selected to participate in the SBI Life Spelling Bee competition every year, he failed to win. “Nevertheless intra school competitions developed my self-confidence and capability to manage stage pressure. Moreover, I am an avid reader blessed with a good memory. Whenever I come across a new word, I make a mental note of its spelling. I analyse the word phonetically and try to connect it with etymology,” he adds. Ironically Rayaan’s favourite subject is math, “I prefer to spend my time solving math problems.”

Looking ahead, Rayaan wishes to intensify his participation in spelling competitions which he believes will boost his grades in the board exams. “Although I love reading and English literature, after completing my Plus Two, my goal is to enrol in a top-ranked university abroad to study science,” says this young polymath.

Go Boy!