It was in the corridor outside his apartment that I met 11-year-old child prodigy Agastya Jaiswal, riding a bicycle. I was there to dig deep into his father's 'unusual' methodology that has turned both his kids into, well, geniuses.
Agastya, who is studying in class XII at St Mary’s Junior College, shot to fame when he cleared the SSC boards at 9 and is known as the 'Google Kid' for his quick recall at GK. His elder sister Naina Jaiswal, a table tennis champion, is a 16-year-old who is already preparing for her PhD.
Ashwini Kumar, Agastya’s father, says that he is very proud of his kids. His wife Bhagyalaxmi, whom Agastya calls his best friend, says that she started training him from when he was in the cradle. “I am an educated woman. I was a teacher. I left my job to train my kids and was determined to raise them as individuals who are ahead of others. My kids had to set an example. And believe me, it is all about the training. Only at the age of two, was he able to answer a series of questions in one go,” she said. And is he sensitive? His mother chuckled and said that he's as naughty as any other child his age. Agastya responding to this description with expressionless eyes.
The day he cleared his Xth Board exams with a 7.5 GPA, there were many who called to congratulate him and pinched his cheeks. But does he really have friends his age? That’s a question he is unable to answer without looking at his father. Ashwini explains that it wouldn’t be wise for a child, like Agastya, to hang out with older boys who drink and party.
Soon, Ashwini got Agastya to pull out his big 'draw' — rapidly answering questions from all corners of the world, across different fields. Without even pausing for a second, Agastya performed fantastically answering all his father’s questions correctly with absolute ease. Agastya said that he aspires to be an IAS officer.— rapidly answering questions from all corners of the world, across different fields. Without even pausing for a second, Agastya performed fantastically.