Hooghly twins to lead J&K team for ISRO programme

KOLKATA: Two ‘wonder kids’ from the remote Digsui village in the Chinsurah Magra block of Hooghly have been selected by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the Young Scientist Programme, Yuva Vigyani Karyakram YUVIKA 2019. The twins will lead the state team of Jammu and Kashmir in the programme.
Swapnil and Swapnila Acharya have made their parents, Shib Narayan and Sarmistha, proud of their wards’ prowess.With their father being posted in Jammu & Kashmir, the two are studying in Class X of J K Public School, Kunjwani.
“It is a great pleasure for us that our children have been selected for this programme. They never went for any tuitions or coaching classes. Despite living in a remote area where curfew disrupts normal life at times and communication links get cut frequently, they study hard,” said Sarmistha, the elated mother.
The children’s grandmother Swati Acharya said that the children have made the village proud. “This is a great news proving how sheer dedication can help people attain their goals,” she said.
The twins are not only good at studies but they have also excelled in extra-curricular activities.
While both of them flew Microlite aircraft as co-pilots from the Hindan air base at the age of seven, Swapnil won first prize in a national-level online photography competition organised by the Indian Army. His sister won a consolation prize but won the J&K state level painting competition.
Swapnil also stood 9^th in the International Space Olympiad 1^st level while Swapnila was 3^rd in Jammu & Kashmir in the Science Olympiad. Both of them had been invited by former President APJ Abdul Kalam after he had seen a missile made by them with paper. They are also registered members of Scouts and Guides while Swapnil also plays drums.
The selection for the ISRO programme is based on the academic performance in ClassVIII and extracurricular activities. As part of the programme that aims at inculcating love for science among children, they will be taken to four ISRO centres over two weeks during the summer vacations. During this period, they will interact with eminent scientists, visit laboratories and be involved in practical satellite making. They will also get an opportunity to visit the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and Sriharikota Range.