Sushma Verma is a Child prodigy from Lucknow. At the age of 13 she has taken admission to M.Sc Microbiology at Lucknow University. Sushma passed Class 10 in 2007 at the age of seven, earning herself her a Limca book of records for being the youngest student to do so; in 2010, she passed class 12 at ten years of age. She was born on February 6, 2000.
At the age of 10 she was also successful in competing in UPPMT, but was unable to get a seat due to age concerns. Later Sushma completed her BSc in Zoology and Botany from an LU-affiliated college in three years. She passed the B.Sc Final Examination with First Division securing 66% marks.
Now she has taken admission to M.Sc Course in Microbiology in the same university. With this she became youngest Post Graduate Student in any Indian University. With the dream of getting doctor unfulfilled, She now desires to be a Scientist.
Sushma Verma posing with the Certificate of Limca Book of World Records
LU Vice-Chancellor Dr S B Nimse had recommended her name to the admission coordinator, saying “her age should not be a hurdle to all that she wants to achieve” while also adding that “proper procedures” would be followed for her application.
Anita Ratra, principal of St Miraj Inter College, from where Sushma did her schooling, said: “She completed her Class X when she was seven and XII when she was nine. When she was in Class VII, we realized that she used to learn and memorize anything much quicker than any other child in the school. So we promoted her to a higher class.”
The Limca Book of World Records Certificate says, “Sushma Verma became the youngest Matriculate in June 2007 at 7 years, 3 months, 28 days. She secured 364 marks out of 600 in Uttar Pradesh Board Examination.”
Sushma belongs to a poor family. Her Father Tej Bahadur Sharma is a daily wage earner who works in Agricultural fields. The Family lives in a dilapidated single room in Barigawan area in Lucknow and sometimes getting a square meal is also difficult for them.
He had to sell his ancestral land to pay the fees of Sushma, which approximately is Rs 25000 per semester for the MSc Microbiology course of Lucknow University. He has also appealed the UP Government for monetary help considering the brilliance of his child, but till today not a single penny was received.
However, they are getting offers from Foreign Universities which are ready to fully subsidize her study. Some members of foreign universities are in touch with us and would like us to send our children to pursue their dream there,” her mother Chhaya Devi said.
Her brother, Shailendra verma is an equal child prodigy. He never attended school but taught himself at home to clear Class X from the National Open School when he was seven years old scoring 55 per cent marks. He also holds the distinction of youngest computer science graduate in India. Shailendra was 14 when he completed BCA in 2007. At present, he is pursuing MBA from a Bangalore based institute.