Here's looking at you kid! Expressindia.com When at six he can solve 75 sums mentally in one minute, it adds up that Anhadveer Singh Khokar is a boy to watch out for Avantika Bhuyan
SOLVING 75 sums correctly in a matter of a minute is difficult even with a calculator. To have anyone, and at that a six-year old, do this mentally sure calls for an applause. Six-year-old Anhadveer Singh Khokar showed a brilliant display of mental mathematics by achieving this at the 2nd Maharashtra State Level UCMAS Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition-2006. Organised by UCMAS Franchisee (Maharashtra and Goa), the competition which featured around 7,500 students, was held at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai on January 14. A student of Std I in The Bishops (Pune), Anhad won a certificate, medal and a trophy as an award for his sum-solving ability. Anhad has been part of the UCMAS Abacus Academy which is run by Shirley Paul in Salunke Vihar. "We have a mixed batch of 15 each, aged between 4 to 15. Anhad is one of the younger students and is very bright," says Paul. The group uses the Chinese abacus to solve maths problems. The main aim of the exercises is the development of the brain, as they make the child alert and improve his concentration ability. "As a result the child not just becomes good at maths but becomes sharp in every aspect of life," says Dr Dasmit Singh, Anhad's father and a pediatric surgeon. So how does he feel about his win? "It feels very nice," says Anhad, who practiced for one hour for eighteen days. This calm and composed kid wasn't nervous at all when he appeared for the competition, and having won the champion's trophy he is more motivated than ever to complete the 10 levels at the Academy. "Anhad has always topped his examination since Junior KG," says his mother, Dr Noopur Singh. It was his interest in Mathematics that led him to joining the Academy. Having a sharp mind, Anhad dreams of becoming a doctor. "That's because my parents are doctors too," he says with a smile. It's not just Maths that Anhad applies his mind to. He has a keen interest in magic tricks and has even performed one or two shows at a family gathering and a society function. "He doesn't play the regular video games, but he loves to solve complex puzzles on the computer," says his mother. Someday the lad plans to take up a musical instrument too.