A mental Math, Spell Bee wizard

This eight-year-old talented boy aspires to be an IAS officer and can become one hopefully.

A spirited young lad who aspires to become an IAS officer, young Keerthi UK is talented in painting and is a Spell Bee and mental Mathematics wizard. Keerthi can tell you names of places around the globe, recite tables up to 18 and give you the exact spelling in advanced English. He can sketch just by looking at the original pictures, which are mostly of his favourite gods Krishna, Hanuman and Ganesh. He has a collection of higher class books and is already determined to make it big academically. With no special coaching, Keerthi is a favourite of his teachers and neighbours alike, for he is also interested in doing social service like helping the poor. 

Bright beginning
He got admission to St Joseph's School and his parents had to shell out a substantial sum, but they were given an exemption of Rs 10,000. His father, Umesh, said: "I wanted my son to get into the best school and I went to get his admission at 7 am, but to my surprise I was the 400th and odd parent in the queue. But it was my son, who among the few, was selected with so less fees, and that too, when we were striving to gain economic stability." Keerthi said: "It is my father who taught me education is important and he is also my God and my mother too. I love my family."
At the age of 5, Keerthi could recite tables, do Math and spell correctly as he had already had a fascination for the English language. He is already a socially responsible boy and asks for money from his father to feed the poor or help those who are handicapped. He said: "I feel like crying when I see someone without hands or legs and I ask my father to give me not two  rupees but ten rupees because one cannot buy lunch for just two rupees. I want to be an IAS officer only to help poor people."

Inspiration
"Once I went with my father to IPS Kempaiah Sir and I saw everybody saluting him when he came in. My father told me he was an IAS officer and many poor people came to him and he was helping them all. So I decided that day to become an IAS Officer. Sir M Vishveshvaraiah is my idol and the scene in Dr Raj Kumar's movie "Bhagyavantaru", in which Nehru Chacha garlands Vishveshvaraih is my favourite scene. I want to become like Vishveshvaraiah Sir or Abdul Kalam Sir and have 'Dr.' before of my name so that even I can help 1,000 people."
Other hobbies
Swimming, painting, reading encyclopedia and watching cartoon and Raj Kumar's movies.

Happy moment
"When my teacher told the whole class that I and my best friend Kaustub were the best students in front of all students, I was very happy."
"I love to visit Vishveshvaraiah Museum and once I saw how much man can do if you study very well. And that day after my father explained it to me, even I wanted to study and do big things and help people with it."
With an aim to make it to the apex of educational endeavour, he is filled with humility and wants to give back to society what he gets by becoming an IAS Officer.

Achievements
Topper in class 1 and LKG and UKG.
2nd place in Spell Bee competition in January 2010.
Secured 95% in Grade 9 and 90 per cent in Grade 10 in Abacus 2nd level from Mental Mathematics Academy.

Prodigy
At the age of 5, he could recite tables, do Maths and spell correctly as Keerthi had already had a fascination for the English language. He is already a socially responsible boy and asks for money from his father to feed the poor or help those who are handicapped.

--MANVITA MASGODE