Delhi student interviews Nobel Laureate

It was a moment of glory for Delhi girl Navjot Kaur Randhawa when she flew all the way to the United States, interviewed a Nobel Laureate in Physics at the latter's invitation and earned his praise recently after topping the intermediate level examination of Central Board Secondary Education in Biology.

Navjot, 17, now a first year BA (English honours) student at St Stephens College in Delhi, interviewed 1993 Nobel prize winner Russel Hulse after obtaining cent per cent marks in Biology in CBSE exams in 2005. She had received an invitation this August from the University of Texas at Dallas in USA to meet Dr Husle.

"It was like turning the wildest of dreams into reality -- the most wonderful gift a 17-year-old could get," a beaming Navjot, who hails from Roorkee (Uttaranchal) told PTI in Lucknow.

Navjot was in Lucknow with her father, a professor in Biotechnology department in Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee.

In the interview that had lasted for a little over one hour, Navjot asked several questions ranging from Dr Husle's Nobel prize winning discovery to his early life, education and other interests.

She was very much inspired by the Nobel Laureate's explanations on a variety of issues concerning humanity, nature and the world.

A couple of answers that inspired her most pertained to declining interest of the students in science and how to encourage youngsters to pursue their dreams as science students, Navjot said.

"The kids should be inspired to study science by providing more opportunities to discover that the world is a fascinating place and create in them the passion to participate and learn more about it," Dr Husle opined in reply to a question, according to Navjot.

Another important point mentioned in this regard by the Nobel laureate was that he considered that museums and science centres and home projects could go a long way in arousing interest in children in science at an early stage, she said.

"Science needs to be integrated more into our culture and made more accessible to children in a way that helps them understand about the world," Dr Husle said.

Asked why in spite of obtaining about 95% marks in the intermediate examination, she opted for humanities in the graduation, Navjot replied theatre and literature are her "first love".

"I want to be a journalist, though not full time, but for the fact that I love to write and so I changed my stream," she said.

"It is important to realise that the God has sent us here on this earth for a purpose and we need to move out of our individual space and think of contributing our bit to the progress of the nation and the world at large," she said.