Enterprise Desk
A winner in his own right—though not in the ranks of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt—17-year-old Prasanna Ramakrishnan has won a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad. But his achievement is unique. Last year, Ramakrishnan won a bronze medal. This makes him the first person from T&T to win two medals at the Olympiad.
The Olympiad was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in July. A team of four from T&T competed this year. The team comprised Ramakrishnan, Alex Navarro, Arjun Isa Mohammed and Adam Superville. The team was led by Dr Indra Haraksingh of The University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus and chairman of the T&T Mathematics Olympiad, and deputy leader Jagdesh Ramnanan, also of the UWI.
“We are elated that Prasanna has brought home a silver medal this year,” said Dr Haraksingh. Ramakrishnan’s win is particularly noteworthy, given that this year’s competition was considered perhaps the toughest in the history of the Olympiad.
Unfortunately, Ramakrishnan, who was born in Jamaica, but has called T&T his home for the last 15 years, will not be returning to the competition for gold next year, since he has already been accepted at Stanford University. According to the rules of the Olympiad, once a competitor has entered college they will not be eligible to take part.
The math whiz shared his experience whilst in Thailand, where he was flying the red, white and black. “First of all, I want to tell you that Olympiad maths is much different from school math. Olympiad math is much more emphasised on creativity, ingenuity, because each problem in the Olympiad has never been seen before. Each year, each problem is created.”
He said while in Thailand there was pressure as you go up against the world, but it’s not a fierce environment. Over 100 countries took part in this year’s Olympiad. T&T has been participating in the competition since 1991. T&T won a silver medal only once before, in 2010. T&T has also won five bronze medals and 23 honourable mentions (where a participant gets full marks for solving one problem).
T&T is the only country from the English-speaking Caribbean to compete in this global competition, and is the smallest country to win so many medals over the years, said Haraksingh. Ramakrishnan and the team prepared months in advance for the competition. Dr Haraksingh said the local leg took place from January to May. During this period, the local committee runs a series of examinations which are on an international level.
“We select the team finally from the results of these exams and we normally select up to six persons. In the last few years, we send persons depending on the cost to send the team. “We have not sent less than four and this year, it was only six since it’s an expensive venture to go to Thailand.” Ramakrishnan explained that before you enter the examination room, “you have to clear your mind because the Olympiad is not formula specific, it’s more focused on creativity on the spot.”
The exam took four hours, he said. “Although this is my fifth time, each time had its own experience, but I learnt from my past and executed. Last year, I got a bronze and I went again this year hoping for gold, but had to concede for silver. “I am glad I had the opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago on more than one occasion. This journey will be memorable and will play an integral part in my personal development.”
Ramakrishnan said his brother Prithvi was his inspiration as he too competed at this international competition and achieved an honourable mention. He is also a student of Stanford University. With weeks to go before Ramakrishnan heads to Stanford University, he had some advice for the youth of T&T.
“Math is something we all seem to hate, but there is beauty in everything. However, whatever you find that you love, do it with passion and it will become enjoyable. And most of all, you will succeed.”
