All of 12 and a prodigy. That’s Neha Ramu for you. Despite scoring 162 in Mensa test, and hailed as a genius in the realm of Albert Einstein and Bill Gates, this unassuming talent is humility personified.
Playing down her superlative achievement, and with head firmly perched on her sensible shoulders, says Neha: Mensa test is not really a test of intelligence; it just shows that I can be intelligent. If I work hard and achieve something, then my IQ may play a role in that. However, at the moment, it just shows my raw talent, says the lass with all the composure and assuredness of an adult at her command.
In the City on a short vacation, Neha, who is basking in the glory of her new-found fame, is making the most of soaking in the sunshine, warm weather with family and friends. “For many here, the weather may be bit extreme, but I am loving every bit of it as back home in the UK, it is really biting cold and all you see is snow,” says she, given that London is known for its unpredictable weather.
Despite the ‘halo’ of a ‘genius’ around her, Neha, one learns, is hardly your proverbial bookworm, but who spends most of her time playing video games and engaging in other activities. Prod her, and promptly comes the answer: the reason for her performance is because she is never stressed out or overworked. “I try and balance out the amount of hours I work and the amount of hours I play. I may study for two hours and have a break for about one hour and I make sure that I get nine to 10 hours of sleep.”
As a class I student in the City, Neha recollects being saddled with a lot of homework and test. “I remember I had to work extremely hard and was really stressed out. However, in the UK, I was one or two years ahead of my class due to my education in India.” Nevertheless, she still feels that education in the UK is interesting given that it’s all practicals and less verbatim learning unlike in India.
About Mensa test, Neha concedes that logic and reasoning were tough which always troubled her. “I am not very good at logic and get a bit more than 60 per cent in these subjects. I am more of a straightforward kind of person which is why I love maths,” she said.
However, her interests lie in pursuing neurological science as a career choice. “A summer course from John Hopkins University, ‘Sensations and Perceptions’ last summer, further cemented her choice of field. “I saw how the brain functioned and realised that neurology was a branch of science that was least discovered. So, I made up my mind that I want to discover more.”
Busy accepting felicitations and catching up with school friends and of course, going on a shopping binge, before she emplanes back to the UK next week, Neha signs off: “It’s always nice to visit Bangalore, as all our family and relatives are here. Back in London, there is practically no one there.”
