From the green hills of Chittagong to the hollowed halls of Yale University, Dibyatanoy Bhattacharjee’s star continues to rise. The Chittagong Grammar School alum scored the world highest in A Level mathematics and biology, and went on to win medals at International Physics Olympiads in India. Dhaka tribune had a little chat with him.
So, how did you react after getting your report card?
I was really delighted. It felt nice to be able to end my high-school years with the grades I had wanted.
You’ve achieved the highest marks in mathematics and biology. What is the mantra behind your great success?
When it came to studies, I believe I was pretty disciplined. I never overworked myself (in fact, I have never had to pull any all-nighters), but I tried to avoid procrastinating and stuck to a regular routine. I also loved to explore beyond the bounds of the A-Level syllabus, which helped me gain a more solid understanding of different concepts.
How vital was your family’s support?
My family has been my single greatest source of support and inspiration. My parents were always very enthusiastic and never hesitated to accompany me to Olympiads and training camps outside my hometown, sometimes even staying entire weeks with me. Most importantly, they believed in me and pushed me forward. Even my aunt and uncle always supported my decisions and endeavors.
Are you happy with all your grades or did you expect more?
I am content with the grades. I knew I had worked hard so I really did not have any regrets, and was thankful to have completed my A Levels successfully.
Many students choose to complete their O and A Levels privately. In your observation, which is more beneficiary for students, school classes or private tuitions?
I believe it really does not matter as long as the student remains interested and is motivated to learn. Personally, I have learnt more from school classes, but both environments are conducive to learning and it is therefore up to the student to decide how much to take away from the class/ private tuition.
Many students find mathematics difficult and demotivating. What is it about mathematics that made you fall in love with it?
I have always felt that mathematics is like a game that you become better at, the more you practice. There is hardly anything you would need to memorise - you only need to know a set of rules and juggle them to arrive at beautiful and intricate conclusions. There is never any ambiguity in a well-written mathematical proof, and it is a very powerful way to convince people. However, I must admit that I enjoy physics and computer science more than maths, because these areas involve more practical uses of many concepts in mathematics.
What are some of the ways, according to you, to bet better at math? Do you have any secret methods?
There are definitely no secret tricks that I know of. The more you practise, the better your intuition becomes, and the more successful you become at solving problems. I must thank my mathematics teachers in high-school for helping me grow this interest in math. The subject can definitely be challenging, but that doesn’t mean one should be afraid of it. In fact, I believe inspiring students dive into challenging, unknown problems. It is a skill that our high schools need to focus more on.
Often it occurs that teachers, both in school and tuition classes, solve one or two problems and leave the rest of the chapter for the students to figure out. How can a weak student combat such situations?
There are plenty of resources online that students may use for assistance. For me at least, a lot of my learning happened outside the classroom, which helped me become independent in studies. Students can always visit teachers outside classroom hours if they need help regarding a particular concept. I have also found discussions with friends very helpful in clarifying doubts.
In such cases, can guide books, which are available in the book shops, help solve the problem?
Guide books can be helpful only if students use it the right way. Students must realise that most revision guides are meant to be accessories to standard textbooks and on their own, do not really provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. However, used in conjunction with standard textbooks, they can be a very valuable tool for practice and for the last-minute revision. In fact, a lot of revision guides provide some additional information not found in the regular textbooks, and those are pretty helpful.
I’ve seen many say that biology is excruciating because one has to memorise each and every word in the book. What do you think?
I must admit that even I found biology difficult and a bit of a drag sometimes, but I never tried to memorise everything. Memorisation is necessary, but it can be kept to a minimum if students can understand the processes first instead of trying to memorise them from the beginning. I also had the advantage of my parents being doctors, so I always had help available.
What is your favourite subject?
This is a tough question. I am split between computer science and physics, but I believe I would eventually lean to the latter.
You’ve achieved a bronze medal in the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in India. Would you like to share your experience with us?
Physics Olympiads and Informatics Olympiads have been a significant part of my secondary school and high-school years, so I was thrilled to be able to participate in the IPhO 2015. I found solving the most challenging problems in physics pretty rewarding. Months of training ensued before our team went to the IphO, which was a humbling experience and an absolute honor to be able to represent my country amongst such a talented pool of young and aged physicists alike. I returned not only with a bronze medal, but with a treasure trove of memories, having made many friends from across the border. I have learnt a lot more from the Olympiad training camps than I did studying for my A Levels.
What did you want to become when you were a kid?
I think I initially wanted to become a doctor. I do not have that same dream anymore, having experienced how stressful a doctor’s life can become (both my parents are doctors).
Would you like to share your best time-frame of your life?
My school, CGS, has been my second home ever since I joined back in playgroup as a toddler. I miss everything about my school: the classrooms and the libraries, recess with my friends, the basketball and football matches, the pranks we played on each other and on the teachers, and the unforgiving class tests and infamous mock examinations. I met some of my best friends there, and was taught by some of the most caring teachers I have encountered in this very school. Most importantly, CGS has become like a family to me.
What are you doing at Yale?
I hope to pursue a double major in computer science and physics.
Any significant future plans?
I honestly do not know. I am interested in research, and would like to move into a research-oriented field.
What’s your favourite past-time?
I love participating in programming contests. I started growing interest since I became involved with informatics in the Olympiads, and I really enjoy them.
What’s your favourite book?
I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series, and my favorite book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The fantasy world of Harry Potter provides a nice change from the harsh difficulties of everyday life. Besides, JK Rowling is a fantastic writer and I love her attention to detail.
What’s your favourite music?
I like most types of contemporary music, but I also like the soothing and enchanting tunes of Rabindra Sangeet.
Any legendary characters you admire the most?
Like a lot of other people of my age, I admire Albert Einstein. I believe his work captures the true essence of physics.
What is one thing you enjoy about being Bengali?
Food! Honestly, there is nothing better than Bengali food, and staying abroad for just 4 months has made me realise how absolutely fantastic Bengali food is.
