Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday became a platform for celebrating excellence as he praised Shreya Mundra, the gold medalist at the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad. The young prodigy’s family overflowed with thanks, hailing the mention as a life-changing honor.
In an interview, Shreya detailed the grueling competition stages that led to her triumph. Starting with IOQM’s computational challenges—30 questions in three hours for 250 state qualifiers—she progressed to RMO with 35 peers per state solving six problems under tight deadlines. Regional training camps bridged the gap to nationals, culminating in HBCSE’s elite programs that her parents eagerly supported.
‘PM Modi explained the entire process so vividly,’ Shreya noted, predicting a surge in math interest among peers. Neither she nor her family had dreamed of gold, making the achievement surreal. She credited government-backed training for her edge.
Her father Shantanul echoed the sentiment, calling it a proud milestone. He contrasted Olympiads’ emphasis on deep understanding with exam marathons of endless hours. Advocating for parental freedom, he urged others to let children chase passions, believing Modi’s words will motivate families to back daughters in high-stakes pursuits.
A critical gap persists: low female involvement, linked to camp safety. Shreya, feeling fortunate to participate, pushes for enhancements to boost girls’ confidence. This narrative from ‘Mann Ki Baat’ transcends a single win—it’s a clarion call for inclusive STEM education, potentially reshaping India’s talent landscape for generations.
