Child wizard Aditya Venkatesh.
Aditya with his parents Jyothi and Venkatesh.
He is just 10-year-old but his memory power is phenomenal. Meet Aditya Venkatesh, a student of Mansarovar Pushkarini Vidyashram in Vijayanagar 2nd Stage, who has mastered the Hindu mythology and also learnt about Roman and Egyptian mythology.
Any kid of his age would be fascinated about the video games, Chota Bheem, Dorae-mon and Tom and Jerry, but this kid is more fascinated about mythology. Not that Aditya doesn’t watch cartoons or play video games, he is as normal as the other kids. He loves playing tennis and is also a fitness freak.
Speaking to the SOM, Aditya said that his passion for mythology developed at the age of two when his grandmother used to read out mythological stories from a Tamil magazine and also his parents who read out stories from Amarchithra Katha collections.
According to Aditya, the interest on mythology grew when he was placed 194 in the National Science Olympiad held at Bangalore during 2010. He was awarded CDs containing mythological details which triggered him to develop passion towards his favourite subject. “I want to learn more about God and foreign mythology. This apart, I want to study the custom and tradition followed in foreign countries,” he adds.
The first book on mythology which Aditya read on his own was Ramayana. Since then he has never stopped. He has completed a series of Amarchithra Katha and other books on Hindu Mythology. He has also read books on Roman and Greek mythology and currently Aditya is studying about Egyptian mythology. “I have completed reading The Helen of Troy from Greek mythology, Rise of Colosseum from Roman mythology and Sun God’s Secret Name from Egyptian mythology,” said Aditya.
He does not just read the books and let it go. But he studies them in depth and remembers all the stories and characters. Aditya can tell stories about the characters in mythology which nobody has come across. The way in which he tells the story is fascinating and mesmerising. Aditya, who is currently reading books on Egyptian mythology, has plans to study Chinese mythology next.
Aditya’s parents, Jyothi and Venkatesh have been of great support to him in pursuing his passion. Venkatesh, who is a software professional, gets him books related to mythology along with his normal school books. “I give a lot of credit to Aditya who has brought a change in my life. It is because of him I have been following rituals and traditions. He has told me the reasons why one has to follow the traditions which I was not aware. This apart, his interest in mythology has really fascinated me,” said the proud Venkatesh.
Venkatesh also plans to take Aditya to Cambodia, who wants to visit the Lord Vishnu temple located in Angkor. Not only this, Aditya wishes to visit Rome and Greece to learn about the ancient traditions and customs. Venkatesh said that he has reserved around 200 sq. ft. to set up a library at his new house which is being constructed at Vijayanagar.
Apart from his passion towards mythology, Aditya also plays tennis and aims to participate in marathons. He has also been a brilliant student in his school. Calling him a child prodigy would be too simplistic. The only apt word to refer him would be “Child Wizard of Mythology.”
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> Feature Articles / by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers / October 27th, 2012