MANDI(Himachal Pradesh): After securing a top berth in India’s top-ranking IITs, Abhay Bhardwaj from nondescript town of Joginder Nagar has created history: He has now made it to  India’s top and prestigious institute, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR), Homi Bhabha Science Education Center, Mumbai.  

Abhay Bhardwaj has been selected for research in Nuclear and Atomic Physics  for the Integrated MSc-PhD.

Only 18 students have been selected in Integrated-PhD in TIFR from all over the country.  

Abhay is a genius and a budding scientist in his own way and right, who wants to excel in fundamental scientific research in India. 

Abhay is not only the only student from Himachal,  but also only one from North India.

TIFR is one of the most prestigious institutes in the country run by the Government of India.

Abhay Bhardwaj success story has come as an inspiration for all  students, who care for self-study, abhor flourishing teaching shops that have sprouted in every nook and cranny in Himachal:

Abhay has never taken tuition for any kind of competitive exam, nor has he taken coaching from anyone, nor has he ever joined any academy.

The all-India exam for admission to TIFR GS was held in February this year itself.

Thousands of students from all over the country appeared for this exam, out of which only 102 students were able to qualify for the next stage of the exam.

All those students were called for the next competitive examination in the institute in Mumbai.

On April 10, re-examination of these 102 students was held in Mumbai, in which top 42 were shortlisted for interview.

A panel of TIFR expert-professors interviewed these 42 students separately for more than an hour on April 11.

After which the final result was declared on 9th May.

Abhay Bhardwaj is the only student from North India among 18 students from across the country, who finally made it the Integrated MSc-PhD program at TIFR.

What is also noteworthy is that mostly M.Sc pass students take part in this TIFR GS exam. But Abhay Bhardwaj appeared for this exam only after B.Sc and passed it with flying colours.

Not only this, Abhay Bhardwaj has secured a place in the top-20 rank in the All India Entrance Examination of IIT JAM and has secured the eligibility to get admission in any of the prestigious IITs of the country including IIT Bombay, IIT, Delhi and IIT, Kanpur.

More than this, he has also received a call for admission to the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, another India’s prestigious institute.

This achievement of Abhay Bhardwaj has brought laurels not only for Himachal Pradesh but also the entire North India.

In order to study and research  at TIFR, he will get a fellowship of Rs. 21,000 per month for the first year and Rs. 25,000 as an annual book grant will also be available.

In the second year, a fellowship of Rs. 31 thousand will be given every month and after registration in PhD, every year, apart from monthly fellowship of Rs. 35 thousand, Rs. 40000 for buying laptop / mobile and stationery etc.

Abhay Bhardwaj comes from Joginder Nagar tehsil of Mandi district. His mother Vidhu Bhardwaj has been an assistant professor of English in a government college for many years, while his father Kushal Bhardwaj is a well-known social worker, senior CPI(M) leader in the state and an elected member of the Zila Parishad.

Abhay Bhardwaj has been showing his prodigious talent since childhood. Till 10+2, Abhay studied in three different schools and has been topper in studies in each school.

After completing 10+2, Abhay had the option of passing the test for B.Sc Physics Hon's studies and taking admission in any of the three universities on the basis of 10+2 marks.

On the basis of marks, Abhay had the option of taking admission in many colleges of North Campus (5 top colleges including Kirori Mal College, St. Stephen's College, Hans Raj College) in Delhi University as well. Although Abhay got admission in B.Sc Physics Hon's at Delhi University's Kirori Mal College on the basis of 96.66 per cent marks.

In one semester of B.Sc Physics Hon's, Abhay scored 100% marks in all the five papers, while he topped in the last semester as well.

Despite this, instead of pursuing MSc from Delhi University, he dropped a year and started preparing for IIT JAM, TIFR GS and IISc at home and made it to the top ranking in all three.

On the other hand, Abhay's mother Vidhu Bhardwaj and father Kushal Bhardwaj said that Abhay was fond of physics since childhood.

Abhay wanted to become a physicist in his own right at a time when there is a mad rush to look for big pay packets in greener pastures in big corporates around the world. 

Making a place in the top list for admission in prestigious institutes from which lakhs of students dream of doing research is indeed a special achievement.

“We are proud of our son's achievement. May he reach apogee of his dream”, said the proud parents.