Tura, July 30: Tura’s one and only topper to make it to the top ten list of MBoSE HSSLC Science examinations results, which were declared on Friday, has a burning ambition to be a space scientist and join the thousands of young men and women who are probing the vast Milky-way galaxy and beyond, and believes the future is out there.

“My ultimate dream in life is to be a scientist. From childhood I was fascinated about the stars and other celestial objects and always wanted to know what lies beyond,” says 17-year- old Saurav Modak, the one and only topper from Garo Hills.

Belonging to Purakhasia border village, under Dalu police station jurisdiction, Saurav did his schooling at the government run Purakhasia Secondary School in the village.

He came to Tura and from a rented house, from which he attended his classes in Don Bosco College, Tura.

“My mother stayed back in Tura and helped me while my father looked after my sister back in Purakhasia,” recalls Saurav of the sacrifices his family made to ensure he got the best of education.

Saurav’s father runs a shop in Purakhasia while his mother is a home maker.

“I will appear for the JEE examinations and I want to further study physics. I am crazy about astrophysics and maths and one day I hope to make it as a scientist to work in India’s space agency ISRO. I am very interested in space and what lies beyond our universe,” mentions Saurav brimming with enthusiasm.

Saurav is the first student from Garo Hills in more than two decades to top the physics subject. The highest mark of 96 in physics was awarded to him in this exam. Since 2000, no other student from Garo Hills has ever hit that mark.

Anand Mishra, also of Don Bosco College, Tura, was the first and only other student to secure the highest marks in Physics, and that was way back in 2000.

As for Saurav, he has added another feather to his merit by jointly securing the highest marks in mathematics (99) with four other toppers of the state.

Father Jogesh, Principal of Higher Secondary wing of Don Bosco College is elated. He says despite the pandemic closing down colleges and schools, Don Bosco College prepared the students with daily online classes, extra classes, and coaching facilities to prepare them for the exams.

“His (Saurav) dedication to studies and effort paid off with the results,” says Fr Jogesh.