Excellence Beyond Academics

Yash Potnis of Deeksha, Yelahanka, Bengaluru @ Chethana 11th & 12th College has secured the third place in the recently concluded World English Language Scrabble Players Association Youth Cup (WESPA), 2019, at Malaysia. Yash’s victory is a landmark achievement as he recorded the best ever Indian finish. He was also the erstwhile India captain for Scrabble. Yash’s parents — who are acclaimed Scrabble players themselves — expressed gratitude to Deeksha for providing Yash with the flexibility he needed in order to focus on his preparation.

Vyshnav has recently won the 2nd place in the Reva University Ideathon Competition for his robot Helperly. Helperly aims to build a fully automated healthcare as well as personal assistant robot. It’s mostly directed towards assistance of elderly people.

Helperly can connect to various home automation devices and interact with them as well. The robot can also notify the user when to take medication, analyse sleep patterns, physical activity, and also send out distress signals and calls in case of emergency. The robot can monitor physical tasks and can also help in fetching objects with the use of its claw and grabber arm. Previously, Vyshnav has won the RoboCup Junior Nationals 2nd Prize (2018) and the Sustainable Development Quiz/Essay competition by AurinHubb Tech (2020).

Sunil Parameswaran, guitar geek and afficionado, has received his Music Diploma from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), London. Studying in class 12 at Deeksha, Main Campus, Bengaluru, Sunil has been an active participant of various guitar competitions at both the National and International levels.

In his latest achievement, Sunil has won the 1st prize in the Open Category at the 11th International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition, 2020.

Being born with a club foot or having his left arm amputated did nothing to come in between Punith Nandakumar and his dreams. Now an ace Paralympic swimmer, Punith has several accolades to his credit at both the National and International levels. In 2019, he was awarded the prestigious Eklavya award by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka. He was also conferred with the Karnataka Bhushan Award.

Akhila Somanath
Deeksha, Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru
2011-13

1. Awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Delegate’ at Global Goals Model United Nations (GGMUN) in 2019
2. Won the ‘Young Women Achievers Award’ in the social category in 2019 for her venture ‘I Am Rural’
3. Her venture ‘I Am Rural’ was featured in The Indian Express.

Usharani B S
Deeksha, Main Campus Extension
2019-21

1. Usharani is a beneficiary of VidyaDaan, Deeksha’s flagship scholarship scheme aimed at supporting meritorious students from socio-economically challenged backgrounds.
2. Her own hardships didn’t come in the way of supporting the community – Usharani, while volunteering at the NGO Headtsreams, she tutored neighbouring kids after her own online classes. She also imparted other learning experiences outside the subject to these children. She was recognised by the NGO for the same.
3. Besides students, she’s also a champion of the agrarians. She enrolled 10-15 farmers she knew to a ‘Super Farmer Contest’ to show appreciation for their contributions and celebrate them as heroes.

Shakthi Shivani Vijaykumar
Deeksha, Sarjapura, Bengaluru @ NTR 11th & 12th College

1. Shakthi Shivani Vijaykumar has bagged Karntaka Rank 4 in the Wiz National Spell Bee (2019-20)
2. She has also secured an AIR of 18 for the same

Sharanya S
DCFL

1. Has been learning Classical music for the last 10 years
2. Has participated in reality shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Little Champs
3. Has also participated in Learning India, an international platform
4. Recently bagged the second place at Uttara Karnataka Balaga, an international music competition conducted in Qatar
5. Sharanya has also had the privilege to sing before legends like S P Balasubramniam

Shashwath R Kedilaya
Deeksha, Indiranagar
Class XI

1. Shashwath was the 3rd rank holder in the SSLC Board Examinations
2. He was awarded a scholarship of Rs. 10,000 by the Indian Government for his Science project and presentation of thesis on producing electricity from sound.
3. In future, he aspires to become a Robotics Scientist and harvest electricity out of noise pollution.
4. Shashwath is also keenly interested in Indian mythology and culture

Prarthana Prem
Deeksha, TBC
2020-22

1. Prarthana is a trained classical dancer who has performed extensively in Kerala and Bangalore
2. She was the guest performer on the 35th day of Daya Charitable Trust’s ‘Celebrity Dance Live’ Nritha Vismayam
3. She has recently received the Nruthya Sinchana National award from the National Classical Dance Academy

Samit Lambu and Om Nakshatra Bhardwaj Deeksha, Kanakapura. During the lockdown, Samit and Om have initiated the Gravity Podcast, where they invite successful individuals from different walks of life and interview them on their journey. The idea is to inspire children who have unique talents and passions to follow their interests.
The New Indian Express (TNIE) noticed the positive work by these Deeksha children and the impact they have been making through their podcast. TNIE has written an article on the same.

Devyani Mehta
Alumna, Deeksha, Indiranagar
2013-15
Founder and President, Project Rakt
Currently pursuing Civil Engineering at Manipal Institute of Technology

1. Devyani founded Project Rakt in August 2020 to provide sanitary supplies to less privileged girls and women.
2. Project Rakt focuses on spreading awareness about menstrual health and hygiene.
3. It also works to actively combat the stigma attached to menstruation
4. The sanitary support offered is also eco-friendly and environmentally conscious.