She could recite all the 1,330 couplets of Thirukural, a universal Tamil classical poem, at the age of three. She’s the world’s youngest Red Hat Certified Engineer. She was the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional — passing the Microsoft installing, configuring and administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional examination in 2008. She also has a number of other laurels to her name — the Limca Book of World Records, Asia Book of Records, and National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement by the Government of India!
And she’s all of 10, all set to turn 11 this May! M Lavinashree is, however, rather matter of fact about her accomplishments. “I scored 178.1 out of 200 in my test at Red Hat. It was simple as I was preparing for it for the last four years. My family encouraged me to go on,” says the Class VI student of Lakshmi School, Veerapanchan, Madurai, who completed the entire Red Hat Certified Programme requirements last June via a Prometric examination.
So how did this saga of sheer genius unfold? Lavinashree’s parents discovered that their daughter had an incredible mind when she was just a baby. At just one-and-a-half years, her mother taught her the English alphabet by playing with coloured letters. This led to learning national symbols, songs, Indian personalities, shapes, fruits and much more. “The journey to the Microsoft certification began after my brother told me about a 10-year-old Pakistani girl, Arfa Karim Randhawa. She was the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional. And then I thought, why can’t I be the youngest?” she says.
This ambition was supported by Lavinashree’s passionate love for all things tech. She started working and playing on the PC at the age of six. “I got my first certificate on multimedia, including Photoshop, Flash, etc.,” she says matter-of-factly.
No career in a top IT firm then? No. Lavinashree is quite firm about that. “I want to become an IPS officer — just like my uncle.”
So does her dream require her to have her nose to the grindstone? No, she has other hobbies as well. “I like talking to people, going out to play with my friends, play basketball and dance,” she admits.
The dreams are big, and the girl undaunted. Will she make it to where she wants to be? That is something only time can tell, but for now young Lavinashree looks all set to reach the top!