Of hardships, second changes and love of physics!

Prasad Waman’s clear vision was never hindered by any number of setbacks. After plotting trial and error method plans, he chose hard work over smart work and the outcome has made him realize the worth of this virtue. Currently working at Baba Atomic Research Centre, as a Scientific Officer, he speaks about his studying strategies, the power of failure and his creative ability to make abstract concepts physically significant

I like to take on things that are challenging. Everyone can achieve goals that are easy. The pleasure of surmounting things that are difficult is unimaginable and surreal. Also, it boosts my confidence and makes me realize my worth

A farmer’s son, Prasad Waman has overcome several hurdles which have now landed him a job in his dream company, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). His relentless efforts have made him face the reality which is full of his aspirations. This has not only made his parents proud but Prasad has also become the pride of his hometown, Pimpalwandi, a town around 80-km away from Pune. He is someone who pens down a plan to achieve his educational goals and works just as per that. “I knew what I wanted to do life. I chose a path and stuck to it. Of course, there were several hindrances but not once did I feel like giving up. Achieving your goal calls for having ample of patience and believing yourself,” Prasad explained.

A curious mind

At the mere age of ten came his first major breakthrough when he passed the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test. It gave him a chance to achieve a better and well-rounded education. After completing his HSC, Prasad decided to take a gap year and prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) exam. As things did not fall in place, opting for BSc in Physics from Fergusson College looked like a bright possibility for him. All this while, education was always a priority. He explained why “Education is a structured system. I have thought of trying to learn things on my own, and I found that it is very haphazard. Secondly, it gives you stability in life. An educated person is much more likely to get a stable job than an uneducated one. So then, in a stable life, we can flourish as we wish.”

During his graduation, his vision was set. An MSc degree in Physics from IIT would aid him in leading a structured life. He single-handedly prepared for Joint Admission Test (JAM), an admission test conducted every year for admission into Master of Science and other post-graduate science programmes at the Indian Institutes of Technology. “For this (JAM) entrance, I solely studied from a single book which was the Fundamentals of Physics. Not knowing about any other coaching classes for the same, I had to trust the book blindly. I studied day and night and it finally paid off. An all India rank of 78 landed me in IIT-Delhi. Even though it wasn’t my first choice, the college ended up shaping my career and more importantly changed me as a human,” said Prasad.

His curious mind is the reason what keeps him hooked to studying new concepts. “Learning out of curiosity is fun. It is perhaps the best thing in life. Learning in a way is liberating. The world around us becomes clearer. But personally, I like to differentiate between education and learning.

I like both the concepts but I found that education interferes with learning sometimes,” he explained.

Prasad loves to spend some quality time
with his family to rejuvenate himself and to
keep his roots intact

Second chances

Life gives you second chances, not just to correct your mistakes but to determine your worth too. From not appearing for the JEE entrance test to attempting the BARC online test and GATE exam twice, Prasad has come a long way. And of all, he understands the worth of second chances. “Failure is inevitable and so is success. Unless you attempt the exam once, you wouldn’t know what’s in store for you or what works in your favor. At times, failure can make a person negative. But don’t forget why you started in the first place. When your goal is clear in your mind no number of setbacks can hamper your will,” said Prasad.

During his gap year after 12th, there was a moment of epiphany that changed his perceptions about life completely. “While preparing for JEE, I was focusing on doing smart work. That plan was indeed a flop. Which made me realize that there is no substitute for hard work,” he explained.

The second time was always a charm for him. He understood his mistakes and made sure not to repeat them. “For the entrance tests, I started clocking in more hours of studying. I also took help of a productivity app which tracked the number of hours I was studying. The concepts become crystal clear if you study religiously.”

After his MSc, Prasad’s aim was to work as a Scientific Officer at BARC. To achieve that, he had to undergo a strenuous entrance test. “I gave the GATE and BARC online test twice. The first time, I couldn’t crack the interview. However, the second time, the interview worked in favor. The assessors saw a zeal in me as my love for physics was quite evident. You need to be patient. Sooner or later, you will achieve your dreams ,” quipped Prasad.

Learning out of curiosity is fun. It is perhaps the best thing in life and liberating. The world around us becomes clearer. But personally, I like both the concepts but I found that education interferes with learning sometimes

Prasad with his friends

Love for physics

His affection towards physics is immense. Growing up, he learnt the art of picking things that were difficult to achieve. Simply because it gave him the chance the understand the subject more deeply. Talking about his love for physics, he said, “I like the whole idea of what physics is. It is reducing anything to its essence. We model anything in the simplest way possible so that we do not get distracted by what is irrelevant for us for now. And it takes time to learn to do that. But as we learn it, we derive immense joy from it.” Further adding, “I like to take on things that are challenging. Everyone can achieve goals that are easy. The pleasure of surmounting things that are difficult is unimaginable and surreal. Also, it boosts my confidence and makes me realize my worth.”

Mantras for success

Value your resources: Apart from books and professors, today’s generation has the boon of technology to rely on when it comes to acquiring information and knowledge. I urge them to value and trust their resources.

Stick to a path: Be is any path or stream in life, pick it and always stick to it.

Never give up: Failure and success are inevitable. But to be successful, you need to give in your 100 per cent. And when things don’t work your way, never give up. Be patient! You will surely achieve your goals.

Trust yourself: Anything is possible once you learn to have faith in yourself.