In our country, you will only be recognised after you succeed, and not when you are struggling.

The whole world is after me because I got 84 percent in Class X. Nobody is bothered about the girl, Shilpa Kotian, who got 86 percent. I stood first in night school whereas Shilpa got those marks in day school. Her father is jobless and she too worked hard, but nobody is bothered about her success.

The biggest problem in our country is the education system.

I have studied in the Kannada medium and in college we only have English. It is very difficult for students like me to cope. I have been told that in countries like Japan, education helps people get jobs, but that is missing in our country.

In India you need to struggle for 20 years to get established in life, only then by 50 can you have a relaxed life. But in other countries people can do this by 35.

To make India strong, we must make ourselves strong economically, scientifically and in the field of defence. However, at my age, I don't know how to make it possible. We can do that by loving our country selflessly.

The best thing about India is its culture. I am very happy that all religions are practiced here. I am very lucky to be born here. But life is much easier here for the rich and their children compared to the poor.

As told to Syed Firdaus Ashraf