8 is my lucky number

HYDERABAD: Eight is the atomic number of oxygen, which helps us to breathe while carbon, the basic building block of life has eight allotropes. Again, the number eight is base of the octal number system, mostly used in computers. In T Bhargava Reddy's life, who secured the eighth rank in the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), the number eight plays a vital role. “All auspicious dates and occasions in my life have been related to 8. It can be considered as my lucky number,” said Bhargava Reddy. He secured the eighth rank in the prestigious IIT-JEE exam and he is part of a 8-member team to take part in the 42nd International Physics Olympiad to be held in Bangkok from 10-18 July. And now he has also bagged the eighth rank in AIEEE. “The number eight plays a significant role in his life. He joined the Prashant Educational Institution for his foundation course for IIT in class VIII. Since then, he has never looked back,” said T Lavanya, his mother. Bhargava’s parents T Karnakar Reddy and his wife Lavanya are both teachers. “Bhargav is a great devotee of Anjaneya Swamy. He visits the temple to offer prayers every day,” Karunakar Reddy added.  Bhargava Reddy who secured 335 marks out of 360 in the AIEEE exam has his eyes set on a seat at IIT- Bombay. “I want to pursue computer science and engineering at IIT- Bombay. I chose it because the campus has good infrastructure and the best laboratories especially for computer science,” replied the rank-holder. Similarly, other toppers J Varun and Prithvi Tej, who secured fifth and seventh ranks are planning to join IITs. Varun, who is a native of Ramagundam in Karimnagar is planning join IIT-Bombay to pursue computer science. “I want to innovate new tools that will help the common man,” explained Varun.