He topped IIT-JEE with AIR 1, turned down Computer Science, chose Physics instead — today his discoveries are taught around the world
For most IIT aspirants, securing an All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the IIT-JEE is the ultimate dream. It is often seen as a passport to the country's most sought-after engineering branches, lucrative careers, and global opportunities.
But when Rajesh Gopakumar achieved AIR 1 in the 1987 IIT-JEE, he made a decision that surprised almost everyone around him.
Instead of choosing Computer Science or another engineering discipline, he opted to study Physics. Nearly four decades later, his work has helped shape modern theoretical physics, earned him some of the world's highest scientific honours, and inspired a new generation of Indian researchers.
But when Rajesh Gopakumar achieved AIR 1 in the 1987 IIT-JEE, he made a decision that surprised almost everyone around him.
Instead of choosing Computer Science or another engineering discipline, he opted to study Physics. Nearly four decades later, his work has helped shape modern theoretical physics, earned him some of the world's highest scientific honours, and inspired a new generation of Indian researchers.
Next Story