A software whizkid, only at 3

FEBRUARY 9: For three-year-old Ajay Puri, the mike held a greater fascination than the computer. Perhaps, because he is so used to the lat...

FEBRUARY 9: For three-year-old Ajay Puri, the mike held a greater fascination than the computer. Perhaps, because he is so used to the latter. He has been called the “youngest Microsoft executive.” At an age when most kids are comfortable with toys, Ajay finds computers fascinating.

G G Vaidya, chairman of State Bank of India felicitated Ajay and his parents at the State Bank Bhavan this evening. Ajay was gifted a box of chocolates, which he opened right then and there. His has become a household name in Thailand where the media has written extensively about him. As his father Ravi remarked lightly, these days he is known more as Ajay’s father than by his own name. Ajay has been featured on CNN, BBC and Zee TV, besides other channels.

It all started when Ajay was just one-and-a-half years old. That was when he first used the voice mail to contact his grandfather in Hyderabad from Bangkok. Sensing the potential, his father, who works with the Birla Group in Thailand, introduced him to other softwares. Ajay was a fast learner and is today quite comfortable with Microsoft products like Word 2000, PowerPoint 2000, Excel 2000, Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. He can even scan pictures and send e-mails.

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But the kid in Ajay remains well and truly active. “The CNN team came to our place in Thailand and wanted to film Ajay. But he refused to be filmed by them as they were not wearing orange T-shirts like he was. So after waiting an hour or so, they left. But to our surprise they all returned the next day wearing orange T-shirts,” says the father.

Microsoft Thailand has gifted Ajay with a number of softwares, including some which are not yet officially released. Impressed with his calibre, Microsoft Thailand is keeping an update on him and helping him learn the latest softwares. As his father informs, “Microsoft has given me manuals and other stuff so I can first study them and then help Ajay with them.”

Ajay is a great fan of Aamir Khan. Whenever his father wants to prompt him to do something, the promised reward is always a meeting with his film idol.

But Ajay’s ambition is to be another Bill Gates. And his father says Microsoft is planning a trip for Ajay to meet the big fellow. Ajay is due to meet the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister before he leaves for Bangkok.

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