12-yr-old ‘victim of BMC apathy’ gets US visa for global puzzle competition

MUMBAI: Bringing back the smile on the face of 12-year-old Mohammed Ali Basha Sayyed, the US consulate in Hyderabad on Thursday granted him visa to attend the final round of a mathematical quiz competition in New York City.
The boy beat over 35,000 students across the country and is scheduled to leave for the US on May 28 to represent India in the final round.
TOI had reported on May 18 how Sayyed, a class V student from Pant Nagar Municipal School in Ghatkopar, and his teacher were denied visa to attend the competition as the US Consulate in Hyderabad was unconvinced that they would return to India. Corporator Rais Sheikh had alleged that Sayyed’s visa was rejected due to the lack of coordination on part of the BMC, but the civic officials insisted they were not at fault. “We had got a call from the embassy regarding this issue. The boarding information provided by the sponsor company (Grey Sim) was not sufficient. They must have sent the documents and the visa was issued. We had also issued a letter accordingly,” said Shambhavi Jogi, education officer, BMC.
Vishal J C, CEO of Grey Sim that organizes the competition, said, “Our company sent a mail to the consulate with the background of the company the day the boy was denied visa. The consulate said the boy’s visa was under consideration and he was asked to reappear for the interview. We requested the BMC for a formal letter that was missing the last time. The teacher didn’t get a chance to present all the supporting documents last time.”
After hearing the news of the visa, Sayyed had fallen ill, but Thursday brought back his excitement. “I didn’t stop studying. I am very excited to go to America,” said Sayyed, who lives in Mumbai with his uncle, who is an electrician.
The teacher who trained the boy has also got a visa and will accompany him to New York. “The administration felt that it was only right that the hardworking teacher who motivated the student throughout the year should go with him,” said Jogi.