Rithuparna K S being felicitated by State Assembly Spaker U T Khader in Mangaluru on Sunday.
Credit: DH Photo
Mangaluru: Rithuparna K S, a twenty year-old student pursing engineering in Robotics and Automation, shot to limelight after being offered a Rs 72 lakh per annum job in the flight manufacturing unit of jet engines at the prestigious UK-based company, Rolls Royce.
“I got my offer letter in December 2024 after completing my internship and I am the youngest girl working in the organisation,” Rithuparna beams with pride. Life had never been a bed of roses for Rithu. She wrote her NEET exam and failed to secure a merit seat to pursue MBBS. Later, she aspired to give UPSC an attempt but eventually enrolled for an engineering course upon being advised by her parents.
“My Dad suggested that I get my engineering degree and settle for a government job," she said. "While pursuing Robotics and Automation course at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management (SCEM) in Adyar, I got acquainted with my seniors and developed fascination toward their projects," she recollected. Her inquisitiveness about robotisation and automated systems marked the beginning of her blazing academic endeavours.
Together with her friend, from building a detachable robot for arecanut pesticide spraying and harvesting to bagging silver and gold medals at an international conference in Goa among competitors from Singapore, Japan, China, and Russia, Rithuparna has been conferred with many accolades and opportunities. Rithuparna has been one of the 15 top students selected from Dakshina Kannada under the DC Fellowship programme to solve real-world problems.
“My academic milestones, projects rigorous interviews helped me get an internship with the Rolls-Royce Company,” informed Rithuparna. Wading through a tight college schedule and internship timings, she had to pull all-nighters and keep the internship news and interviews away from her parents' eyes until she was officially appointed by the Rolls Royce company. Her salary was initially fixed at Rs 39.58 lakhs per annum.
"Later it was increased to Rs 72.2 lakhs per annum after being recognised for my contributions to the company during the months-long internship," she revealed.
Rithuparna says youth today have big dreams, yet they only give their 50 per cent instead of 200 per cent to achieve what it takes to be successful.
“Determination, dedication, gratitude towards what you do are important. One must always be grateful for their family and never forget their roots even when they move out of India to work in a foreign land,” she emphasised.
As she keeps her nose to the grindstone and plans to embark on her career in the US on completion of seventh semester at SCEM, Rithuparna holds her head high and hitches her wagon to a star with dreams steadfast on creating wonders at Rolls-Royce.