A scientist, mathematician and polymath, Basant Sagar was a true visionary whose “dexterity” inspired millions of young people in India and around the world and was considered an absolute genius by Nobel laureates, mathematicians and scholars at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and around the world.
Basant Sagar, who passed away on November 06, 2017, is seen in the league of Indian heroes as Srinivas Ramanujan and APJ Adbul Kalam who dedicated their lives to the service of "science, space and society."
On his 31st birthday and on the completion of ten glorious years of the organization, Dexterity Global declared February 10 as the International Day of Dexterity to honor the rich legacy of this Indian hero who in his short life embodied the true "dexterity" spirit and serves as an inspiration for millions of Dexters around the world.
Honoring the legacy of an Indian hero
Basant Sagar was the first and remains the only scholar from present-day Bihar who received a full scholarship to pursue his degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, United States.
Basant Sagar receiving his degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from MIT President Susan Hockfield (2011)
Basant Sagar was considered a genius by Nobel laureates, mathematicians and scholars at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and around the world.
He is one of the very few dignitaries who received invitations from two consecutive US Presidents in office. In 2007, Basant Sagar was invited to the People to People Leadership Summit under the patronage of the then US President George W Bush. In 2010, Sagar was invited by NASA administrator Charles F Bolden Jr to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida to interact with US President Barack Obama on space policy.
Basant Sagar presenting his research at MIT
Raised in small towns and villages of Bihar for the most part of his life, Basant first went to school in Grade 8. Basant broke economic, systemic and institutional barriers to achieve the greatest success in a short but in no way ordinary lifetime.
Basant, who self-taught himself higher level Math and Science, was only 14 when he was selected by NASA as a Student Scientist for its 2003 Mars Mission and received an honorary membership of the famed Planetary Society for the same.
From 2007 and 2011, Basant Sagar had an extraordinary career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Basant did scholarly research used by the US Department of Defense, MIT, NASA and other prestigious organizations.
He was the founder and managing editor of MIT’s prestigious Math Major Magazine, chaired the Undergraduate Math Association, served as the Director of the MIT Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (MIT SEDS) and was the founder of MIT Quidditch.
Basant published researches and invented path breaking technology in the fields of music, medicine and gaming.
A clip from the MIT newspaper.
"Mr. Basant Sagar led an amazing life as an MIT student and alumnus. I trust that his legacy will live on through the lives and work of his family, friends, associates, and fellow researchers."
Rafael Reif
President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Basant Sagar Scholarships at Dexterity Global
Students around the world accessing Dexterity Global’s programs and platforms will receive Basant Sagar Scholarships that will fully or partially pay for their education.
Basant Sagar serves as a role model for millions of young people around the world and the scholarship program will inspire and enable many million kids to serve India and the world through their education and leadership and dedicate their lives to public service and nation building.
