World topper keen on Indian foreign service

Updated on: Thursday, December 22, 2011

The sites outside were of a different kind, the sounds, of a different nature. But to young Arjun Krishna Lal, Kerala didn’t seem a lot different from the state of Iowa — the ‘American Heartland’ — he stepped away from.

His life revolved around the world of academics and music and a bit of martial arts. Lean and tall, he would switch among the different worlds and find a place at the top in all.

The 11th grader was the world topper in the IGCSE tenth standard board exam this year, which is recognised by the Cambridge University. He is also the chairman of the youth wing of Kerala International Centre, a State based think tank formed by the likes of former ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan and MP Shashi Tharoor.

“I followed a British curriculum in the US. So joining the IGCSE syllabus at the Trivandrum International School did not pose many difficulties,” says Arjun.


Son of an army officer, Arjun is interested in the Indian Foreign Service. His role in the Kerala International Centre has helped him come in contact with several dignitaries in the diplomatic field. “It was exciting to meet the delegates of the liberal democratic parties from the UK.”

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