Together brothers

They were both dubbed “the mischievous boys of Gasparillo,” now the brothers have become the pride of their hometown.  Scholarship winners Reza and Idris Mohammed of Ragoobar Lands are continuing their quest for academic excellence at the renowned Imperial College, University of London, England. Reza, 23, has completed his master’s degree in mechanical engineering and is working on his doctoral thesis, while younger brother Idris, 19, is also pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Their parents Farouk and Farida Mohammed are thrilled their two sons have chosen the same field. Farouk, who is extremely proud of their accomplishments, said that from their early childhood Reza and Idris showed signs of brilliance. They excelled in sports, extra curricula activity and academics while attending their parents’ alma mater, the Gasparillo Government School. 

Reza and Idris were active members of the Fifth Gasparillo Scout Troop and Idris was the Sixer when the cub pack won the Wolfe Head for the second time. Reza was instrumental in bringing home this trophy in his first outing as assistant Sixer. At nine, he won the Giselle La Ronde trophy for placing first in the TECU Quiz in 1989. “They were both very active in all aspects of their early school life including ‘cockfight’ and ‘boat race’ on the school’s compound. We were always warned about their role in inciting dysfunctional behaviour in their class,” Farouk said. The Mohammeds enrolled their sons in maktab (learning to read the Quran) classes at the Gasparillo Mosque and this helped the boys to improve their discipline. Reza excelled at the Common Entrance examination and was the top student that year.  Idris repeated that feat five years later. They left a legacy at their Gasparillo school and went on to Presentation College, San Fernando, where, Farouk noted, they were involved in almost anything Presentation had to offer but their competence and strengths were the academics.

He told the story of his sons as if he was narrating for a book. He remembered an occasion when Reza was almost expelled from college for being the ringleader of a group involved in peddling prohibited stuff and was dubbed the “businessman” by school mates.   Having recovered from this incident, Reza proved that he had what it took to excel. He represented his school up to his A-levels in football, table tennis and cricket and was called the “Master Blaster.” Idris took part in the lighter sports since he suffered a major injury while playing football at primary school. In their O-Level examinations they each gained ten distinctions. At A-levels Reza won the Open Mathematics Scholarship copping the President’s Gold medal in 1998, having placed first in the country. Not to be outdone, Idris placed second in the island this year, just missing the President’s medal.

However, he placed fourth and eight in physics and mathematics in the Cambridge world ranking. He made an all-time “Pres” record for being the only student to score the highest in all four A-level subjects including General Paper. The brothers won  UWI Open Scholarships for mechanical engineering and are two of three people from Gasparillo to win Open Scholarships in the prestigious Mathematics category. They are home for the holidays and are busy visiting and catching up with friends and relatives.