Tuhin Dey is desperate to follow in the footsteps of his hero. It’s no easy feat when the 17-year-old’s idol is Professor Stephen Hawking, but the teenager from West Bengal is already on the way to becoming a young cosmologist.

 Dey has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita – but his condition hasn’t held him back completing his exams for his India’s Institutes of Technology (IIT) placement by holding a pen in his mouth.

Before studying for the IIT Tuhin achieved the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement in 2012 and a year later he was awarded with the Best Creative Child with Disabilities award. In other words…He’s an extremely bright lad!

Singing her song praises his mum Sujata told the Hindustan Times: “Since his birth in 1999, Tuhin has undergone more than 20 surgeries. But that did not deter this boy from studies,”

She added: “Tuhin is our world. Nothing is bigger for us than him.”

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Yash Gulati told the publication: “You need brain, not brawn, to get ahead in life.

"This congenital disease does not affect intelligence and as long as he can use a wheelchair to move and communicate, he will remain highly-functional."

Kota’s Allen Career Institute has offered Tuhin a free course if he achieves his IIT entrance, director of the institute Naveen Maheshwari said: “We promote exceptional talent and offer them free coaching so that they can inspire others.”

Tuhin Dey was presented his award for Best Creative Child with Disabilities by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.