He memorised the periodic table at 2 and graduated high school at just 12
At two, Suborno Isaac Bari could recite the periodic table. At four, he wrote a book. At seven, he was invited to lecture at an Indian university. By 12, he had graduated from high school and was preparing to study mathematics and physics at New York University.
But the young mathematician, physicist and author does not believe his achievements should be explained only through words such as “genius” or “prodigy”.
“I think it's very disingenuous to just reduce someone who is successful at a young age to prodigy or genius,” Bari told India Today NE. “It's really 90% effort, 9% luck, and 1% talent.”
His academic journey began unusually early. Born in New York, Bari attracted attention as a toddler after demonstrating his ability to name the elements of the periodic table. His parents soon realised that conventional classroom learning was not sufficiently challenging for him.
As he progressed through school, Bari skipped several grades. According to reports by The Washington Post and ABC News, he completed the fourth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades, bypassing the fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and 11th grades. He also took advanced placement courses and college-level classes while still in school.
In June 2024, Bari became the youngest student to graduate from Malverne High School in New York at the age of 12. He had scored 1,500 on the SAT and received a full scholarship to study mathematics and physics at NYU. His school and family had worked on an accelerated academic plan that also allowed him to spend time with students closer to his age, rather than focusing only on academic advancement.
Bari’s interests have never been restricted to one subject. He has written books, delivered lectures and explored areas of mathematics that are generally introduced much later in academic life.
His first book, The Love, was written when he was very young and focused on religious peace. In the India Today NE interview, Bari looked back at the idea with humour and acknowledged how simple his thinking had been at the time.
“Honestly, I was very naive back then and I believed that if we just had one more book on this, on the stack of at least 1,500 books talking about religious peace, then everyone will be globally fine with talking to one another,” he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by India Today NE (@indiatodayne)
His mathematical interests later took him towards complex problems, including the Riemann zeta function. Bari said he came across the function when he was 11 while exploring different areas of mathematics.
“I was just looking at a bunch of different areas of math, and I stumbled upon this function which used a concept I already knew, the P series,” he told India Today NE.
Bari has also been associated with university lectures in India. At seven, he was invited to speak at Mumbai University, where he delivered a physics lecture. His academic profile also lists lectures and book talks at other Indian institutions.FAMILY SUPPORT BEHIND THE ACCELERATED JOURNEY
While Bari’s academic record has attracted global attention, he credits his family for helping him reach this stage.
His father, Rashidul Bari, has worked in education and pursued advanced studies in physics. In the interview, Suborno recalled that his father earned much of his income as a security guard while studying for a master’s degree in physics during the day.
“My dad was making most of his money from a security guard that he was doing and now he's a professor,” Bari said.
He also spoke warmly about his mother’s support.
“My mom has always been so supportive of me the whole way,” he said. “Without her I would never exist.”
Bari’s achievements have also drawn attention from prominent figures. The Washington Post reported that he received a letter of recognition from former US President Barack Obama in 2016, which his father posted on social media. The report said the letter attracted international media attention. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prof Suborno Isaac bari (@prof_suborno_isaac_bari_)‘THEY’RE HAVING EVERYTHING TAKEN FROM THEM’
Despite his own success in traditional academic subjects, Bari is concerned about what generative artificial intelligence could mean for young learners.
Asked what his generation might gain or lose in the AI era, his answer was stark.
“Nothing. They're having everything taken from them,” he said.
His concern appears to be that technology could reduce the need for young people to struggle through problems, develop curiosity and build skills independently.
For Bari, effort remains central to achievement. His own educational journey may look extraordinary from the outside, but he insists that talent alone cannot explain it.
His long-term ambition is to become a professor and help students understand mathematics and science, particularly those who have limited access to educational resources.- EndsPublished By: Roshni Published On: Sep 11, 2026 18:31 ISTRead | Farmer's son Satyam Kumar cracked IIT-JEE at 13, landed an Apple role at 24Read | This 10-year-old Turkish girl scored 100% to win global Maths title at STEM Olympiad
