Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Jul 16: For IIT-B post-graduate student D Udaya Kumar, July 15 will go down as the greatest day of his life. The Cabinet and the finance ministry on Thursday gave the nod to the Indian rupee symbol that he had designed and submitted last year.

According to Udaya Kumar, the year-long wait was worth every second, as he was sure that his designs, that are a blend of both Indian culture and global advancement, would impress the judges and the concerned officials. “I had made more than 25 designs, but sent only four of the best, as each contestant was allowed to submit two entries only. Each entry could have two designs,” Udaya Kumar said.

After the first elimination round, the fact that Udaya Kumar’s designs made it to the final 10 gave his confidence a huge boost, and he was even more sure that his designs would be selected. “At the presentation in New Delhi, each contestant had to explain the thought behind their designs. I explained that my designs were a blend of both Devnagari and Roman scripts. The equal sign was indicative of the Indian currency and economy being at par with other economies of the world,” he said.

While the prize money of Rs 2.5 lac was a tempting reason to enter the competition, Udaya Kumar said that he had always wanted to do something for the nation that would be symbolic as well as immortal.

“I am very happy that my design has been selected. It is the fulfilling of my wildest dreams,” he said.