June 6, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): Many Indians, whether in India or overseas, have a strong relationship with the English language. It could be due to the Indian colonial association with Britain. For all the negative ramifications of British colonialism, it certainly introduced the complicated English language to the Indian society.

The Indians, at least in the urban areas of India, seem to have an excellent command over the English language. This awesome command over English is not just restricted to the residents of India. It traverses international borders as well. Indians residing abroad too have a commendable understanding of the nuances of the English language. One area in which this has been increasingly evident is the Scripps National Spelling Bee in America.

This week, the winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in America was an Indian-American, Anamika Veeramani, of North Royalton, Ohio. This was the third successive year in which an Indian-American had triumphed in the competition. Also, Anamika’s triumph marks the eighth time in the last 11 years that an Indian-American had conquered the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Anamika triumphed subsequent to nine intimidating rounds, which ended in her appropriately spelling ‘stromuhr,’. Now, stromuhr is a tool utilized to calculate blood flow rapidity. She battled her way through initial rounds fruitfully spelling words such as ‘foggara,’ ‘osteomyelitis,’ ‘mirin,’ ‘nahcolite,’ and ‘epiphysis’. In the one before the last round, she suitably spelt ‘juvia,’. This is a word for a Brazilian nut.

Anamika, who happens to be an eighth grade student at the Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, was participating in her second successive Spelling Bee. She had occupied the fifth position in 2009.

Rich Boehne, President and CEO of E.W. Scripps Company, expressed his heartfelt best wishes for Anamika. He lauded her by stating that she had triumphed over some of the most taxing words in the English language to come out as the 2010 national victor.

For her victory, Anamika will take the delivery of a sizeable $30,000. She will also attain a carved cup, $5,000 erudition from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation. She will be the recipient of a $2,500 American Savings Bond and a reference library from Merriam-Webster. She will procure some other prizes as well. Anamika has mentioned that her victory was a dreamlike experience.

Anamika, for the time being, desires to attend Harvard University and become a successful cardiovascular doctor.