Boy, 12, writes book to help crack the code on computer programming
A Dubai computer programming prodigy has set out to decode the subject for his fellow pupils after turning author at the age of 12.
Amritesh Banerjee, a Grade 8 pupil at Cambridge International School, felt children were being discouraged from embracing coding by the way it is taught.
He decided to take matters into his own hands and used his spare time after online lessons during the Covid-19 pandemic to write a child-friendly text on Python, a popular programming language.
His book Introduction to Python is aimed at helping children between eight and 14 learn the language, and is now on sale at Amazon.
“We need easier books. The reason most children do not code is because of the way it is taught. It’s very confusing. You have to make it fun,” said Amritesh, who is from India.
“I wrote this book after I had finished reading a book on programming and was utterly confused because of the difficult language the writer had used.
“I decided to write a book that could be understood by students who were my age.
“There are a few applications which allow one to programme and create their own games but there should be more resources which can get children interested in programming.”
He started coding when he was 10 years old and can do so in six programming languages.
At an age when most of his friends spend time playing video games, Amritesh started learning programming languages and developing his own games and chatbots.
He has earned certificates from the University of Michigan, Duke University and IBM in Python programming, data structures and data science, among others.
Mentored by his father and his teachers, Amritesh, started coding in Python last year.
“This helped me make a few games,” Amritesh said.
“I love reading biographies and books on science but I never imagined I would write a book.
“I wanted to share my knowledge because books on this subject are too technical and jargon-heavy.”
He enjoys playing cricket and football and listening to hip-hop music when not reading up on science and mathematics books.
“Maths and science help me understand what the world around me is about,” he said.
“When I grow up I want to work as a data scientist or a professor.”
The pupil has already started planning his next project, an advanced book on programming aimed at children aged between 12 and 17.
His book is available in paperback and on Kindle and retails for $35.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has heralded coding as the “language of the future” and feels it will play a significant role in the UAE’s development.
In 2017, he established One Million Arab Coders, an initiative to train a million Arabs in the crucial skill of computer programming over a three-year period.
Earlier this year, a senior UAE minister announced a new Global Coder initiative aimed at teaching five mil
I started coding when I was 10. I wanted to share my knowledge because books on this subject are too technical and jargon-heavy AMRITESH BANERJEE
Author of ‘ Introduction to Python’
lion people from underprivileged families.
Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the scheme would boost businesses and help to create jobs.
As part of the nation’s digital drive, Abu Dhabi is to open a coding school next February.
Known as 42 Abu Dhabi, the centre in Mina Zayed will be free to attend.
Traditional classes and teachers have been dispensed with and the school will rely on peer review, coding projects and internships.
Anyone who goes through the programme over three to five years is expected to emerge a coder.
The school will be open 24 hours a day and has been endorsed by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Snapchat’s Evan Spiegel.