He is all of 15, but Delhi lad Diwakar Sharma is now set to be a school principal.
The boy who charmed the country with his melodious voice in the TV talent hunt show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, Sharma is set to head an upcoming music school for other visually impaired children in the Capital.
The music school, named ‘Parampara’, is being set up by Shyama Chona, the outgoing principal of Delhi Public School, RK Puram — Sharma studies in Class IX of the same school.
Chona said the music school will open in September, thereby making Sharma the youngest school principal in the country.
“I chose Diwakar as principal because I want to prove that a child is the father of man,” Chona, who retires as DPS-RK Puram principal on August 12, told Newsline. “Diwakar will be the youngest principal of any school.”
Sounding optimistic and confident on the phone, the teenager said he has been informed about his new role. “Popularity of music among children has grown a lot in the past few years and equal opportunities should be given to everyone,” he said.
Chona said Sharma, who has “already proven his talent to the world” will serve as inspiration to other specially abled children.
She said the music school will be housed at C-10, Vasant Vihar, in South Delhi.
A new block, consisting of five “huge rooms”, has been constructed in the premises of Tamanna School, an institution for special children in Vasant Vihar, Chona said. The school, she said, is now working on the acoustics of the classrooms.
“The idea is to bring the talent of visually challenged children to the people,” an official from the soon-to-be-opened institution said. “Diwakar as principal will serve as an example. Besides, the country at large is also discussing the rights of differently abled children after the Parliament passed the Right to Education Bill.”
Parampara — touted as a music school “for the blind, by the blind” — will teach Indian music, Indian instrumentals, vocals, classical and Indian dances. It will integrate students with mainstream education later on, the official said.
So how does it feel to be a student as well as the country’s youngest school principal at the same time? “I will still stay a student,” Sharma said. “They (authorities at Parampara) want to encourage other children..”
And that is where he comes in.
The teenager’s father, Sunil Sharma, said that having appeared in Li’l Champs, Diwakar will now contest in the senior version of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa show.
–Agencies