Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

In a high profile launch of the book, ‘The Girl Child’ by renowned writer Princess R Laxman, the Bollywood star Raveena Tandon celebrated some cherished moments with the students of Deepalaya on Children’s Day in New Delhi.

“I am very thankful to God that I am blessed with a daughter first, I feel completely shocked when I hear heart sinking stories of mothers leaving their daughters on railway tracks or in bins!”, quipped the Bollywood fame Raveena Tandon while reading in between the lines of a recently released novel, ‘The Girl Child’ written by Princess R Laxman.

It was a fun filled evening! The group of girls from Deepalaya School Kalkaji sang and dance and rejoiced on Children’s day with Raveena Tandon, while she was in Delhi on November 14. According to Raveena girls are God’s gift to humanity and men should never forget that they are a part of this gender, which is primarily considered as the weaker lot of the society.

Fifteen girls of Deepalaya School sang a song, “Andhere Jahan may hum“, on which Raveena and all present at the ceremony hummed together and paid a huge round of applause. The song was not the only performance; the adolescent girls made the audience tap their feet on a thrilling dance performance as well.

The veteran actress could not hide her love for the girls as she presented them all a bouquet that she received on her arrival. Raveena and Princess R Laxman congratulated the work of Deepalaya and the girls for their achievement. Preeti, a student of DSK feels very excited to have met Raveena Tandon in person. She says, “It was a dream come true. Only Deepalaya could give us an opportunity to this memorable moment, I am proud to be a part of Deepalaya School.”

The novel after being much acclaimed in Australia and New Zealand was released in India.on the Children’s Day. Princess R Laxman was happy to include Deepalaya as a part of the event. In her words, “While searching the net , Deepalaya appeared a very genuine NGO working to save the girl child, the very moment I decided it to be a part of my book launch.”

Another student, Deepa smilingly tells, “I was shocked! At first glance I could not recognize if she is the same heroine who we see on the screens. God, she is so down to earth. I kissed and loved my hand when Raveena shook hands with me and hugged me too”

As Raveena read her favorite paragraph from the book, she burst in tears and her voice got heavier when she exclaimed, “O’ God! Now when I have a little Princess I realize how special a girl child is!”. “I fail to understand how mothers leave their baby girls on roads, crying…..common, it’s a part of your own blood, she is a part of your skin that has come out from you…”, she further added specially awakening all the females present there. Her expressions, voice and feelings were so implied in the words that she spoke, which easily explains the soft corner Raveena has for the girl child in her heart.

The Bollywood icon was much impressed by the cultural performance of the Deepalaya girls. She repeatedly marked the works of Deepalaya as commendable and motivated the girls to rise very high in their lives.

For the children of Deepalaya this 14 November was the best occasion to give them all the respect and make them feel how important they are to the society, nation and humanity as a whole.