Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

In the English classic, My Fair Lady – Ms. Doolittle sang, “I could have danced all night…and still have wished for more”.

For Deepalaya students the song went like this, “We could have sung all night….and still have wished for more…”

Yes that was the sentiment echoed by 15 students of Deepalaya School Kalkaji Extension returning after performing at the final show of Georges Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ – the World’s most performed Opera. This French Opera was produced by the Neemrana Group in association with The Ashok. They performed at the Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg Delhi from 18th to 20th April 2008.

The Opera is based on the life of a girl named Carmen, who is very beautiful but fickle. The story is set in Seville, Spain, in the year 1830 and revolves around Carmen, the beautiful Gypsy with a fiery temper. Her relationship with Corporal Don José, an inexperienced soldier leads him to reject his former love. He turns to a criminal life, and ultimately, out of jealousy, murders Carmen. Although he is briefly happy with Carmen, he is in rage, when she turns from him to the bullfighter Escamillo.

Deepalaya students who participated in the Opera are a part of a choir group at Deepalaya School, Kalkaji that has won many accolades. The New Year ushered in new opportunities for this group at Deepalaya School, this year, as they started their preparations to be part of the Opera since January. “After several rounds of screening, 15 students were shortlisted”, says 10 year old Priya. The students (12 in the junior choir and 3 in the adult choir) practiced hard. Their diligence and sheer determination to grab opportunities won them a place in the Opera along with students from other elite public schools. Once again our students have proved that they only need a chance ….they will prove themselves.

“It was an exciting moment”, says 15 year old Nitin “being on stage with so many people- Sri Lankans, French, Indians. I have learnt a lot about their cultures and about diverse people in general”.

Deepalaya gives a chance to underprivileged children to exploit their potential to its full capacity and learn diverse international cultural art forms through this Opera. Apart from providing formal education to underprivileged children Deepalaya endeavours to provide all round development of these children by bringing their hidden talent to the fore, through their participation and exposure to such international level programmes, thereby building their confidence.

Ms. Gabriella Boda-Rechner, the chorus conductor, initially skeptical, was impressed with the speed at which the students picked up. Lauding our students’ performance, Ms. Claire Levacher, the conductor, exclaimed that she could not distinguish Deepalaya children from the others. That indeed reinforces Deepalaya’s belief that “Every child deserves a chance”.