People & Their Problems

New Delhi, 19 April 2008

Taare Zameen Par

TURNING A DREAM INTO REALITY

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

Remember the Aamir Khan movie Taare Zameen Par? It dealt with the subject of a talented young boy, who was unable to cope with his studies due to a learning disability, dyslexic. And, it must have moved many hearts. At least I can say with certainty that I was inspired by it and wanted to help one such talented ‘star’ on earth, who could achieve greater heights, provided she got the right attention at the right time.

Her name is Rosy aka Ms Roquia Khatoon, age 12, class 9^th student of Qasmi High School, Gaya, Bihar. She stays in a crammed room with eight members of her family in a building ‘Mini Market’ at Bazaza Road, Gaya, where her father works as a watchman.
An exceptionally talented girl, Rosy has learnt some basics of computer just by watching and observing the people using it. Her friendship with computers began at age of nine and three years later, she is self-employed, making enough money to buy toys and ice creams for herself.

Born into an uneducated family, where basic facilities of reading and writing are not available, it’s a remarkable achievement for Rosy to acquire some basic skills of computers. In her own words, Rosy shares how her friendship started and grew with computers: 

“I was curious about computers, as I used to see many people sitting in front of it in the Internet shop in the Mini Market Building. One day I stepped inside the shop to observe what’s going on. I saw rich children of my age playing games and enjoying it. Within a few minutes I found myself borrowing money from my father to play the games too. The  first game I played was ‘Prince’.

The internet shop also had a printing press attached to it and did lot of desk top publishing work on the computers there. I observed people typing in English and Hindi and so started pressing the alphabets to learn for myself.  First it was English typing and then learnt Hindi typing pressing the English alphabets on the keyboard.  I also learnt to make a file and save it in a folder. Then I went on to learn page-maker and tried my hands designing logos, visiting cards, marriage cards, birthday cards, pamphlets posters, resumes and book cover, etc.

The shopkeeper saw me practicing and recognizing my talent started giving me work, but no money. But I realized that the air-conditioned shop was a good place to spend time and after school I would head for it. Since I lived in the same building, I used to sit there late till the shutters were to be downed.  

I also learnt making horoscopes using the internet. This was in great demand, especially during marriage season, when many would come for matching the horoscopes of either the bride or the groom. I also started working on excel file and learnt to prepare accounts and balance sheet of the shopkeepers of the Mini Market.

My work was getting appreciated and people started knowing me by name. In fact, many would come looking for me to give me their work to handle. The shopkeeper eventually was kind enough to give me some money, but I think he made more than what he gave me at the end. 

One day something terrible happened. I found the shop was closed for good. I don’t know the reason. I was shattered. I had really started enjoying spending a lot of time in the shop. As luck would have it, by then many people got to know me and came looking for me there. So, I asked my brothers to get me a computer on rent and install it in our tiny room. I resumed my work from my place and in a year’s time, I had become a proud owner of a computer.”   

When asked about computer education in school, Rosy said that her school had only two computers and that too were for only high school students. “Since I am still in 9th class, I cannot access the computer there,” she said.

However, her school principal is aware of her part time activity and in 2006 had given her a project to design the students’ identity card. “There were numerous designs that came for approval before the selection committee but among them mine was considered to be the best,” she said. The principal “facilitated me at a school function and I was called on stage and given a memento,” she added with pride.

As for her studies, she likes science, particularly physics and mathematics. She is scoring 80 per cent marks in science, 92 per cent in general knowledge, but is weak in English. “I would like to have tuition in English” she confessed.

As for her dreams, Rosy said “I want to learn everything about computers I want to take this as my major subject, once I am in the 11th standard. But I don’t know how far I can go”. There was a twinkle of despondency reflected in those young eyes.

Well, children like Rosy are cases of exceptional talent, like Aamir Khan’s twinkling star on earth that requires guidance and attention. I am sure there may be some philanthropists and charity-minded people who can help Rozy achieve her dreams. If so, Rosy can be contacted at her own at Email: or mobile phone: 0091-9304638569.

I write this piece to keep a promise (made by a journalist) to a star on earth to do his best to help her achieve her dreams. Needless to say, the inspiration came after seeing Taare Zameen Par.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)