Gauri Shardul got a pat on the head from PM Modi after she recited the Ramayana.
Highlights
- Gauri Shardul enthralls audience with her rendition of Ramayana
- She was part of the students who were gifted smart kits by PM
- PM Modi celebrated his birthday in Gujarat with 'Divyangs'
A differently-abled girl on Saturday stole the show at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Navsari rally where he celebrated his 66th birthday.
Among the many who interacted with PM Modi and came on stage to receive their special aid kits was class 1 student Gauri Shardul.
After handing her a Braille kit, the PM interacted with Gauri who was dressed in a white frock with a red floral belt and hairband.
He then held her hand and escorted her to the lectern so that she can recite the Ramayana for the audience.
PM Modi taking Gauri Shardul to the lectern.
Propping up the young girl in his arms, PM Modi hands her the microphone and encourages her to recite the Ramayana for the audience. "Bolo Beta, bolo," the Prime Minister tells Gauri.
Visibly nervous the girl starts by introducing herself. "I am Gauri, the differently-abled daughter of Puja and Yogi Raj Shardul. I study in Class 1."
PM Modi once again tells her to recite the Ramayana. This is when the girl takes over the mike.
Her rendition of the Ramayana is met with a thunderous applause from the crowd and pat on the head from the beaming Prime Minister.
"I am lucky to celebrate this day with so many divyangs (differently-abled people). Did any Prime Minister ever do this?" PM Modi asked the crowd in Gujarati.
Asking people not to pity the disabled, the Prime Minister also announced a universal syllabus in sign language that would be the same for all the regions.
"Like people here can't understand Tamil, sign languages are different in different regions. We had started a programme of a universal sign language, so it would be common for all.
"Don't pity divyangs, they have self-respect, they deserve equality," he said, adding that people also need to change their views of the girl child.
PM Modi interacts with class 1 student Gauri Shardul.
About 11,232 disabled people received wheelchairs, tri-cycles, smart sticks, smart phones, laptops with special software for mentally challenged people, Braille scripts, callipers aid and other tools and scholarships, marking three world records.