Richa Sharma, Desh Bhagat Radio
It is early days yet, but creativity certainly appears to be his calling. At 10, his toys include a Fuji Film camera that he uses with élan, models of cars from around the globe that are the envy of the world, a Rubik’s cube, a string guitar that he strums with guffaw to rasp octaves of the universal birthday ditty, a loaded Sony Play Station with megaton woofers, and a touch-screen Apple IPad with loads of geeky-gawky gaming apps.
But Daanish Katyal’s playground stretches beyond the digital canvas. He is as much an outdoor enthusiast as indoors. He dives into the swimming pool with the agility of the quintessential coin hunter and resurfaces with ideas for nature’s landscapes and people’s portraits. He walks in the woods in quiet contemplation of mischief. He also walks the ramp with a glint in his eyes and poses for pictures that sell dreams to other children.
He loves cycling in the rain, humming new-age songs like Balam Pichkari picturised on Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, and peddling prurient thoughts. He hits the ball real hard on the tennis court. And he kicks it with equal ferocity on the football field. When you meet him, he will instantly endear himself to you. He is charming and confident. And he meets everyone, including strangers and passersby, with a disarming, loving smile.
He is communicative, abundant with energy, focused, purposeful, smart, fun. His mantra is style, motto success. But mantras and motto apart, he wants to live life as a good human being. He runs the race but only on the race track, not in real life. Rat races are not for him. He would rather focus on a flower plant and grow it. Or take out his — or his celebrity dad’s professional camera — and aim and shoot. His best pastime is a pillow fight with his favourite Masi who is as prank-prone and naughty as him.
He dreams dreams!!! The pleasure drives past the Punjab Engineering College (PEC) at Chandigarh have helped him set his eyes on automobile engineering. His hand-writing is already engineer-like — antsy and often illegible — but he is good in Maths. He also likes other science subjects. He speaks some English but he hates instruction in languages. His TV viewing is rationed but he has seen everything on TV which is worth seeing.
Daanish has just accomplished his mission for this summer break: to ride the airwaves as a Radio Jockey. That’s a momentous landmark for a magnificent child. And after a glorious one-hour performance on the city’s newest and most happening sound mill, Desh Bhagat Community Radio, he is sitting on a miniature merry-go-round in his neighbourhood park, sharing notes with his inquisitive and awe-struck friends.
Now, how many 10-year-olds can boast of packing so much in their first decade?