Like all other Hindi movie fans, I enjoyed watching Amir Khan's latest movie Taare Zameen Pe. It is a touching story of a dyslexic child's struggles with the world.
However, I was even more delighted to discover a connection with the role that Amir Khan played in the movie. He played the art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh.
Ram Shankar Nikumbh (known as Nikumbh sir) is not a fictional character. He was an art teacher at Hansraj Morarji Public School (HMPS) in Andheri, Mumbai. I have great memories of Nikumbh sir teaching several unartistic students like me to draw and paint. A great artist and a humble individual, Nikumbh sir was a great man and an outstanding teacher. While he did not dance and sing with students like Amir Khan did in the movie, Nikumbh sir was known for being enormously patient with his students. He would never raise his voice leave aside yell at anyone.
The movie is a tribute to a master.. I wish he had lived to see this movie.
Thanks to Amol Gupte for writing this story and thanks to Amir Khan for bringing it to life.
