For Tamanna-Fashion a part, fashion apart

New Delhi: "I have taken 3 births in this one life. First one was when I was born, second when my daughter Tamana was born and third was when Tamana Association was born. Tamana is the light of our lives and it is because of her that I was able to kindle the light of hope in so many specially abled children who deserve to be made to feel special as they are very special.The only need is to hold their hand and give them the feeling of being one with them.

"We are like a dot in this world. But if many of such dots come together it could bring a great change to humanity. My work is not yet over, there is miles to go before I sleep," as Dr Shayama Chona, the founder of Tamana Special School for the specially abled spoke to a much gathered audience of the who's who of the capital, tears twinkled in her eyes in a moment of fulfillment and modest acheivement.

It was the annual Fashion show by the specially abled children of Tamana Association in which children as young as 4 years to grown up ones of 15 walked the ramp with gusto and confidence that is a rare site. Every round of ramp walk by these children wishfully forced the audience to applaud them from the depth of their hearts.They seemed to be feeling so one with them, the appreciation coming from deep within.

The guests included Mr Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law and Justice and Minority Affairs, Mr Shashi Tharoor and wife Sunanada, FDCI President Sunil Sethi along with ace designers who contributed their bit by positively being a part of Tamana Association. Tamana students adorned the designer wears and walked the ramp.

Chief Guest Salman Khurshid praised Dr Chona's efforts and endeavour towards the section of society that needed inclusion.  

Tamana, a charitable, non-profit voluntary organisation, presented this fashion show previewing the collections of renowned fashion designers at The Hyatt Regency Delhi.This year’s theme Fashion a part/ Fashion apart reiterated that fashion is a part of life of special needs individual.

The evening opened with lighting of the lamp and Zee TV’s Little Champ Diwakar singing the prayer song “Ali maula” accompanied by specially enabled students of Tamana Special Schools who performed dance movements. It was followed by two heart-warming performances; the first by students of Tamana especially choreographed by Shiamak Davar Institute for Performing Arts and the second by the Students of Tamana Preschools for EWS.

The show witnessed a one-of-a kind celebrity walk by specially enabled students of Tamana with the principals of leading schools of Delhi/ NCR, namely, Mrs. Anita Malhotra (Founding Principal, Lotus Valley School), Ms. Abha Sehgal (Principal, Sanskriti School), Ms. Aditi Mishra (Principal, DPS Gurgaon), Mr. M.I.Hussain (Principal, DPS, Mathura Road), Ms. Shipra Sircar (Principal, Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute), Ms. Meenakshi Sahni (Principal, Modern School, Vasant Vihar), Ms Manika Sharma (Principal, Shri Ram School, Junior Campus) and Mrs. Anuradha Rai (Founding Principal, PP International School) .

 This was then followed by two inclusion walks by the specially enabled students of Tamana walking hand in hand with the students of Tamana Preschools for EWS and later with the students of PP International School. These three sequences on the ramp symbolise inclusion in education.

Following the ceremony India’s leading designers came together to support this worthy cause. The participating designers were - Payal Jain, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Fabindia, Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra, Ashish Soni and Abraham and Thakore. The evening concluded with fashion show where the Tamana special School Students took to the runway, walking shoulder to shoulder with professional models.

Dr. Shayama Chona, ‘Padam Bhushan’ and ‘Padam Shri’ awardee established Tamana in 1984. As the name suggests, Tamana navigates the dreams and longings of the children with special needs and those of their parents to see them as rehabilitated members of our society. Its contribution in the field of disability was also recognized by the United Nations, that granted it Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council.Many of the students are from families struck by poverty and disability in a child.

Unlike other gatherings of the capital this one was a differnt kind as it was a social cause with a difference and where everyone present heartfully associated himself/herself with the cause. The difference lay in the fact that it was extremely warm with lots of philinthrophy, reason to make souls happy and sharing of the joys of the specially abled section of society with their inclusion. It was a party with a message. It was a special evening for special people that remained in the memory for many a days to come.