For Rajan Sharma, being chosen to take part in a children's theatre performance for the visiting future king of Britain was the turning point in his life that took him off the streets of New Delhi.
Mr Sharma, an orphan, was a homeless six-year-old in 2003, surviving by scavenging for scraps to sell when he was chosen by charity workers to take part in a mime show depicting street life for King Charles, then the Prince of Wales.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was picked from the footpath and told that I have to perform for the prince. I was both nervous and happy,” Mr Sharma told The National.
Two decades later, he has a steady job and a an eight-month-old son.
The memory of the show he took part in for King Charles, whose coronation is on May 6, is vivid.
Mr Sharma was one of 14 children gathered from the Jama Masjid and Hanuman Temple areas of New Delhi by ActionAid, an international charity, to perform a 15-minute play titled Patri Par Bachpan, meaning “children on the street”, that reflected the struggles of homelessness.
The performance was in mime as the British royal could not understand Hindi and the children could not speak English.
“I played a policeman’s role — how they used to misbehave with us. Prince Charles was so engrossed in our performance that he did not even blink for a second,” Mr Sharma said.
“He watched the play and clapped for us at the end. I was scared of forgetting my act but when he clapped, I was very happy. We were thrilled that a royal gave us respect.
“He was very smart. He wore a pantsuit and had a flower in his pocket. He was very down-to-earth and treated us nicely,” he said.
Although King Charles might not be aware of it, the lives of the children who performed for him that day in October 2003 changed for the better thanks partly to the high profile afforded by his presence.
All of them received shelter and education with the help of charitable trusts and NGOs, and not only stayed together but also, with the help of volunteers, formed a theatre group called Jhamghat, meaning “crowd” in Hindi.
The group performed plays across the country to spread awareness of homelessness and child abuse, and in return received support from education institutions that led to them being able to receive vocational training.
“There may not be any direct financial support from him but because of Prince Charles, Jhamghat today is working with 300 children,” Amit Sinha, founder-director of Jamghat, told The National.
“When we used to tell people that these children have performed in front of him, they would listen to us and support the children,” he said.
“We even received a letter from his office after 10 years of establishing Jamghat. It is a big achievement for us.”
Mr Sharma now works as a cleaner at a restaurant in New Delhi, earning 15,000 rupees ($184) a month.
“I was a rag picker before I was picked for the play. I was not only rescued but also given a life of dignity. I am now working, making decent money and have a family,” he said.
“It is because of the royal that my life changed forever. If he wasn't here that day, I would not have been selected for the play. Now that he is a king, I will tell my friends that I was lucky to have seen him closely. It was a wonderful opportunity.
“I hope I can meet him again.”
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16
Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs
K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
