Paralysed and bedridden for 10 years, yet this principal manages her school virtually

For the last 10 years, 64-year-old Uma Sharma has been on a hospital bed, as her body, except for the hands and face, has been paralysed.

Yet Sharma, who is a school principal at the National Public School in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, has not missed a single day and runs her school, virtually. From her hospital bed, she uses a tablet through which she monitors classes, staff room and even the playground. She also takes classes, through the Internet.

Teachers and students say that Sharma is nothing short of an inspiration.

They say that they never feel her physical absence as she is always there when needed. Sharma started the school for underprivileged kids after she lost her husband 27 years ago. Two of her children died soon after her husband’s death, but neither those tragedies nor her illness has broken her spirit.

She says that her passion for teaching and desire to educate the children of the area have kept her going. She may be paralysed in body, but clearly her spirit is still fierce and strong.