This 12-year-old is waiting for school to reopen

The Express report had documented how Gopal and his grandfather , Ahmad Ansari were insulted by the school principal, B. S. Yadav, when they went to seek admission.

Not only did Yadav refuse to admit him, he also made derogatory marks about how Ansari was claiming to be a Hindu boy’s grandfather. Gopal’s maternal grandmother had married Ansari and converted to Islam after her first husband died.

Yadav was transferred with immediate effect and Chauhan said ‘‘appropriate action’’ would be taken against him.

‘‘The principal’s words probably reflect society. However, it is sad that an educationist should act like this,’’ said Sagar.

They said that since Gopal was studying in a government school earlier, it was clear that there was no chance that he had forged his certificates. Gopal has always been top of his class at school.

Today, Gopal was obviously the star. His grandfather egged him on: ‘‘Go on, now you have no worries, you’re in school.’’ To which, Gopal would produce a shy smile. ‘‘I am so glad that he has got admission. Otherwise, what would I have said to his parents who sent him here to educate him?’’ said Ansari. When told about transfer of principal, Gopal said: ‘‘He was not very nice.’’

In fact, the experience has helped him decide what he wants to be: ‘‘I want to be a school master, so that I can sit in class and teach people good things.’’