Shayama Chona
Born 12 August 1942 · verify
Founded Tamana Association to support disabled children and led Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram as principal.
🔔 Add birthday reminderShayama Chona is the Founder-President of Tamana Association and the former Principal of Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram. In 1997, she was presented with the National Award for Individual for Best Work Done in The Cause of the Disabled.
✨ A detail that surprised us
The Tamana Special School was inaugurated by Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1992, linking Indian disability education with global humanitarian figures.
1. In 1984, Shayama Chona founded the Tamana Association in Delhi, inspired by her daughter Tamana, born with cerebral palsy, marking a personal pivot to disability education.
2. 👑 On February 12, 1992, the Tamana Special School was inaugurated by Diana, Princess of Wales, spotlighting international recognition of Chona’s work with intellectually disabled children.
3. In 1997, she received the National Award for Individual for Best Work Done in The Cause of the Disabled, reflecting her pioneering efforts in inclusive education before it became mainstream policy in India.
4. 🌟 As Principal of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, she integrated visually impaired students into mainstream classrooms, a concept rare in India during her tenure.
5. 🏆 Tamana Association, under her leadership, was awarded the First Mother Teresa Award for dedicated services to the intellectually impaired, emphasizing her influence beyond education into social welfare.
6. She was honored with the Padma Shri in 1999 and later the Padma Bhushan in 2008, rare civilian awards acknowledging her dual impact in education and social service.
7. Tamana’s educational model bridged children from economically weaker sections to mainstream schools through its kindergarten, showing Chona’s commitment to normalization and integration at every level.
8. ❓ How did Shayama Chona’s personal challenges with her daughter reshape India’s approach to disability, education, and societal inclusion?
Awards & Honours
- 🏅Padma Shri
🔍 One thing most people don't know
The Tamana Association was named after Shayama Chona’s daughter, Tamana, who was born with cerebral palsy, making the organization deeply personal and pioneering in disability advocacy from 1984 onward.
🖼️ Through the Years
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📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
Tamana Public Service Film - Interview on Doordarshan National
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Shayama Chona transformed the landscape of disability education in India by pioneering inclusive education models at Delhi Public School and through the Tamana Association. Her advocacy influenced national education policies on integration and normalized education access for intellectually disabled and visually impaired students. The Tamana Association also became a bridge for socio-economically disadvantaged children, expanding inclusion beyond disability to broader social equity.
💬 Social Buzz
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