News

Volume 6 Issue 6 - September 01, 2009

A tribute to Vikas Sharma

Late Vikas Sharma

Vikas Sharma (11/05/76 - 22/08/09), Chief Access Consultant, AccessAbility and a post-graduate in Inclusive Environments from U.K., was a respected and loved name in the disability sector. D.N.I.S. pays tribute to the tremendous contribution he made to the sector, his passion for his work and most importantly, for being the person he was.

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: On August 22, Vikas Sharma passed away after having met with a road accident. It has been several days now and people in the disability sector are still trying to come to terms with the fact that this young man is no more. Even people who barely knew him. Why does everyone feel so anguished? Why does everyone feel this huge sense of loss?

It was his personality, his ever smiling face, his generosity, his attitude and enthusiasm. And, his 200 percent passion for accessibility. His grasp over the subject, his knowledge. One of the tributes that D.N.I.S. has received said, “His familiarity with Indian building codes and international accessibility standards was unsurpassed.” Another one said, “He laid a great foundation of work and raised the standards high for accessibility consultants throughout.” And then, there is this one, “Vikas was a true visionary and had the power to think beyond.” The last, summarizing Sharma’s work and life, goes like this, “Whenever he discussed or presented his work to others, he would just light up. And so would the room!”

Sharma was only 33. It is not often that someone so young and having spent so little time in the Indian disability sector is able to jolt the consciousness, the emotions and the core of the sector. There would hardly be anyone in the Indian disability sector who has not been touched by this awesome tragedy.

Sharma worked closely with N.C.P.E.D.P. He was a member of the Access Core Group. He was instrumental in drafting the access guidelines with proposed revisions to the existing Indian standards for buildings and facilities under the National Building Code (N.B.C.). The draft has been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Standards (B.I.S.) for consideration and once approved, will be a pathbreaking achievement for the entire disability sector.

Sharma will surely be missed. However, his ideas and thoughts will always be there to give us direction. D.N.I.S. deeply grieves his loss. The entire N.C.P.E.D.P. team sends our prayers to his family and friends.