In a video posted as part of a thread of tweets, a gushing Kulsum reads the note by Rowling: ‘It would be an honour to meet you one day. With Love.’
New Delhi: Artefacts from a magical universe left a remote school in Jammu spellbound as they arrived with love from a world-renowned author charmed by one of its students.
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling made good on her promise to 12-year-old-old Kulsum Banoo Bhat of Haji Public School, a fan whose school essay on the British writer went viral on Twitter, and sent her a big box of gifts, with extra merchandise to give “your classmates, friends and whoever you like… even your teachers”.
The essay was posted on Twitter by her teacher with corrections marked in red, along with those of her classmates on other subjects. In the piece, Kulsum, an aspiring writer and one among her family’s first generation to learn English, had expressed a desire to meet Rowling.
The gifts included a box-set of the seven-part Harry Potter series and other goodies such as stationery inspired by characters of the book.
“Today was our last day of class before Term 1 exams and look what arrived in the mail,” Kulsum’s teacher, who had also shared the essay on Twitter, wrote in a tweet.
“Gifts from JKR with personalised notes for Kulsum. All of class 7 (along with their director Sabbah Haji lost their minds. (sic),” she added.
In a video posted as part of a thread of tweets, a gushing and smiling Kulsum reads the note by Rowling: “I have sent some things. I hope you like them. I am also impressed by your English. It would be an honour to meet you one day. With Love.”
Another shows her equally excited classmates gathered around the gifts as Kulsum goes through them. A teacher is heard saying this episode should encourage everyone to read more.
The excitement, in fact, led teachers to cancel a practice exam scheduled for the day.
We were supposed to have our practice exam for Civics after school. No such luck. Everyone was way too excited. (Rajveer got the bhooth pencil it seems.) #HajiPublicSchool pic.twitter.com/62lbnBbxWe
— Entha (@enthahotness) June 23, 2018
Sabbah Haji, the director of the school at Breswana, a Chenab valley village 7,500 ft above sea level in Doda, later thanked Rowling in a tweet, saying they were thrilled to receive the gifts.
“Hello, world. So @jk_rowling sent a huge gift box for Kulsum and friends. Handwritten note, inscribed book, and this is almost too much to handle… We are so thrilled and squeaky, I cannot even. Thank you so much, Ms Rowling (sic),” Haji tweeted.
The note posted by Kulsum’s teacher in April was retweeted by Haji with a tag to Rowling and a message: “Dear @jk_rowling. Kulsum, 12, a first generation English learner from the Himalayas would like to meet you someday. So come visit us at Haji Public School.”
Rowling’s reply had taken everyone by surprise: “Please can you send me Kulsum’s full name by DM? I’d love to send her something.”