Utsav Sharma, who grabbed national headlines last month by stabbing the Ruchika molestation case convict SPS Rathore outside a Chandigarh court, was not too long ago a cheerful youth making a comedy animation film at the National Institute of Design (NID).
Now, his film's plot has changed completely. It is based on dark realities of life. He hopes to make the film, which is part of his project at the institute, and get his diploma certificate, reports Ahmedabad Mirror.
Standing outside the NID hostel campus gate at 8.30 pm on Saturday, Utsav spoke in a measured, composed manner.
He refused to speak on the attack, in which he, posing as a journalist, stabbed former Haryana DGP Rathore repeatedly on the cheek with a penknife on February 8.
“The matter is in court and I have been advised not to say a word about the incident,” Utsav said. But giving a glimpse of what prompted his attack on Rathore, Utsav said, “I can't tolerate injustice.”
But why did he change the track of his project movie? Utsav admitted the turn his life in the past few months changed the film plot. “My film will now talk about realities of life,” he said.
On Saturday, he appeared a man eager to put his life back on track. He wants the NID authorities to take him back, allow him to complete his project in animation film design, and resume “living normally.”
He said he suffered from bouts of depressions but added they are now a thing of past. He said, “I am coming out of depression. I have a support system around me. My mother is protecting me from the media and outsiders.”
Saturday, in fact, began on a very bleak note for Utsav. He thought he had lost his project work as he was unable to find the hard disk that stored his film.
Rathore after being stabbed by Utsav
He sent a communication to his friends that read (sic): “Returned on 25th morning. Today when I returned after a short break my hard disk went missing. It is a 2.5” Seagate 500 GB portable HDD (silver color). It contains all of my DIPLOMA work to date. If you come across it... please let me know.”
He later clarified that all's well with the project. “I found the hard disc in the evening,” he said.
Utsav is facing an uncertain future. He tried paying his fees at NID on Thursday, but the money was not accepted. He doesn't know whether he remains a student at the institute.
NID director Pradyuman Vyas is waiting for Utsav's project guide Shekha Mukherjee to return to the city. He told Ahmedabad Mirror, “Utsav coming back was a surprise to us. But we don't want to rush into a decision. After all, it's a question of a youngster's future.”
An earlier picture of Utsav Sharma (3rd from left)
All he has on his mind is his diploma. “I have already missed the deadline but I am determined to complete my project and studies. My project is my top priority. Also, I don't want to cause any further problem for my parents,” he said.
