Preetika Jesudasan, 11
Daughter of Parul Sharma, head of communications, Star TV and Tony Jesudasan, group president, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group
Preetika Jesudasan can take to the mat and pull off rhythmic gymnastics moves as gracefully as she does her Kuchipudi, which she has been learning since she was five. If her days are chock-a-block with school activities, her free time is devoted to sports camp, computer games and dance rehearsals. Her weekends, in her words, are “busy, busy, busy”. “I love to spend quality time with my parents, practise on the electronic keyboard, play with my dogs and finish a lot of homework,” says the surprisingly mature 11-year-old. What does she do when she isn’t doing any of these? “I watch videos of the Merrell Twins, SuperWoman, Dan TDM and PopularMMOS on YouTube or go solo, watching my favourite shows and movies on Hotstar,” she says.
The daughter of Parul Sharma, head of communications for Star TV, and Tony Jesudasan, group president of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, Preetika idolises Malala Yousafzai and Deepika Padukone. The chirpy little girl has travelled to over 20 cities in India and abroad so far, owns an iPhone and uses apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Musical.ly, Minecraft and Video-Star. With so much exposure, it’s no surprise that she’s extremely aware of all that’s happening around her. Consider her views on a Smart City. A crime-free, clean city with free Wi-Fi and a place where even stray animals are cared for is a Smart City, according to Preetika. She thinks Delhi has smart people but it’s not a Smart City. “For it to become one, people need to have a lot of self-regulation,” she says, adding: “The rich should be paying more tax so that the poor can be provided with better infrastructure.”
What would you do to improve the city if you were Delhi’s Chief Minister?
I would make littering a crime and impose a heavy fine. I would ensure clean, free drinking water. I would make public buses stick to lanes and I would ensure stray animals were looked after.
What does Smart City mean?
A city without crime, without litter, with safe drinking water, free public toilets, free Wi-fi, environment-friendly public transportation and homes for stray animals.
Do you think Delhi is or can be a Smart City?
For Delhi to become a Smart City, everyone will have to be disciplined, respect their fellow citizens, and value cleanliness.
Things you like about Delhi
I love the fact that we have unique seasons—the Metro and multi-cuisine eateries. I also like the fact that Delhi provides goodquality education, both government and private.
Things you don’t you like about the city
I hate showoffs. I don’t like that women aren’t respected, and that stray dogs are illtreated. I hate road rage, and the litter everywhere.