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New Delhi: Living their Dreams

Films like Fanaa, Chup Chup Ke and Tom Dick Harry, Pyare Mohan and now Gol Maal, by having disabled protagonists have definitely a statement that a physically disabled person can lead a perfectly normal life, with his/her share of failures, successes and ambitions. One just needs to psyche the mind. Film Iqbal had a deaf and dumb cricketer representing India. Similarly, Aankhen told the story of how three visually impaired men are successful in robbing a bank.

The characters in the movie may be fictional but in really too, there have been countless individuals who have prepared themselves to overcome their supposed handicap to achieve their objectives. Psychiatrist Samir Parikh says, "There are two things that drive any individual, what one can do and what one wants to. All of us have limitations and try to overcome them.

Similarly, a physically challenged person has to adapt himself to the surroundings. If they have faith in themselves they can achieve what they want." He adds, "Mental strength is the key. Even if somebody has lost the ability to do a particular thing, he is required to do many others.

The success story of the deaf, blind and mute Helen Keller (who inspired the movie Black) has inspired millions like her around the world. She became the first physically challenged person to earn a bachelors degree that too from the prestigious Radcliffe Collage. Apart from her educational achievements, she also authored books like he Story of My Life and The World I Live In.

Her disability did not bar her from pursuing her ambitions. Helen Keller once said, "The public must learn that the blind man is neither genius nor a freak nor and idiot. He has a mind that can be educated, a hand which can be trained, and ambitions, which it is right for him to strive to realize, and it is the duty of the public to help him make the best of himself so that he can win light through work."

"Defeat and victory lies in an individual's own hands" says Parikh echoing Keller's views. There are few who lose hope and spend rest of their lives saying, why me? There are others like Shankra Raman, who suffers from rectinal pigmentosa, but has not let that deter him from fulfilling his dream of being a teacher. He is working since the past four years as a lecturer in the commerce department of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College.

Another such example is that of Vidya Seetharaman who is suffering from macular degeneration. "Earlier I wanted to drive but I realized that for people like me one has to give up those small desires to achieve something more substantial," she says. Despite her disability, she has scored 88 per cent in her class 12 examinations and is planning to pursue C.A.

Soma Patnaik suffering from rectinal pigmentosa also serves as an example of iron will and determination. She scored 92.6 per cent in class 10. She reveals her magic mantra, "Where there is a will, there is a way. Lack of physical attributes is not a detriment. It is depends on a person's attitude."

The physically challenged no longer look for sympathy. With just the support of their dear ones, they are all ready to embark of life's various journeys with no regrets and lots of inspirations.

"I had read about Helen Keller. She motivated me and acted as a stimulus for me. While is school, I used to rely on my hearing abilities. Despite sitting on the first bench, I couldn't see what was written on the blackboard. It used to be hazy. But teachers, parents and friends helped and encouraged me to move forward in life and see the brighter things," says Soma.

Many are afflicted since birth but accidents also render a number of them physically challenged. However, technology has brought solutions for such cases.

For Sudha Chandran, dancing was a passion. But the very medium which gave meaning to her life was taken away from her when she met with an accident. However, it didn't prevent her from pursuing it. She overcame her disability with the help of a prosthetic Jaipur Foot to become one acclaimed dancer.

Not only dancing but, she made her way into films and television as well. "The seed of achievement lies in the human mind. When this realization comes, there is no looking back," says Sudha.

As Dr Tom Mulholland rightly puts it in his book Healthy Thinking How to Torn Life's Lemons into Lemonade, "Healthy thinking enables you to reach your goals and to live your dreams; not dream of the life you wish for but never create. It is like brain surgery without the blood. The more you practice it the better you get".

Source: Mind Your Life. The Pioneer, New Delhi, 17 July 2006.