People of Value

Basavraj: An inspiration to many..

His 'handwriting' is like print; he draws, paints, makes 60 different 'rangolis', stitches, makes handicrafts, cuts vegetables to perfect size, rolls out chapattis, plays on the computer and, above all, greets you with a grin that's every bit warm and genuine and with a firm 'foot' shake!

He has made a beautiful garland - sequins stitched on bright red cloth pasted onto deftly-cut circular cardboards - which he wants to present to President A. P.J. Abdul Kalam; he is in fact awaiting word from Rashtrapati Bhavan, confirming the date of his audience with the President. The 14-year-old Basavaraj does all this and more, with a single foot.

The 4-ft-tall lad stands tall with his numerous achievements. Born without arms, he was afflicted with polio when he was barely two. This left him with one foot shorter and weaker than the other. But these disabilities have not left Basavaraj's mind incapacitated. He is determined to make the best of God's greatest gift - that of life itself.

He says that he feels ashamed seeing people begging. He thinks that everyone is special in some way and we have to make ourselves useful to society rather than lead a parasitical existence. We have to make the best of what we have and he is sure that if one is willing to fight against the odds, even the sky is not a limit.

Basavaraj hails from Inganala, a remote village in the Bijapur district of Karnataka. The eldest among five children, Basavaraj taught himself to perform simple chores such as wearing cloths, eating and drinking with one foot. Even as you watch amazed, he skillfully uncaps a mineral water bottle, pours himself a glass and effortlessly sips from it.

He says that he has always known that he would never be like the other people around him but he did not want to be pitied either. He still wanted to enjoy the simple things, which they did so naturally but he had only one foot with which to try, and so started training himself to eat with his foot, imagining it to be his spoon.

Then came the tryst with school. You can't learn without writing so he tried to hold the pencil between his toes and succeeded in writing with his foot. One thing led to another and now it has become as easy as doing things with hands. Basavaraj came to the notice of the Karnataka State Human Rights Trust (KSHRT), a Bangalore based NGO, when it visited Bijapur last year to spread human rights awareness among the villagers.

A student of class 5 in a Kannada medium Government School, he wrote to the trustees, seeking assistance for computer training. A big smile lights up his face when he says that he was fascinated by this machine that he first saw on TV. He did not understand how it could do the many things it does. He wanted to learn everything about it and use it.

Although the trust did not take notice initially, it was finally moved to help the boy after receiving a second letter from him. Ramesh, one of the trustees recalled that when they noted his determination and saw the earnest sparkle in his eyes, they decided to take him under their wing. He was just 2 months away from his final exams and so they promised to take him to Bangalore after his exams.

KSHRT initiated him into yoga and other physical exercises to build his fitness level. Basavaraj is now in class 8 at a Government School in Bangalore. He attends classes on a wheelchair and consistently scores above 60%. Within a year he mastered stitching, painting and cooking skills. He even conducts computer classes for many challenged youngsters.

Ramesh said that besides their children, a few beggars also came to learn to operate the computer from him and he also teaches them the other skills he is good at. He has inspired those around him by doing all these things himself. Basavaraj's routine begins at the crack of dawn with prayers. He then wheels himself to school.

Back home in the afternoon, he is busy with homework, after which he spreads out the various craft material needed to make the placards, name boards and other items that well-wishers ask him to design. He has even visited other schools to demonstrate his special abilities.

KSHRT is trying to raise funds for surgeries to rectify his ear problem and his polio-affected foot. They hold exhibitions of articles made by him. Onlookers are bowled over not only by what Basavaraj can do, but also by his positive outlook.

Source: Bravo, Basavaraj! Business Line, Delhi, 23 December 2005.