With a Will to Do

Kuldeep Singh

Physical disability is no obstacle in leading a normal life if you have courage and devotion. So says cent per cent physically challenged Kuldeep Singh. Singh says he does not want to live on the mercy of others but wants to make history for others to follow.

Suffering from cerebral palsy since he was hardly 10 days old, he works for hours on computers and is fond of reading books and writing short stories and poems. Now aged 27, Kuldeep enjoys classical music and likes to attend kavi sammelans whenever they are held in Hisar or nearby. Having done a postgraduate degree in political science with 57 per cent marks, he serves as a good tutor to his sister who, thanks to her brother, has never gone to a private coaching centre.

“I don't like to disturb anyone which is why I go to the bathroom by rolling on the floor,” says Singh.

Kuldeep's mother Omwati said, “He is a hard worker and is firm about achieving his goals with devotion, zeal and great effort, my son got 68 per cent marks in maths in Class X by using a calculator. I am proud of him as he has given me all the joy that a physically sound son could have given.”

Talking about his future, Kuldeep himself says, “I want to have a family with a good wife and obedient children, including a beautiful daughter, and I want to become a good father. I have applied for a government job in Haryana and hope to be selected on merit. I also dream of becoming a good story writer, which is why I am a regular visitor to kavi sammelans where one can learn from the poets who have made a contribution to the society through their poetic works.”

Source: Physically challenged man accepts challenge, wins, Indian Express, Chandigarh, 13 November 2007.

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Jayshree Ravindran

The Ability Fest 2007 held recently in Chennai is what brings Jayshree Raveendran to the fore (not that she wants to) as people from different parts of the country watched and enjoyed films from 24 countries. And what was so special about these films? They were all about those with disabilities – either as makers or subjects. The entire spirit of the festival focused on cinema by, with and about people with disabilities. And this international disability film festival is also held in other cities such as London, Melbourne, Paris, Munich, Moscow, Calgary, Toronto and Beirut. It came into existence in Chennai in 2005 only due to Jayshree.

It is not so much in getting such a festival going that makes Jayshree such a person to emulate. It is here spirit and her constant enthusiasm of finding new ways to ensure a better deal for those with disabilities. For instance, she edits a magazine that attends to the needs of the disabled and her own one does not prevent her from achieving what she truly believes: that the disabled have the same hopes and ambitions as everyone else.

At her office in Adyar, the smiling, beautiful woman does not want to talk about herself. But as one gets into a conversation with her, if flows from the time she was young and a fun-loving child to the strong dedicated woman she is today. “Actually, I owe a great deal to my parents who never ever allowed me to feel that I could not do something,” she says. And as she grew up, she kept dreaming of how she would change the world. “Why should someone with a disability be any different?” she asks. A successful, inspiring person, who is as her staff says indeed “Ability Foundation,” has brought out a magazine, India's first for the disabled, something that is unique in this day of media explosion. “When I started I saw there was such a profusion of magazines on any subject but not on this,” she says.

The AbilityFest with its “60 Minutes to Fame”(a short film competition open to all) creation of the magazine in an audio format, a National Centre for Information and Communication Technology (NCICT), a full–time six–month programme that helps graduates with hearing visual impairment to prepare for the demands of the corporate world and become truly employable not because of their disability, but because of their qualifications and potential, a cyber café for the blind, the highly successful job fair called Employ Ability, are some of her achievements.

Jayshree threw up a very successful lecturer's job (with the Indira Gandhi University) to gather strength for her dreams. “It was not easy as it was a lovely job. Something I enjoyed. But one has to make choices and that is what I did one day.” She shares. Till 1995, there was no law or bill to safeguard the interests of the disabled for equal opportunities. In December 1995, the bill was passed in the Parliament and in January 1996, it became an act called Persons With Disabilities Act, a law that provides them equality in every sense of the term. “Till then then there was no advocacy, not much awareness and certainly not this much of sensitivity we see today,” Jayshree says. This was when she chose her path.“Everyone laughed when I said I wanted to start such a magazine. ‘Who will read it’, they said. Why would a lame man read about another lame man', they scoffed. But I was sure this would make a difference. Disability is not a disease, it is not something a condition one has to live with and it can occur to any one. There is a great need to bring about an attitude change,”she explains.

So is there something else to her than the tremendous work she is doing as Ability Foundation? “I have learnt Bharatnatyan under Adyar Lakshaman, Kuchipudi under Vempatti Chinna Satyam and Mohiniattam from Trichur Ramanathan and Veena from Pichumani lyer,” she reveals. That is indeed a list. This interest in the arts manifests as the Sangamam where the Foundation organizes dance recitals with many children and young adults with and without disabilities. How has the journey been? "Lovely, simply beautiful. I don't say I do not have the frustrations and tensions of getting things to where I want them to be. I don't concentrate on a problem for too long. Instead, I think of how I can solve them. Instead, I think of how I can solve them. And for me, every step is a step ahead,” she concludes.

Source: She promotes the ability to do something special, Asian Age, New Delhi. 18 November 2007.

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Venkataravanappa

Disability is for the mind and not for the body–a phrase apt for the well–know athlete in the physically challenged category, Venkataravanappa. When you see Venkataravanappa sitting on his chair, he appears physically normal, since the upper portion of his body is healthy. A closer look and you will realise that God has not given him any legs!

Though his parents underwent severe suffering and mental agony on Venkataravanappa's birth as a disabled child, he finally reached the summit in his chosen field by dint of hard work and dedication. In spite of his disability, he earned name and fame not only for his parents and his organisation, where he works, but also to the country at large.

Though he does not have legs, his hands and other parts of the body are strong. Hence, he chose games like shot–put throw, javelin throw and discuss throw, right from his college days. His strong desire and curiosity in these sports, made him popular nationally as well as internationally.

Venkataravanappa was bestowed three reputed awards – Arjuna Award, Ekalavya Award and the Rajyothsava Award for his success in athletics. Venkataravanappa proudly recollects, “The year 1999 is an unforgettable one in my life because during this year, I received all the above three meritorious awards. This is a rare phenomenon and for a person like me, it's all the more great!”

Venkataravanappa today lives in Vidyaranyapura with his wife and two sons, who he refers to as a perennial source of encouragement and inspiration. He talks about his wife's great concern towards him whenever he goes out of town to participate in events. “My wife is concerned about my health, especially when I go out of town to take part in athletics. She prepares all essential food items well–ahead of time, to be taken along so that my health does not deteriorate during my sojourn,” says the loving husband, adding his deep acknowledgement towards the support and encouragement he has received from his seniors at the his work place.

He received his school education at an ashram in his home town near Kolar. Actually meant for Brahmins and vaishyas, Venkataravanappa feels fortunate to receive a seat on basis of his discipline and sincerity. Being the eldest in the family, Venkataravanappa took on the responsibility of taking care of the young siblings apart from his parents. To which, Venkataravanappa says beaming with pride, “By the grace of God. I was able to support my brothers and sisters. They all are well–settled in their chosen fields now. I am also settled on my own in spite of my disability.” Though Venkataravanappu does not wish to participate in public functions, he would love to address seminars and conferences organised by schools and colleges in order to in spire and motivate students such is the will of this achiever.

Source: Disability no bar for him, Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 15 November 2007.

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