Defying Disability: Bhagwaandas, The Epitome of Courage and Humanity

Hailing from the famine-struck region of Tharparkar, Bhagwaandas has defied all challenges to achieve his current merits. His story is that of passion, persistence, and resilience that made him come out to be victorious against all odds. Bhagwaandas suffered from polio and lost the ability to walk very early on in his childhood. Instead of giving up in the face of adversity, he gathered his strength and turned his disability into a distinguished ability to hold his fort and make a place for himself in the world.

He was born and raised in Mithi, Tharparkar, and belongs to a Hindu family. From the very beginning, he knew he was different from other children his age. He could not run around with them or play the same games they played. He grew up with them, but his growth was very different from his peers. Deep down he must have always felt that, but he did not let this get to him. His inclination ventured particularly towards books and learning more about them. Seeing his interest in studies, his elder sister took it upon herself to teach him. While that was enough for him in the beginning, Bhagwaandas wanted to enroll in a school to get a chance at formal education. Upon his insistence, the parents gave in and he was enrolled in a nearby school when he was 8 years old. The school he went to was not equipped for catering to children with special abilities, but so wasn’t Bhagwaandas himself. Wearing a crisp white shirt, he sits upright in his wheelchair and narrates his story with a wide smile on his face. Not once does he flinch or mince his words. As Bhagwaandas recalls, “I got interested in education because of my elder sister. When I got enrolled in the first grade, I did not even have a wheelchair. I used to go on my own in those hot summers without any support. The roads left marks on my body, but I knew I had to look past that. My craze for education kept me going.”

This commute however was not the only challenge that befell him, another trial at school awaited in form of bullying by his peers. He was slightly older than the children in his class and they found his disability amusing. They would call him names and mock him. This behavior left a mark on him, however, he powered through to achieve the goal he had set his mind to. “The children in my class used to make fun of me because I was older and still in the first grade. You know it hurts when a disabled person is called names and constantly referred to with the name of their disability.” He recalls that even then he tried to look past all this and all he feared at that point was being left behind in his studies. “I had the conviction to study; my brother had a library in his house and I would study from there just so that I am not left behind.”

Despite all the difficulties, the criticisms, and the mockery he had to face – Bhagwaandas remained adamant about one thing and one thing only – to pursue his dream of getting educated. All his perseverance paid off as he achieved his goals and grew up to become a teacher. He believes he has overcome his disability by getting educated, because by pursuing that he is capable of living on his terms and not being dependent on others.

He has been teaching at a high school since 2012 and wishes to own a school one day. Such are his goals and ambitions, he is driven and committed and there is no doubt he will achieve what he sets out for himself. His colleagues at the school describe him as a passionate individual, well-loved by all, including his students. They add that whenever he is not around he is dearly missed; it is because of the personality he has, and the good that he brings out in others. His determination encourages others to work on themselves.

“I would have been disabled today, but I got educated and that removed my disability,” he urges.

This is one instance of a disabled person who turned his misfortune around, however not every disabled person has the support system and the drive to excel irrespective of their turmoil. His inclination towards his success highlights how every individual irrespective of their caste, financial status, or disability would want to live a life where they are extended every opportunity the rest of the people get, without any discrimination. The struggles disabled people face daily are far more pronounced than what a regular person faces. When the disability hits someone from a less-privileged background or a minority, it becomes a double-edged sword, since their vulnerability increases two-fold. Not every individual has the will Bhagwaandas had, they may not want to pursue their passions because of the lack of a feasible environment for these people. And this is unfair to them since they deserve an equal chance at all opportunities there are available to other people. His story sets a precedent that every person with a special ability should be facilitated in their lives. The education system needs to be more equipped to facilitate the special needs of all, the general public needs to be sensitized to avoid making them feel inferior because they are not.

Bhagwaandas is a case in point, he is doing everything any other person does. He is successful and holds the ability to compete with anyone intellectually. He and other people like him should not be disregarded as burdens, they too have skills, ambitions, and a sense of individuality that just needs some mindfulness and additional facilitation and support where needed.