Disability does not have to be a deterrent to achievement. Several children, despite disabilities, excel and exhibit extraordinary talents. Sunday POST meets a Bhubaneswar-based youngster, Durga Shankar Dash, 17, who has overcome a rare disability to excel in different fields.
Durga Shankar Dash has no sensation in his body from neck down. However, he is an achiever who has been felicitated by several organisations across the state. Born to Ashok Kumar and Namita Dash, Durga is good at his studies. As a schoolboy, he enthralled judges and audiences by singing Siva Tandav at a function. Impressed by his talent, the Dhenkanal district collector felicitated him with a special prize. When his parents were considering a singing career for him, he lost his auditory sense at the age of 12, which left them in shock. Despite the odds, Durga managed to secure 64 per cent marks in his matriculation exams and now he has joined the BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar.
“Durga was born with many complications. His head was larger than his body and legs were shorter comparatively,” says his mother, Namita. His physical condition left the doctors and parents in a state of shock.
“But I didn’t lose hope,” adds Namita. “I resolved to take care of him. He is good in studies and could sing well. Noticing his singing talent, I thanked God that my physically challenged son could take up a career in singing. But, we felt let down by God when he lost his auditory sense following an infection. He had to abandon singing. That came as another shock. Durga also felt discouraged that he couldn’t interact well with others. Noticing his interest in studies, I decided to do everything to help him. I learned sign language and taught him by writing in the air. Gradually, he followed my sign language and concentrated on studies once again. Thanks to his teachers who supported him and cared for him, Durga passed class X with first class. We felt blessed. He was felicitated by Bhubaneswar Mayor, MP Prasanna Patsani and others during the Pathotsav in the city.”
Durga Shankar Dash is also good at writing and painting. He has bagged many prizes in competitions held by the state government and organisations working for the disabled. He is good at translating from Hindi to Odia and English and has translated many books of Munshi Premchand and other reputed authors. Though he attends college now, Durga continues to face the problem of communicating with teachers and students.
“Initially, I accompanied him to college to support him, but due to my job I could not continue for long. I requested the college authorities to fix classes for him in one room as he is not able to move without support. Now, he feels lonely at college as no one talks to him. College authorities also do not inform us about important examinations or class suspensions,’’ says Namita.
Recently, Durga joined a computer course. Asked what he wants to achieve in future, Durga said in sign language that he wants to study more and get a job. He considers his brother Gouri as his best friend. Sometimes, he feels bad for his parents who are working so hard for him and spending more than 50 per cent of their earnings on his medicines and treatment.
However, Namita says, “We never considered Durga as a burden, but we are worried about his future. We have not got any financial assistance from the state government although there are several schemes for such children. We have run from pillar to post but to no avail. So, we decided to do our best for our son so long as we are alive.”
Bratati Baral, OP