by S. N. Venkatnag Sobers
Mysore :
Being born as a differently-abled is considered to be the consequences of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combinations of these. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person’s lifetime. Medical community has classified the condition causing disability as follows:
1.Inherited (genetically transmitted).
2.Congenital, meaning caused by a mother’s infection or other diseases during pregnancy, embryonic or fetal developmental irregularities, or by injury during or soon after birth.
3.Acquired, such as conditions caused by illness or injury or of unknown origin.
To overcome the disability and prove to the world that they are as strong as a normal person, one needs courage and guts. Normally, a person with any disability will depend on others to help with their routine. However, there are several examples where in persons with such disabilities have achieved success without much assistance from others, using their own intellectual skills. One such example is that of great Stephen Hawking, an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the Cambridge University. Despite being diagnosed with a motor neuron disease related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21, he went on to become one of the most successful scientists of this century. Hawking is almost entirely paralysed and communicates through a speech generating device. He continues to inspire people around the world and has dreams of visiting outer space once.
The person, who I am introducing here in my story, is not Stephen Hawking, but an ordinary person, who was as normal as others until he met with an accident couple of years back in Bangalore. Meet B.R. Darshan Kumar, an entrepreneur, who runs a small-scale industry that manufactures paper plates at Bannimantap in city. Hailing from a business family, Darshan was working as a Project Manager in a software company in Bangalore. All was well until a tragedy struck him on April 1, 2011, when a BMTC bus hit him near Monotype, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore, when on his way to office.
No one came to his rescue and Darshan got himself admitted to a hospital to save his leg and life, where he was treated for 48 days. His leg was amputated after several failed attempts to save it. After this tragedy, his company asked him to continue with the job, but Darshan wanted to come back and start his own business and stay with his parents in city.
After this horrific accident, Darshan did not lose hope and courage. He instead decided to get a prosthetic leg and lead a normal life. A prosthetic leg is much more expensive when compared to the Jaipur Artificial Limb available in India. But the advantages of having a prosthetic limb are much more than the Jaipur limb.
A Prosthesic Leg has a Titanium foot and carbon fibre socket, which enables a person to continue with his normal work with optimum mobility. Speaking to Star of Mysore, Darshan said that he booked for the prosthetic leg through a company called the Otto Bock. According to Darshan, he has been leading a normal life with his prosthetic leg.
He was also recently seen participating at the Celebration Run in which he walked for 5 kms along with his friend Avinash. While most people were relaxing at their residences on a lazy Sunday, Darshan was seen participating in the Celebration Run. There are many people who feel dejected with their lives and take extreme steps. But, in case of Darshan, he was bold enough to face the reality of life and move ahead.
Today, Darshan has provided employment for about 20 persons at his factory.
Darshan’s father B.B. Rajashekar, runs Sri Nandi Agro Industries, a Neem Organic Manure. His mother K.T. Bharathi is a home maker.
Darshan has proved that the differently-abled can also lead a normal life. He is truly an inspiration for those who have lost all hopes.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S. N. Venkatnag Sobers / October 02nd, 2013