Monday, December 3, 2001		Article

STRENGTH does not come from physical capability. It comes from an indomitable will. Ever since he was born, life has certainly not been a cakewalk for Ritesh Sinha (27), a physically challenged man. Still the will in him found its way and this man who suffers from a severe brain disorder runs a computer institute affiliated to National Open School.

Today is the International Day of Disabled Persons

Students have become used to the way Ritesh speaks and are sympathetic as well as helpful towards their cerebral palsy-afflicted teacher. — Photo Pradeep Tewari

Ritesh suffers from cerebral palsy, a condition wherein a part of the brain remains dysfunctional and the affected person has no control over his body movements and nervous coordination. "He was a blue baby who suffered from anoxia during his birth and later, we detected that his milestones were also not in accordance with what a normal child usually has. The limb movements too were not harmonised," recalls P.R. Sinha, Ritesh’s mother who is a Principal Scientist with National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal.

Since then life became a constant challenge for this boy’s parents. No school was ready to admit him but Sinhas’ were determined to brave all odds and ensure that their spastic son gets his rightful due. A school ‘obliged’ by taking him in with many riders attached. That was until Sister Grace Maria, Principal of St Theresa’s Convent School, came in like an angel and admitted Ritesh to her school.

"I was very happy and I owe what I am today to this noble lady. Had it not been for her, I would have been a different person — illiterate, maybe," says Ritesh and adds nostalgically that all this happened in 1981, the Year of the Handicapped. This man has even written an article in praise of his Principal.

His father, Dr R.N. Sinha, a retired ICAR additional director general, narrates how Ritesh was once made a Banyan tree at a school function wherein he was supposed to stand still and most of the school pitched in to support this lad and help him coordinate his body movements. "He was an active NSS worker during his school days and such was his determination that he used to go to Kunjpura on his own to attend camps," Dr Sinha adds.

Despite swimming against the current wherein even daily routine was a struggle, Ritesh managed to score more than 75 per cent in the Class X exam and completed his graduation in science. Then he completed his diploma in computer applications from Kurukshetra University scoring 70 per cent marks and a certificate in computing with 83 per cent marks. Now he is pursuing his Masters in Information Technology.

Ritesh runs a computer coaching centre, the only one affiliated to National Open School at Karnal that provides vocational training. He coaches a batch of 40 students every day and they say that they are happy with their ‘special’ teacher. They have become used to the way he speaks and are sympathetic as well as helpful. "He is mentally very alert and we can very well understand what he teaches," Anita Rathod, a student says.

Married three months ago, Ritesh loves to dabble in astrology. The Karnal Junior Chamber also gave him an appreciation award this year for rendering a special service to the society.