Fighting disability with ability

Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 4

Donning a black cloak and a mortarboard, 26-year-old Prince Wadhawa, who is visually impaired, and 25-year-old Paralympic swimming champion Updesh Kumar today received their MA degree in Hindi during the department’s first convocation.

Prince, whose only source to equipping himself with knowledge is audio books, joined the department in 2016 as did Updesh. Coming all the way from Fazilka, Prince first arrived in Chandigarh to study at the Institute for Blind in Sector 26 and completed his graduation from DAV College, Sector 10. Not only has he cleared his MA in Hindi in first division, but he also got through the UGC-NET last year.

“While there are many coaching centres for the blind, it’s hard to find audio recordings of latest books. I was lucky to have chanced upon an audio book of Ramchandra Tiwari and that’s how I passed the UGC-NET,” he said. The most challenging bit for him throughout his academic journey was looking for writers. “To appear for exams, we must find a writer and that was the most gruelling part of my studies. Even though I’d read somewhere that according to UGC guidelines, the college/university should provide for a writer, I had to run from pillar to post to look for one. Sometimes, I’d pay for their commute too,” he said.

Updesh, who is physically challenged, won two consecutive bronze national medals in Paralympic swimming. He was advised by his coach to take up a masters course in the varsity. “Back then, I was not just a swimmer, but a tailor too. That’s how I arranged finances for my education. I was putting up in Khudda Lahora before I got a hostel room here and would cycle daily to PU,” he said. Updesh, who hails from UP, is a victim of “medical negligence”. The nerves in his right leg became weak after a village doctor gave him the wrong injection. He uses a crutch to walk. “The most challenging part in my life was the financial crisis, but I learnt a lot along the way. I am not just good at swimming, but at volleyball, cricket and badminton too. Also, the shirt I’m wearing has been stitched by me,” he signed off.