In quest for knowledge, physical disability is no handicap
Arshad Hussain
Muhammad Ramzan Gugjoo and Haleema in Srinagar’s Dangerpora area are epitome of parental love since they groom two daughters who are suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that gradually weakens the muscles. Both the girls in their teens have lost the ability to walk, sit upright or move their arms. Despite odds, Ramzan and Haleema have been toiling hard to educate them. Amazingly, both are matriculate. Tabassum due to intense weakness has stopped further studies while Saima is hell bent in pursuing her education. The impoverished family, which detested celebrating any occasion, were gripped by joy as Saima, 17, achieved what her friends failed to and she did it by working relentlessly for 14 hours a day to pass the matriculation with 66 per cent marks.
She could have secured more marks had she been able to move her hand properly. Ramzan's elder daughter Tabasum, 22, has qualified the exams in 2006. This was her second attempt after failing in two subjects in 2003.
According to Ramzan, Tabasum was born a normal baby but it was at the age of four when she was unable to stand by her own and used to fall down and crawl.
It was Dr Sethi who, after examining her when she was in fifth class, revealed that our other child will also have the same problem as the elder one, said Ramzan.
It was the third child, Saima, who, after Tabasum, showed signs of the disability while other two children Wasim, 20, and Iqra, 15, are normal. Wasim studies in 12th standard and Iqra is in ninth.
Both Ramzan and Haleema are the embodiments of parenting as the former used to carry Tabasum and Saima on his shoulders to their school while the latter would bathe, comb, dress them and help them with books and lunch pack.
“I have to minutely monitor their movements since they can't move from the place where they are seated. After every eight days, I bathe, comb and change their clothes. Their movement to bathroom is difficult and I have to ensure that they are not hurt while I carry them on my shoulders,” says Haleema.
Ramzan left his traditional work of selling carpets and started a grocery shop at his house in Dangerpora, Yechpora, near Nawakadal.
“I suffered huge losses when I switched over but to me taking care of my daughters was more important. For both of us, it was crucial that Tabassum and Saima don't get a feeling of insecurity due to their disability,” he opines.
This family rarely visits any relative on occasions of happiness or grief as taking them along means inviting people to raise queries about their health conditions. Besides, the focus on the occasion shifts to them.
Ramzan's shoulders do bear marks of resilience since he had to carry daughters on them from home to school.
Both Tabasum and Saima stopped walking when they were in sixth standard.
“It was for more than five years that I carried my daughters on shoulder to their school,” reveals Ramzan.
It was dream come true for illiterate parents to educate crippled daughters who worked hard to qualify the matriculation.
Apart from parents and siblings, both Tabasum and Saima love Kangri and pillow as they consider the items vital to live in a room round the year.
“They are like roses as they can't wear warm and heavy clothes in winter and have to sit on pillow for comfort. So Kangri and pillow are two things which they consider vital to their life. Since they wear light clothes, they feel chilly and that is why they use Kangri from October till May while pillow is always there,” reveals Haleema, who sold her ornaments to construct a single storey house with a toilet for use by Tabasum and Saima.
“In the previous house, the toilet was far away from the rooms and we had to face problems while carrying them during bad weather conditions,” says Ramzan.
Among the two, Tabasum has developed fear psychosis and yells at her mother the moment she fears slipping or skidding while Saima is composed but off late has developed pain at the back whenever she is lifted on the shoulders by her mother.
Shocking for both the parents, Tabasum has been seen cursing her fate when she goes to bed while Saima says that her end was near within a year.
“I often saw Tabasum wishing her death while Saima cries that she will pass away any moment as she is developing weakness,” observes Haleema.
This makes both the parents worrisome.
Interestingly, even in these conditions, they don't want to be dependent on their parents and that was the main reason for Tabasum to stop from pursuing her education beyond matriculation.
“I have seen the way my parents took care of me and Saima and how much my father had to spend on our medical and education facilities. Besides, I do have a brother and a sister who live a normal life and their education is important, so I decided to quit,” says Tabasum, who loves computers.
Her interest in computers pushed her resolve to complete a three-month course in computer application from Govt Polytechnic, Srinagar .
Both the parents are worried about the future of Tabasum and Saima as they ponder over the situation when they are no more.
“That is why we struggled to educate them. The emphasis was to help them survive as independent persons but since Tabasum quit and Saima's interest got diminished which makes me worry about their future,” feels Ramzan.
Saima's interest in going for medical stream diminished after college authorities argued that she can't opt for the subjects since practical and regular classes are a must for qualifying for the examination.
Shocked, Saima is slowly accepting the reality of going for arts subjects with no regular classes. “This will depend on BOSE if they will allow her to appear in the examination without going for regular classes,” argues Ramzan.
With dejected mindset, both read Holy Quran and go for Zikr praying for their parents' long and healthy life.
Arshad Hussain
Muhammad Ramzan Gugjoo and Haleema in Srinagar’s Dangerpora area are epitome of parental love since they groom two daughters who are suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that gradually weakens the muscles. Both the girls in their teens have lost the ability to walk, sit upright or move their arms. Despite odds, Ramzan and Haleema have been toiling hard to educate them. Amazingly, both are matriculate. Tabassum due to intense weakness has stopped further studies while Saima is hell bent in pursuing her education. The impoverished family, which detested celebrating any occasion, were gripped by joy as Saima, 17, achieved what her friends failed to and she did it by working relentlessly for 14 hours a day to pass the matriculation with 66 per cent marks.
She could have secured more marks had she been able to move her hand properly. Ramzan's elder daughter Tabasum, 22, has qualified the exams in 2006. This was her second attempt after failing in two subjects in 2003.
According to Ramzan, Tabasum was born a normal baby but it was at the age of four when she was unable to stand by her own and used to fall down and crawl.
It was Dr Sethi who, after examining her when she was in fifth class, revealed that our other child will also have the same problem as the elder one, said Ramzan.
It was the third child, Saima, who, after Tabasum, showed signs of the disability while other two children Wasim, 20, and Iqra, 15, are normal. Wasim studies in 12th standard and Iqra is in ninth.
Both Ramzan and Haleema are the embodiments of parenting as the former used to carry Tabasum and Saima on his shoulders to their school while the latter would bathe, comb, dress them and help them with books and lunch pack.
“I have to minutely monitor their movements since they can't move from the place where they are seated. After every eight days, I bathe, comb and change their clothes. Their movement to bathroom is difficult and I have to ensure that they are not hurt while I carry them on my shoulders,” says Haleema.
Ramzan left his traditional work of selling carpets and started a grocery shop at his house in Dangerpora, Yechpora, near Nawakadal.
“I suffered huge losses when I switched over but to me taking care of my daughters was more important. For both of us, it was crucial that Tabassum and Saima don't get a feeling of insecurity due to their disability,” he opines.
This family rarely visits any relative on occasions of happiness or grief as taking them along means inviting people to raise queries about their health conditions. Besides, the focus on the occasion shifts to them.
Ramzan's shoulders do bear marks of resilience since he had to carry daughters on them from home to school.
Both Tabasum and Saima stopped walking when they were in sixth standard.
“It was for more than five years that I carried my daughters on shoulder to their school,” reveals Ramzan.
It was dream come true for illiterate parents to educate crippled daughters who worked hard to qualify the matriculation.
Apart from parents and siblings, both Tabasum and Saima love Kangri and pillow as they consider the items vital to live in a room round the year.
“They are like roses as they can't wear warm and heavy clothes in winter and have to sit on pillow for comfort. So Kangri and pillow are two things which they consider vital to their life. Since they wear light clothes, they feel chilly and that is why they use Kangri from October till May while pillow is always there,” reveals Haleema, who sold her ornaments to construct a single storey house with a toilet for use by Tabasum and Saima.
“In the previous house, the toilet was far away from the rooms and we had to face problems while carrying them during bad weather conditions,” says Ramzan.
Among the two, Tabasum has developed fear psychosis and yells at her mother the moment she fears slipping or skidding while Saima is composed but off late has developed pain at the back whenever she is lifted on the shoulders by her mother.
Shocking for both the parents, Tabasum has been seen cursing her fate when she goes to bed while Saima says that her end was near within a year.
“I often saw Tabasum wishing her death while Saima cries that she will pass away any moment as she is developing weakness,” observes Haleema.
This makes both the parents worrisome.
Interestingly, even in these conditions, they don't want to be dependent on their parents and that was the main reason for Tabasum to stop from pursuing her education beyond matriculation.
“I have seen the way my parents took care of me and Saima and how much my father had to spend on our medical and education facilities. Besides, I do have a brother and a sister who live a normal life and their education is important, so I decided to quit,” says Tabasum, who loves computers.
Her interest in computers pushed her resolve to complete a three-month course in computer application from Govt Polytechnic, Srinagar .
Both the parents are worried about the future of Tabasum and Saima as they ponder over the situation when they are no more.
“That is why we struggled to educate them. The emphasis was to help them survive as independent persons but since Tabasum quit and Saima's interest got diminished which makes me worry about their future,” feels Ramzan.
Saima's interest in going for medical stream diminished after college authorities argued that she can't opt for the subjects since practical and regular classes are a must for qualifying for the examination.
Shocked, Saima is slowly accepting the reality of going for arts subjects with no regular classes. “This will depend on BOSE if they will allow her to appear in the examination without going for regular classes,” argues Ramzan.
With dejected mindset, both read Holy Quran and go for Zikr praying for their parents' long and healthy life.
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