CHENNAI: Her frail hands moved, her mouth was wide open as she twitched and mumbled, but her eyes had the spark as she was escorted in a wheelchair to the podium to win an award in recognition of defying conventional social and emotional dreams to realise her dreams. Chennai girl Bhavana could neither walk nor talk after she was diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy when she was born, but it was the spark in her eyes that expressed her willingness to break emotional barriers to attain her dreams.Using an unique eye-pointing chart to communicate with the audience after receiving the award from Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mukul Wasnik, she said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”And Bhavana was not the only one to win the award, which was given to achievers who are differently-abled. Azeem Bolar from Karnataka and Riitesh Sinha from Karnal in Haryana won the Ability Masters Award, while Mohammad Iqbal from Leh, Ladakh was felicitated with the Ability Eminence Award.Each winner had a tale to tell. For Bolar, it took twice the amount of strength to reach where he is today. Already battling with deteriorating vision as a result of juvenile arthritis, Azeem had to change his career from a successful hotelier to a counselor when a stroke rendered him completely blind, paralysing the left side of the body. Undeterred, Azeem fought every battle with optimistic attitude, teaching himself how to walk, talk and write all over again. And now, he is the most sought after counselor at a software firm in Bangalore.Similarly, Riitesh, born with cerebral palsy, was refused admission in most schools in his town. But now, he is the one who has shaped many careers in the field of computer science.But the night belonged to Mohammad Iqbal, who has been working relentlessly to ensure economic and social empowerment of persons with disabilities in Leh, Ladakh through his organisation, People’s Action for Inclusion and Rights (PAGIR). After winning the Ability Eminence Award, Iqbal urged the minister to help build roads, specially for the differently-abled.The awards function also witnessed scintillating dance performances from the Articulate India troupe (with blind performers) and Sri Lanka’s contemporary dance company, Natanda, which comprises of young hearing-impaired people. Actress Revathi, Jayshree Raveendran, founder and honorary executive director of Ability Foundation, CavinKare managing director C K Ranganathan, were also present on the occasion.
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