March 08, 2010
My visually impaired cheer leader !
Manisha
Ramnikbhai Jadav, is like any other woman of her age. At 27, she is full of
dreams, exuberance and loads of positive energy! Manisha is visually impaired
since birth. This handicap does not stop her from chasing her ambitious
dreams! Her face looks very mature and stern for her age, perhaps because of
the pain she has she has undergone in life. But beneath that face, exists one
of the most beautiful person and finest human being I have come across in my
life!
Manisha has done B.A( with English), B.Ed, a certificate course in
physiotherapy and currently pursuing diploma in physiotherapy from Blind
People's Association, Ahmedabad. She visits people at home and guides them for
physiotherapy exercises. I have known her for past seven years. In all these
years I have learnt to see world around me with a different perspective,
thanks to her. I met Manisha by sheer chance! Few years back, I had
developed severe pain in my neck and was advised some physiotherapy exercises
and massage. A friend recommended her to me and briefed me about her. I was a
little apprehensive considering her physical handicap but with mixed feelings
of curiosity and sympathy I decided to give her a chance.
From our very first meeting we bonded very well. She was thorough at her work.
She combined physiotherapy and massage with interesting conversations that
always posed many interesting questions. She often narrated her experiences
that gave glimpse of difficulties visually impaired people face. In all these
years I have never heard her complain about anything in life. Not even when
she faced some serious challanges like her mother and brother losing their job
of diamond polishing or her father meeting a serious accident that caused
loss of vision in one of his eyes!
Manisha gifted
me a beautiful book as parting gift, when I shifted to Mumbai. I can't express
what it felt like to receive it from her. After I left Ahmedabad, it is
Manisha who has made a conscious effort to stay in touch with me. She calls to
wish me for festivals, birthdays, Valentine day and above all to share what is
happening in her life and know about mine. When I called her last, she was
busy, helping someone get a job. That is exactly what Manisha is all about,
always reaching out to people in whatever way she can! Sometimes I
wonder, from where does this woman get so much strength to love everyone
around her so deeply? Be it her family that she supports or her friends, she
is someone everyone counts on.
It is rare to find selfless people in today's times. When one meets someone
like Manisha, it is difficult not to be moved in some inexplicable way. There
is something beautiful about her persona that stays etched in your mind
forever. On the occasion of Woman's day today, I thought of writing about
this extraordinary woman with great ebullient spirit who has taught me so much
by just being herself. She has always been my invisible cheer leader. I owe
her so much for changing my way of looking at life. I salute this woman with
substance. May God bless her always!
Simi Mehta
