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He never felt disabled

CUTTACK: It was sheer determination and lots of perseverance for this 15-year-ol physically challenged boy to achieve what even thousands of able students of his age failed to accomplish. Jagannath Gauda of Gochhabadi village of Buguda block in Ganjam district has never felt let down for being born without the forelimbs. He has once again proved that if there is a will, there is definitely a way when he passed this year’s Matriculation examinations in second division as a regular student.

For not having any of the hands since birth, Jagannath started writing with his legs when he entered the primary school of his village. Since I was able to do a lot of things with my legs like brushing my teeth, cleaning my tongue, drinking and eating, I thought of why not give a try to hold a pencil and start writing with my legs. With some initial hiccups, it worked wonders and soon I mastered the art, says a confident Jagannath who has since then not looked back and very easily went on to pass the Class IX examinations in 2007.

He also cleared the Class X pre-board examinations last year from Buguda People’s High School by writing the answer scripts with his legs. But during the final school leaving (Matriculation) examinations for which he had to appear the test at nearby Balipadar High School in March this year, the State Board of Secondary Education (BSE) authorities did not allow him to write the answers with his legs.

Instead, the centre superintendent engaged a class IX student of the school to write the answer sheets for him. A reluctant Jagannath had to dictate the answers to the junior girl in a separate room. Although, he was not satisfied with the arrangements, Jagannath was confident of clearing the examinations with flying colours. I could have got better marks writing with my legs, Jagannath, who secured 51 per cent of marks in the examination, rues.

Except for putting and removing his clothes, Jagannath doesn’t depend on anyone else in carrying out his daily chores. He can comb his hairs and play certain indoor games like ludo and cards with his legs. He plays football with elegance but loves to watch cricket matches in TV, says his father Surendranath Gauda who works as a village choukidar to support a family of six members, including three sons and a daughter.

Seeing the child born without the forelimbs, the neighbours and relatives suggested the parents to name him after Lord Jagannath. But unlike Lord Jagannath, none of this Buguda Jagannth’s siblings are handicapped.

Although, his parents tried their best to arrange artificial limbs for the boy but acute poverty has denied them the opportunity. I took him to National Institute of Rehabilitation Training And Research (Nirtar) at Olatpur in Cuttack two years ago but the doctors their demanded Rs.1 lakh for the purpose which I am not able to arrange till date, says his father.

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