November 7, 2012

Every person lives his life cherishing great dreams. Some dreams come true, but some are shattered even before they bloom. In his journey of life, man strives for a happy and prosperous life. Throughout his life he comes across pain, frustration, and so on.

Here is a story of a 27-year-old man, who lives in Beltangady taluk’s Kokkada village, who cannot walk or run as a normal person can, but lives his life with greater dignity than most.

Sharif, a young, handsome man, has lost sensation in both his legs from below the waist. “I lost sensation in the legs when I was two years old,” says Sharif, his eyes welling with tears.

The reason behind the incident is not an accident, but a man-made catastrophe, a disaster which ruined several lives, leaving them to misery. Endosulfan.

Sharif’s father was a poor farmer who spent lacs of rupees on Sharif's treatment. But it was of no use. There are more than 210 endosulfan victims whose condition is worse and pathetic. Even though Sharif’s legs are paralysed, he wants to lead an independent, self-reliant life, as he does not want to be a burden on his family. He works in a small scale bag production industry.

He earns nearly two to three thousand rupees per month. Sharif says, “I get one thousand rupees as pension from the government, three thousand rupees I earn from my work, but unfortunately, all my earnings go to the hospital for my treatment." Sharif has two children who suffer from endosulfan problems, contracted genetically through their father.

Though this story seems simple, it shows the psyche of a handicapped person, his desire to lead life in a self-reliant way, in contrast to the present scenario where a normal man depends on another for every second of his survival!

Today, youth waste their time by bantering in streets with no job, get addicted to liquor, and tobacco. But, the story of an endosulfan victim, who, despite several problems in his family, never gave up his struggle, is heart rendering.

Not a single NGO or the government has come to his aid.

Through his struggle and confidence, Sharif has shown the way to a common man on how one can lead a better life. He has been a real inspiration to all.