Mangalore: Karnakar - Seeing Light at the End of 'Tunnel Vision'
Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 26: In the blink of an eye Karnakar’s beautiful world had collapsed when he was told he suffered from a rare disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and would lose his eyesight completely within the next two years. It is a rare genetic disorder that affects only a few people the world over and there is no known cure for it as of now. This disorder is characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptor cells eventually leading to blindness.
For nearly a month young Karnakar was distraught unable to reconcile with the bitter truth of his life with the question ‘why me’ haunting him constantly. When there was no answer for his persistent query Karnakar decided to pick up the loose strands of his life from that very moment to take on the challenges of life with a positive attitude.
This was almost 40 years ago and now even at the age of 68 Karnakar has been able to see though he has only tunnel vision. He has lost his peripheral vision and he says is probably the only person in the world having vision at this age despite suffering from RP. Karnakar also says that has not only defied the medical world but has also demonstrated that with will power and positive outlook it is possible to surmount any challenges in life. Needless to say Karnakar is reaping rich rewards for his unflinching determination and positive attitude. “I can confidently say I have challenged the medical world because even doctors are baffled as they have no answer how I am still having vision”, he says with a chuckle.
Looking at Karnakar it is difficult to believe he is clinically blind because he looks like a normal person and even. This is because RP has no outward effect on the eyes and hence for other people with RP don’t look blind. Even if they are legally blind because of the reduced field of vision or acuity they may be able to see bright objects distinctly.
Karnakar’s achievement is not just about overcoming his degenerative debility. While his is a story of inspiration, dedication and determination, he in his own way is trying to give back to the society his gratitude by conducting spoken English classes to needy students and homemakers. He also does psychiatric counseling, help trauma victims by counseling and gives health advice to those who face uncommon health problems. He conducts these courses in his own house at Surathkal – all free of cost. In the last 7 years he has tutored about 500 girls in spoken English language. He is self dependent and takes care of all his needs on his own without depending on anyone else. What more, he is an avid gardener, a hobby which keeps him occupied and has grown a variety of vegetables on roof top that include banana trees.
K S Karnakar whose parents hail from Haleyangadi was born and brought up in Mumbai. He was highly interested in electronics which he cultivated as a hobby even as he completed his BA from St Xaviers in Mumbai. His father was a graduate during those days and nurtured his interest in electronics. It was his interest in electronics that landed him up with a job with Panasonic in Saudi where he worked for five years. After working for 5 years in Saudi he came back to set up his own electronic shop in Mumbai. “I am a self made man who carved out my career in electronics by my own interest. I don’t have certificates in electronics but that has not stopped me in pursuing a career in it”, he states.
Till the age of 25 Karnakar had no idea that he had problem with his eyesight. Initially it started with night blindness and subsequently graduated to loosing peripheral vision. Doctors told him there was nothing wrong with him and some even prescribed vitamin tablets just to appease him. Finally an experienced ophthalmologist in Mumbai identified his problem as Retinitis Pigmentosa saying he would lose his eyesight completely within two years. The problem starts when pigmentation slowly covers the retina. Slowly progressive constriction of the visual field leads to tunnel vision and total blindness ensures in most cases.
After brooding for a month on learning about his unusual problem someone introduced Karnakar to a month-long yoga course and slowly he began to feel the change in himself. At the same time he came across a book “The Third Eye” by Tibetan Lobsang Rampa and it proved to be the turning point of his life. “It was like an eye opener for me”, Karnakar says. The book answered all his persistent queries and he realized that there is something beyond life. He also began to run behind the disease trying to get as much information as possible. Today many doctors tell him he has a Phd on the subject and they even recommend other patients to him for counseling. “I firmly believe that whenever something is taken away from you it is compensated in some other form and one has to make the best use of it” he philosophies.
After the marriage of his two daughters Karnakar wound up his business in Mumbai in 2005 and has settled in Surathkal since then. Once settled he decided that having taken all these years everything from the society he has to compensate in some way. So he took up to teaching spoken English and other classes. Initially his relatives and people around made fun of him considering him as mad. But that has not ebbed his enthusiasm for doing whatever little he is able to do in his own limited way.
After accepting the bitter reality of life positive outlook has become an essential part of Karnakar’s life. He practices Hatayoga daily for 3 hours, indulges in gardening, conducts classes, goes to the local market and is almost independent at least in his home. “At my home I can manage easily because I am familiar with the set up here. I look like any other normal person and even when I go out people cannot make out my deformity. But I have to be careful especially when I go out and while crossing the road because unlike other physically challenged people who might get some public consideration I might be mistaken for a normal person”, he points out. Just last week he was felicitated by JCI Surathkal in recognition of his service with the title “salute to the silent worker”. It was then many people including his students came to know the gravity of the problem. The programme was in the late evening and in an unfamiliar turf he had to be escorted to the stage by the organizers.
Karnakar argues that people should get rid of expectations and comparisons and that would bring them perpetual happiness. “I am happy because I don’t expect anything from anyone” is his argument. In the same breath he adds that it hurts when his students leave the course all of a sudden showing no courtesy of even informing him. Karnakar expects that people should take inspiration from him to overcome any impediments with a positive outlook instead of quailing whenever life becomes convoluted.
His roof top garden bears testimony to his fondness for gardening, a hobby which keeps him close to nature. He grows many vegetables and fruits in his roof garden and has once again demonstrated that roof top can be used for vegetables and fruits required for household consumption.
Karnakar often tells people that he uses his brain as a third eye to compensate what he has lost. He is a contented man who finds pleasure in teaching grammar and spoken English to those who are in need. His wife has been supportive of all his activities and gives him all possible help. Having discharged his responsibilities by getting his daughters married off he is now getting ready for the marriage of his son slated for December.
K S Karnakar can be contacted on:
Landline: 0824-2476233
Mob: 9945340326