Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MS)

Bantwal, Jun 4: She is different, she is special, and not just literally. Despite her limitations, she has proved that any physical challenge can be overcome with grit and determination. Though she is differently-abled, now she is progressing towards recognition at the international level. This is the story of the girl whose achievement is synonymous with her name 'Yashaswi'.

At first glance, no one would say Yashaswi can neither hear nor speak. Though she has a concern about this deficiency in her mind, her innocent and cordial smile stands above all.

Yashaswi K is the second daughter of Thimmappa Moolya and Yashoda couple, residents of Kudumanau of Kedila village in the taluk of Bantwal. Basically, the family comes from an agricultural background. Yashaswi grew normally as any other child would. However, when she was two years old, it came to light that she had hearing and speech issues like her elder sister Yathishree. However, the parents did not lose heart.

Yashoda, mother of Yashaswi, who works as a teacher in Karla government school and Thimmappa Moolya, father of Yashaswi, who works as an assistant in the laboratory of SVS college have supported their children in all their aspirations. They did not treat their daughters as differently-abled and brought them up in the mainstream of society. As a result of their stance, today both the daughters are admired for their intelligence and resourcefulness.

Compared to her sister Yathishree, Yashaswi's hearing and speech deficiency is greater in degree. Her parents even sent Yashaswi to hearing therapy camps. When she was five years old, her parents sent Yashaswi to Gadiyar government school in order to give her a bright future. Yashaswi, who can grasp the things that are told to her with the help of a hearing aid, is not bothered about her shortcomings right from her childhood. She has taken to painting, dancing, chess, craft, fancy dress, clay modelling etc and proved to be an ace in all the activities.

Whether it is 'Pratibha Karanji' or any competition of taluk or district level, Yashaswi has tasted success in every step. She learnt Bharatanatyam under Vidwan Deepak Kumar and cleared her junior examination in first class. She is fine-tuning her Bharatanatyam skill at present under Vidhushi Shalini Atmabhushan.

Yashaswi has cleared lower grade exams in painting with a first class and proved her artistic abilities. Along with the extracurricular activities, Yashaswi has maintained the first position in her class right from primary and at present, she is studying in 10th grade at the government high school of Kadeshivalaya.

Chess prodigy

Yashaswi, with the hearty support of her family, has excelled in chess and is all set to take part in an international event to be held in England. Yashaswi, who is trained in chess at Genius chess school, Puttur by the director of the school Satyaprakash Kote and his wife Ashakaveri, has proven to be a star to be reckoned with in the game of chess.

Yashaswi was highly interested in chess right from her childhood. The support of her parents encouraged her to take the game seriously. Even when she was studying in primary school, Yashaswi won several trophies in various chess tournaments for children. She was selected in the state-level chess tournament held by the department of public education in 2016-17 and represented the state of Karnataka in the national level deaf chess championship held at Thrissur of Kerala and bagged the first prize.

Yashaswi got the first place in both the state level deaf chess championship held at Mysuru in November 2017 and national level deaf chess championship held at Madhya Pradesh in December 2017. She will be representing India in the International level deaf chess championship to be held in Manchester, England in July 2018.

Several organizations have felicitated Yashaswi for her achievements. In addition to the support of family members, the encouragement given by the school teachers where she is studying has inspired her to be more creative.

Gritty children like Yashaswi stand out as a model to all those who in spite of being physically and mentally fit worry that they will not be able to achieve anything in life.

Thimmappa Moolya and Yashoda, parents of Yashaswi, say, "We are proud of the achievement of our daughter. We are happy that we have brought her up with other normal children. She will achieve more in future."

Satyaprasad Kote, director of Genius chess school Puttur, says, "I was doubtful whether I could train Yashaswi in chess. As the days progressed she showed commendable achievement and has gone on to bring glory to our organization also."