2008 MANY STORIES - ONE VOICE ONLINE COLLECTION

 

Barsha Bhattacharya, Age 26, India - WINNER (Adult)

I am a 26 year old woman with cerebral palsy. I have Spastic Quadraplegia. I am a member of Ankur, Advocacy Group and attend the Adult Day Services at Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy. I teach on AAC courses for doctors, caregivers, B.Ed students. I love writing stories and poems in Bengali. I use an alphabet board to express my thoughts and ideas to my teachers and they write for me. I have access to a computer and use a software called Sanyog to compose independently. I composed this story on the alphabet board and my teachers wrote it for me. I have learnt a lot about writing short stories while composing this story.

Click HERE to download the story in Microsoft Word  

Aparajita (The Undefeated)

 

It was the 25^th day of the Bengali month, Baishak. The atmosphere of Bengal is filled with music. Welcoming the music and lighting up the house Shankarbabu’s first born girl child arrives. With many a dream and hope Shankarbabu names his daughter Labanya. Seeing her sweet face Labanya’s parents believed that their daughter would grow up to talk sweetly and softly.

 

With her parents immense love and affection Labanya grows up fast physically, but sadly she cannot utter a word. Parents start worrying and get anxious to hear her voice speak. Several tests and treatment  begins. At the end of it the doctors come to a decision that Labanya will not be able to talk at all.

 

Labanya, now six, has learnt a lot. Parents and people around her are happy. It is now time for Labanya to go to school .  Her parents had earlier introduced her to Bengali and English alphabets. Her first day at school is a painful experience. The Headmistress refuse to admit her explaining that the school is not equipped to educate such a child because of the lack in the educational system in our schools.

 

Since Labanya’s father is well connected, she gets an opportunity to be admitted in the local primary school. Her journey, thus begin. Except for Nabin and Protima no one else is interested to make friends with her. Labanya grows fond of Nabin and Protima and their friendship strengthens.

 

Overcoming many hurdles Labanya with help and support from many, finishes school  securing a first division in her Madhyamik examination.

 

During the holidays after the exams Labanya realises an inherent talent in her when she starts writing poems in her diary. In the local puja committee newspaper her first poem gets published. She is soon invited to attend a ‘Poets Meet’ from a well known puja pandal. When Labanya appears at that Meet wearing a white cotton sari with Juin flowers in her hair, she immediately wins many hearts. Nabin is present in the audience, his eyes filled with questions and gazing at Labanya. Labanya’s beautiful presence charmes everyone. She is then asked to read out her poem. Labanya gestures her mother to come up on stage and read her poem to the audience. Labanya is overwhelmed with the response and support of the people present there.

 

This is the time Labnya realises that she stands out from the others.

 

Labanya continues with her studies while writing and penning her poems down. Her poems keep appearing in various magazines. They become the symbol of her inner thoughts. Rabindranath Tagore’s “Suva” finds a new interpretation in Labnya’s poem.

 

Nabin is memorized by Labanya’s poetry. He starts spending the evenings with Labnya. She on the other hand continue with her new compositions. Labnya finds  her inspiration in Nabin. Her parents are fully aware of the situation. Nabin feels proud of Labanya’s success which is widely appreciated and spends more time with her.

 

At this point Labnya meets Sushil and they get friendly. Sushil, like her has no speech. But his style of writing fascinates Labnya. She likes spending, time with Sushil. She sees in Sushil’s eyes the deep respect that he has for her.

 

 

In the ‘Spring Meet of the Poets’ Sushil expresses his wishes through his poetry to make Labanya his life partner. Sushil with the permission of her parents proposes marriage to Labanya. Labanya too tells her parents about her wish to get married to Sushil. Her parents are in a dilemma knowing this she writes to her parents –

 

Love is not sympathy

Love is a journey together

Love is respecting each other

 

Labanya also writes to her father –

 

‘This is our battle

We will first embrace each other only then the society will accept us. This will be our victory.’