The Hindu Business Line : Bravo, Basavaraj!

His `handwriting' is like print; he draws, paints, makes 60 different rangolis, stitches, makes handicrafts, cuts vegetables to perfect size, rolls out chapattis, plays on the computer and, above all, greets you with a grin that's every bit warm and genuine, and with a firm `foot'-shake!

He has made a beautiful garland — sequins stitched on bright red cloth pasted onto deftly cut circular cardboards — which he wants to present to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; he is in fact awaiting word from Rashtrapati Bhavan, confirming the date of his audience with the President. Yes, 14-year-old Basavaraj dares to dare... for, he does all this and more, with a single foot.

The 4-ft-tall lad stands tall with his numerous achievements. Born without arms, he was afflicted with polio when he was barely two. This left him with one foot shorter and weaker than the other. But these disabilities have not left Basavaraj's mind debilitated. He is determined to make the best of God's greatest gift — that of life itself.

"I am ashamed to see people beg. I think each of us is special in some way and we have to make ourselves useful to society rather than lead a parasitical existence. You got to make the best of what you have and I am sure if you are willing to fight against odds, even the sky is not the limit for what you can do," he says vehemently, in his mother-tongue Kannada.

Basavaraj hails from Inganala, a remote village in Bijapur district of Karnataka. The eldest among five children, Basavaraj taught himself to perform simple chores such as wearing clothes, eating and drinking with one foot. Even as you watch amazed, he skilfully uncaps a mineral water bottle, pours himself a glass and effortlessly sips from it.

"I always knew I would never be like the other people around me. But I did not want to be pitied either. Also, I wanted to enjoy the simple things, which they did so naturally. But I had only one foot with which to try, and so started training myself to eat with my foot, imagining it to be my spoon."

Then came the tryst with school. "You can't learn without writing. I tried to hold the pencil between my toes and succeeded in writing with my foot. One thing led to another and now it is as easy doing things with hands."

Basavaraj came to the notice of the Karnataka State Human Rights Trust (KSHRT), a Bangalore-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), when it visited Bijapur last year to spread human rights awareness among the villagers. A student of class V in a Kannada-medium government school, he wrote to the trustees, seeking assistance for computer training. A big smile lights up his face when he says, "I was very fascinated by this machine that I first saw on TV in our neighbourhood. I did not understand how it could do the many things it does. I wanted to learn everything about it and use it."

Although the trust did not take notice initially, it was finally moved to help the boy after receiving a second letter from him.

"When we noted his determination and saw the earnest sparkle in his eyes, we decided to take him under our wing. He was just two months away from his final exams and we promised to take him to Bangalore after his exams," recalls Ramesh, one of the trustees.

KSHRT initiated him into yoga and other physical exercises to build his fitness levels. Basavaraj is now in class VIII at a government school in Bangalore. He attends classes on a wheelchair and consistently scores above 60 per cent. Within a year he mastered stitching, painting and cooking skills. He even conducts computer classes for many challenged youngsters.

Says Ramesh, "Besides our children, a few beggar boys also come to learn from him how to operate the computer and he also teaches them the other skills he is good at. He has inspired those around him by doing all these things himself."

Basavaraj's routine begins at the crack of dawn with prayers. He then wheels himself to school. Back home in the afternoon, he is busy with homework, after which he spreads out the various craft material needed to make the placards, name boards and other items that well-wishers ask him to design. He has even visited other schools to demonstrate his special abilities.

KSHRT is trying to raise funds for surgeries to rectify an ear problem and his polio-affected foot. They hold exhibitions of articles made by him. Onlookers are bowled over not only by what Basavaraj can do, but by his positive outlook which would put many an able-bodied individual to shame.

As we wished him the very best and took leave of the young lad who bid us a smiling goodbye, stretching out his foot, we could almost visualise those giant strides to realise lofty dreams that are the preserve of only the very brave.

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