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Latest - State - December 28, 2020

Meet Kashmir’s Visually Impaired Mechanic from Baramulla

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Arising State Desk

MEER MANZAR

Srinagar, 29 Dec: Kashmir is never short of heart touching stories. These stories not only inspire us but tell us the beauty of life hidden in small things that need to be appreciated and help us to realize how blessed we are in our lives.

We all face hardship, but for many, the thought of losing our sight is a horrifying prospect. Despite facing immense difficulties as a result of vision loss, there are some amazing people who have overcome their disability to achieve amazing things.

Sitting in the corner of his shop, a 22-year-old youth, Shabir Ahmad Bhat from North Kashmiri’s Baramulla district is a visually impaired person, but is full of life and remains busy repairing the mobile phones.

Bhat is a resident of Wansiran village in Taripora area of Baramulla district, who was born with an eye disease (retinal degeneration), and lost his complete vision at the age of three.

“According to my parents, I was not born blind but had a partial vision, though my vision was not accurate, however, I lost my vision gradually. Over a period of time, I lost complete eyesight. Unfortunately, I did not receive any treatment for my eyes maybe, because treatment was not available those days,  ” said Shabir, adding that he doesn’t know whether it’s true or not that a blind person cannot regain his eyesight, but one thing is for certain that he ‘doesn’t have enough money’ to consult any doctor.”

Shabir said that he has two sisters and a brother, who too are blind.

He further said that being the eldest of all the siblings, it’s his responsibility to take care of them, as they are facing immense challenges in their lives besides he has to take care of his old parents.

”When I left home, at the age of 8 and started my schooling at Modern high school in Solina Srinagar, I  failed in class 10, but I didn’t lose hope and appeared in the bi-annual examination next year with results still pending.

As per Shabir, he learned about computers and mobile phones at School and immediately started repairing mobile phones after having a first-hand experience at it, ‘telling me there might be hope’, explained Shabir.” It’s very hard for me to repair touch screen mobile phones but I can easily repair keypad phones,” he said.

Shabir rued that it’s very hard for a blind person to live life, with no hope at all. He said that the government is not making concerted efforts towards the welfare of disabled people. The government intervention to improve their (disabled)living and working conditions is much required

He said that he didn’t lose hope and was highly supported by the family, particularly by his younger brother, who is also blind and is running a grocery shop successfully in the area.

Shabir added that ‘other than the repairing’ of mobile phones, he wanted to do some additional work to help his family financially, and lately he has started working at his brother’s shop, amid difficulties.

Lastly, Shabir said,” my message  to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things, your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, you can achieve anything in life if you  work hard and have will power .”

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