Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Kanishka is an international taekwondo player, Kumkum works at the coffee shop of a 5-star hotel and Anjal has won accolades in several dance competitions.
The common between the three girls is that they have been hearing and speech impaired since birth. But neither they nor their parents gave up or gave in.
On the eve of National Girl Child Day on Thursday, Free Press spoke with the three girls special girl children who overcame the odds to excel in life
Excerpts :
‘Proud to be known as Kanishka’s father’
16-year-old Kanishka Sharma can neither speak nor hear. But she has not allowed her disability to come in the way of her success. She has excelled in taekwondo, winning silver medals in the Khelo India Women’s League played in Gujarat and National School Games, both playing against normal athletes.
She is also the first Indian deaf Taekwondo player to represent country in the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games, Malaysia and the first from MP to win gold in Deaf Taekwondo. Her father, Kapil Sharma, a photographer and his wife Priyanka decided not to go for a second child and dedicate themselves to bringing up Kanisha. The money saved for buying a house was spent on her hearing aid. said, “We discovered her disability when she was around two years of age. When she was around 12 she developed interest in taekwondo and hasn’t looked back since then. I feel proud to be known as Kanishka’s father.” Kapil Sharma
‘Elated to see her self-dependent’
When Kumkum Shakya was eight, her parents were told by doctors that she won’t be able to hear and speak. The financial condition of the family did not allow them to go for expensive treatment.
Her father, Laxman Singh Shakya is a labourer and mother Lalita a homemaker. They didn’t lose hope and sent her to Arushi Sanstha in Bhopal. It took around eight years for Kukuma to begin hearing. She is now able to read Hindi and English both.
Now, Kumkum is 20 and self-independent. She works at the Coffee Shop at the Taj Hotel. She is now running her home along with her father. “We were taunted by people because of her disability. She didn’t get admission in normal school. But we ignored all this…now we are elated and feel proud to see her self-dependent.” Lalita Shakya
‘My daughters are my life’
14-year-old Anjal Dholpure is a very good dancer. She has performed in various state-level solo and group dance competitions and won prizes. She used to learn dance from Youtube videos. Her father Surendra is a driver and mother Sapna is a homemaker. She is third among four siblings and all are girls. Her parents came to know about her disability when she was four. They took her to hospital for treatment but to no avail.
Doctor suggested surgery but it was risky. Then they accepted her as a blessing from God. She used to do all household chores and work on the computer also. “People used to taunt but we never discriminated against her with our children. We treat her equally… Meri betiyan meri jaan hain…” Surendra Dholpure
