XTRASPECIAL
Durgadas Gaunekar
It was a rainy day. A mother carried her son in her arms, holding an umbrella, school bag and walked more than a kilometre, before she reached the bus-stop that took the mother-son duo home from school. The son was none other than Durgadas Nanu Gaunekar who has 100 per cent disability in both lower limbs due to polio.
“At that time I was studying in higher secondary school at Kavlem. Either of my parents dropped me to school, carried me to my class, and picked me after school on a daily basis without any complaints. During HSSC we travelled by bus. I shall never forget their struggles. Though illiterate, they knew the importance of education and if it was not for them, I would not be financially independent today,” shares Durgadas who works at PWD in Ponda.
A resident of Bandora, Durgadas could not study further after his higher secondary in commerce due to multiple reasons. He could not go to college because his parents could not afford to educate him further. Neither could they carry him in their arms or buy a wheelchair for him.
“We were very poor. Our financial status was weak. Both my parents were daily wage workers, supporting my elder sister and me. As I had a disability in both limbs, I had to be lifted to be taken to school. They did it till they could lift me. Rain or shine, they adjusted their work timings to drop and pick up. Schooling was possible because of their determination, desire and hard work. When I reached fifth class, our school headmaster Suresh Priolkar gave me a tricycle through Lions Club. Till SSC I used that tricycle, especially with the help of my school friend Satish Gaunekar,” remembers Durgadas.
Today he is financially stable today, but before he got a job, he had to struggle a lot. Without being disappointed or frustrated by his physical or financial condition, Durgadas started taking tuitions. Later his father managed to set up a small shop at home for his son, and Durgadas continued to support his family by running the shop and taking tuitions. “Seeing my condition our local MLA Sudin Dhavalikar helped me to get a job in PWD and l could see a golden ray of hope in the course of my life,” recalls Durgadas who now is married and father of a son.
After marriage wife Divya became his source of strength. His friends, teachers also boosted his spirits. “I owe a lot to my sister Rajani, uncle Dattaram, mentors Sanjeev Naik, Sudesh N Naik and Vishant Nagvekar, who were there at the right time when I needed their support. It is because of many angels in my life that I could shoulder the responsibility of my family despite the disability,” agrees Durgadas who joined as LDC in 2007 and is now a UDC.
He feels that he is blessed to have kind and considerate people around him who always stood by him whenever he needed help. Durgadas began participating in sports in 2016 and that added joy to his life. The initial interest to watch sports activities developed in his own involvement eight years ago and sports competitions like chess, table tennis, cricket and marathon running races on wheelchair and also volleyball, basketball, shooting, carom, badminton keep him busy.
He participates in Ghumat aarti, Gof dance, Musal dance and singing, storytelling, poster making and rangoli competitions across Goa. An outgoing person, he enjoys ‘vanabhojan’ (spending time in wilderness) and picnicking.
“My colleagues at work are cooperative. Thankfully, I am self-dependent now and can ride a scooter with a side wheel. I am thankful to God for giving me this beautiful life and for giving me strength to fight every challenge,” says Durgadas who has won Best Disabled Employee of Goa award on December 19, 2020. The village panchayat also felicitated him in 2010.
In sports too, he has achieved success and won many prizes. He also participated in both Purple Fests.
“My message to every person with disability is that they should overcome all hurdles by stepping out of their homes, socialising, participating in different cultural, sports and other activities and experiencing joy. Indeed, this world is very beautiful, kind and good. The mind will surely get peace and satisfaction once it comes in contact with the outer world,” advises Durgadas who has been living with the disability (polio) since he was seven-months old.
