Achi news desk-
‘I don’t even remember anything. Mum says she must only be 6 months old. She took me to be vaccinated. Perhaps he had no idea that such a big mistake would be committed unknowingly. I will become disabled.
.
After getting the vaccine, both my legs started to become lifeless. I got polio. Even after this, my family did not even know that I had now become disabled. After a few days, when I couldn’t walk like other children, they realized that these were the symptoms of polio.
Here and there, he consulted many doctors in the city, but nothing happened. Perhaps the disease would have been detected at the right time and the treatment received by the right doctor. I could have improved a bit. I was the third among four sisters and one brother. A very large family. Now in such a situation, if I had become disabled, then who would have looked for the news?
Shikha Singh, 33, sits on a chair with her crutches resting on her elbow. Tells his story. Shikha’s legs swing lifelessly downwards with the support of the bed.
She says, ‘Just having legs to say the least. Nothing can happen from this. Because of this I was once a burden on the family. Today I am a special teacher at Government School in Delhi. The monthly salary is Rs 1.5 lakh. I studied myself, I taught my brothers and sisters. There was a time when people didn’t even want to be my friend who was at a disadvantage, today people befriend me only after seeing the money.
Shikha is a permanent special teacher in Delhi Government School since 2017. Earlier she was a visiting teacher. He suffered from polio when he was only 6 months old.
Girls often talk about dressing up before appearing on camera. It takes some time, but when I arrive to meet Shikha in Delhi’s Dakshin Puri area, she sits down to talk as she sits.
Messy hair, dirty face.
When asked, she says, ‘All my desires died in my own childhood. It’s over. Now I don’t feel like doing anything. When there was desire, there was nothing. She felt destitute and helpless. Today everything is there, so there are no wishes. It never even feels like dressing up. Dress up for who?
Don’t feel like getting married?
‘I will never marry again. During my college days, there was a boy with whom I felt I could spend a good life. When I spoke about marriage, he said directly – You are lame. How can I marry you? Now I also feel that I will not be able to meet people’s expectations, so I have stopped dreaming about marriage.
Earlier, I would always tell my mother about my disability and helplessness – it would have been better if you had vaccinated me with poison. At least we don’t have to see these days. Now everything seems to be fine as it is.
Shikha’s mother is 53 years old. His father died aged 38. He used to drink alcohol.
Showing the only picture of her parents, Shikha’s voice gets louder, but the irritation is clearly visible on her face.
She says, ‘When I had polio, everyone insulted me. Always ignored. The criticism about me started from home itself. If anything came into the house, I was the last to get it. Never get it.
Everyone wondered where this lame person would go. She will never go out of the house, why come or give anything for this.
From class 1 to class 8, I used to go to school wearing the same shirt. She would wash it, dry it and then put it on and go with her sister. Nobody even wanted to teach me. The thanks go to my elder sister who helped me to study.
My eldest sister used to carry me to school every day, carrying me on her back like a backpack. As soon as I got there the children started shouting – Look-look! The lame person has arrived. Hey, you lame one! How will you walk? You will be left behind. I used to crawl and walk with the help of my hand.
When Shikha was in 10th, she was given a wheelchair for the first time. Before that, she used to go to school with the help of her older sister.
Was there no wheelchair? i ask
Shikha shows a picture and says, ‘This was before 2000. At that time wheelchairs were not available in the market. I was also very young, so electric wheelchairs or advanced technology ones like today did not exist then.
This wheelchair was also given by the state government when I passed the 10th exam. As mentioned earlier, until then only my sister (eldest sister) used to take me to school. Two-two kilometers and a half on foot.
Many times she would also get tired, so she would put me down. She used to say- Now go alone. I didn’t say anything. She used to keep her head bowed.
All the other children in the house would be prepared first, then me. We were also told at home what would happen if you didn’t go to school. My grandmother used to often say – What collector do you want to be when you grow up?
When my family went to the market, they didn’t take me with them. No one even took to any marriage. Believe it or not, but it’s true that I haven’t seen a single wedding so far. When she looked at others, she felt sorry for herself. I wish I could think! I too will be able to stand like them. He would have been able to walk.
Shikha says that if her family had received the treatment at the right time, there was a chance that some parts of the leg would heal, but now there is no hope.
Saying this, Shikha stops. When she was interrupted two or three times, she says, ‘Around 2003, my father died very young. After two years grandfather died too. He had retired from government office. The house was run by his pension. Now there was no grandfather or father.
There was a shortage of money. Here, when a sister was 11, she married. Who will take me to school now? There was an uncle next door, he got a bike to take me.
The school was 7 kilometers away from my house. We can’t even do regular classes. Still standing first in 10th and 12th. She quickly studied from scratch. To be honest, it was my grandfather who supported me since childhood. Dada always used to tell me one thing – if you don’t study, no one will even give you charity.
This thing stuck in my mind. She used to think that in such a situation, she would not be able to spend her life even by begging on the streets. Family members, relatives and neighbors used to think, alas! This poor girl! How will she spend her life? How will it go anywhere?
This is Dakshinpuri district in Delhi. Shikha has been living here since 2019. Earlier she was living on rent. He had bought this house during Corona.
Are you from Delhi only?
I live in Mau, Uttar Pradesh. When my father and grandfather were no more, I understood that I could only do something by studying. I wanted to do Bachelor of Science after 12th, but my mother didn’t allow me even though I had the money.
He might be wondering what this disabled girl would be able to do even after getting her education. At that time I needed Rs 5,000 for entry, but my mother did not give it. You will also be surprised to know that my mother gave that money to my uncle.
My family felt that I would never go out and would always stay within the walls. When my mother did not give the money, I decided now that I will not take even one rupee from my house. I was admitted in BA, then I did BEd. There is a special college in Chitrakoot, I completed my studies from there.
By then I had started teaching with an NGO, but to be honest, I never wanted to be a teacher. Always wanted to become an officer. I am still preparing for UPSC.
Shikha has adopted two orphans. She spends their education, living and food costs from her salary savings. She runs an organization for mentally challenged children.
When did you come to Delhi?
“There was a vacancy for the Government School in Delhi in 2014. I completed my BEd. After that the pressure began to earn money from building a home. Not only did I study myself, I also taught my sisters and brother.
After completing her studies, my mother often said – Now that you have studied, work. How will the house run? I applied for Delhi. Coincidentally, the work was completed. First visiting professor, then permanent professor in 2017.
It is around 2014. I had come to Delhi. At the school where I was a teacher, nobody gave me a room because I was disabled and a girl. Had to sleep in New Delhi Railway Station for two days.
Shikha was honored with the award in 2021 by the then Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha.
Shikha teaches mentally ill and physically challenged children. She spends part of her salary on these children. Shikha says, ‘Until 2014, when I had nothing, I had no relatives. Today, if there is money, everyone is there.
At first nobody even wanted to talk to me. He didn’t have a single friend. Today, whenever anything happens in the village, I get a call. Now everyone has started talking. I never listened in my own house, today everything is. I’m going to the village as a celebrity. Now respect has begun.
Now I want to give my whole life and my earnings to children like me. My target is to become an officer by 2025 and then open an orphanage. Even if I don’t become an officer, I will still open an orphanage. In view of my work, in 2021 itself, the then Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, honored me with the award.
The coat of arms that nobody knew about. People used to call him lame-luli. I was a burden on my family. Today he received an award from the Governor. When I do something for physically challenged children, I feel that I am no longer a burden on anyone.
Just once now let me become an officer…!’
