Spreading light around Poonam Pardesi

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><br /><br /><center><img height="150" width="112" src="-00.jpg" alt="-00.jpg" border="0" /></center><br />poonam pardesi, 20, is blind but is training to be a social worker. the young girl wants to create awareness about the problems blind people face: never underestimate yourself. being blind does not mean one is a burden and is useless.it is important to accept yourself and then go ahead. i am lucky to have parents who did not neglect me but loved and encouraged me. though i am told that as i was born blind, few of my relatives did suggest that they should kill me for a blind girl could be a burden. i am happy that my parents decided to give me the best care possible and also education. my parents have instilled confidence in me and were always positive in their outlook. they sent me to a school for the normal children since where we lived, in manmad, and there were no schools for the blind. my father did a lot of running around to find a good school for the blind in maharashtra and finally admitted me to kamala mehta school for the blind in mumbai. i had to live in a hostel. initially, my father came to meet me every week but then the teacher suggested that this could hinder in my adjustment. so he cut short his frequent visits. for a few months, even i was upset leaving home but then as i met children who had similar problems i began to realise that i was not the only one. besides, my mother convinced me that only education would help me. here, i learnt to be independent. to travel alone. i also learnt music and passed my ssc examinations with 70 per cent. after school, i joined ruia college and after that i decided to pursue social work. at the moment i am studying in nirmala niketan. it was my school principal who guided me to do this course on social work. one has to forget one''s problems and take another step in life. it''s often upsetting as i have to always depend on others. also, i have to take help to check out the bus number at the bus stop. of course, there are people who help, but then not all are very helpful. in mumbai, i stay in a hostel and travel by train and bus. initially, it was very taxing. now i have learnt to take it in my stride. whenever i feel depressed i talk to my friends or my mother and feel better. i go for shopping with my friends who help me in choosing fabrics. i hate it when anyone has pity on me. i don''t want sympathy. i need all the encouragement i can get. after i graduate from nirmala niketan, i want to be financially independent. i am keen to teach blind children. currently, as part of our training, i am working with street children of different ngo''s. all that i can say from experience that it is essential to accept one''s handicap. then only can one accept encouragement from others. never ever accept defeat and there is a lot that a blind person can do. one cannot underestimate the talent of a blind person. i want to create awareness about the blind and instill confidence in blind children so that they don''t feel depressed. i have often met blind people who are neglected by their families. some have not even been educated by the parents. i thank god that my parents gave me so much love and affection. (<span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">as told to purnima goswami sharma</span>) </div> </div>