A strong will
Murugesan
Murugesan is the first son of his parents. His native place is Coimbatore. He was born with some defect in his limbs. Both his legs develop properly and so could not be moved. His legs did not keep pace with the growth of other parts of his body. He has two younger sisters and one younger brother.
Though born handicapped, Murugesan wanted to go to school. But he did not get admission into any school. His father earned very little by working in a telephone repair shop. The family could not have two square meals a day. But Murugesan urged his parents to put him in a school. The problem of commuting arose when he got admission in a school which was 8 km from his house. He could not travel alone in a bus to reach the school. Nor could anyone carry him to the school. No one was willing to take him by cycle. So he decided to cover the distance himself. He used to move on his hip to reach the school everyday.
Though it was a great ordeal, he did not mind it and concentrated on his studies. Even after returning from school in the evening, he helped his sick father in his work of repairing telephones. As his father became bedridden, Murugesan could not continue his higher education after getting through class-10. But he wanted to become a professional to earn his livelihood.
He joined a diploma course in electronics in an ITI and later electronic mechanism in television, radio, etc. He also learnt electrical mechanism, wiring work, motor rewinding, two-wheeler mechanism, etc., and became the breadwinner of the family.
As he had experienced difficulties in moving about as a handicapped, he invented a comfortable three-wheeler for the disabled. The poor handicapped boy who had nothing at his disposal when he was young is a totally changed person now, with a strong will of his own. He rose to the position of employing many people in his workshop, and sitting in his three-wheeler, he manages to go to many places supervising his workers, getting orders, supplying things to the customers, going to the bank, etc.
He narrates his early experiences very interestingly. After completing class-10, he joined an ITI. To get practical experience, he used to go from house to house to try and get a chance to repair television, radio and audio/video players. During his rounds, he came into contact with wiring workers and out of interest and need, he learnt about wiring too.
Though he found motor mechanism very difficult with his disability, he did not abandon it. To do wiring work in apartments, he would hold the railings and reach the top and do his work. If he had to work from heights, either with the help of his assistant or a rope, he would reach it like a monkey. Money came to him out of sheer hard work.
Though his headquarters is Coimbatore, if he gets good orders, he does not mind going out of station. He has gone to Trichy, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai and other places by his wheelchair itself.
When asked why he does not travel by train with his wheelchair, Murugesan speaks of his sad experiences at railway stations. "Some well wishers ask me why I travel by wheelchair when there is train service. I also tried it initially but was deeply hurt by everyone's attitude. The Railway police did not allow me to pedal my wheelchair into the railway station. How could I carry my wheelchair from the entrance of the station to my compartment? I want to drive my vehicle not for comfort but from necessity. But they did not understand this and refused permission. Even the porters and officials were not considerate.
"I have heard that in foreign countries more care and respect is shown to the handicapped and there are special attendants to help them get into a train or bus and their vehicle at their destination. I do not expect our people to be magnanimous but at least they need not be unkind to people like me.
"If in spite of all these problems I happened to go into the station with my vehicle, other problems followed. I had to go to the ticket counter to buy my ticket; to book my vehicle, I had to go to the luggage section and get a receipt after filling up a form and paying the luggage charges; most of the time the official there would not be in his seat; it would invariably delay me; then I had to see that the vehicle was loaded into the 'accompanied luggage compartment' in my train.
"The same procedure was to be followed when I reached my destination. There should not be any petrol in my vehicle when it is sent as luggage. I have to empty it on reaching the station where I board my train. If there is no petrol in my vehicle, what can I do when I reach my destination? I found it a very difficult process.
"The porters and attendants wanted some bribe also from me as if they were doing me a favour. The ticket fare for the disabled is considerably less. But I could not enjoy this facility because of all these problems. Instead of spending just Rs 50 for my train journey to Madurai and back to Coimbatore, I spend nearly Rs 600 for petrol to cover the distance. Though it is expensive and strenuous, I prefer it because of the insults and non-cooperation of the railway officials."
How pathetic the situation looks! The Railway authorities should take some steps to assist the handicapped. Murugesan might not mind it but so many unfortunate disabled persons may need such consideration. Murugesan stays in his headquarters Coimbatore only for 10 days a month. H.e spends the rest of the days in other places of Tamil Nadu on business.
He concentrates on wiring and manufacturing wheelchairs for the handicapped. He finds pleasure making the wheelchairs and charges nearly Rs 2,000 less than others because he knows and has suffered as a disabled person. Though he is not very rich, he has a soft corner for the disabled. Once he saw a poor handicapped college student waiting for the bus for a long time. He made a wheelchair for him at lesser cost and trained him to drive the vehicle.
He wants the disabled to realise their position and at the same time to have self-confidence so that they can stand on their own legs. If they learn some work and make their own living, they are not a burden to anyone. In many houses, especially in poor families, the parents feel pity for the disabled but do not take any step to educate or get them employed. That definitely makes the handicapped feel depressed. The situation should change. The parents should give the maximum possible help to their children. The disabled should not be left to lie in the bed, mourning their disability; instead they should be made to sit, and, if possible, stand and make healthy moves.
Murugesan is sad about the attitude of the so-called able-bodied people. Once when he was climbing the stairs in a railway station, he felt very tired and sat for a while. He was shocked to see a person who followed him throwing a two rupee coin at him, thinking he was a beggar. Following this another person threw a one rupee coin. Murugesan's heart sank.
Can't a handicapped be a self-made man? Should he take up only begging? These questions passed through his mind. Similarly, many people do not have the heart to help the needy. Murugesan experienced this also. In case his wheelchair gets stuck in the middle of the road, hardly anyone turns towards him to assist him. Some people even consider these handicapped as a nuisance.
He gives his experiences to others as lessons. He wants them to become mobile even though they are handicapped. He even suggests they learn swimming for a short while and gradually gain the movements of their limbs. They could make paper bags with little effort sitting in the same place. There are many more things that could help them earn their livelihood.
Nothing is impossible if one has the will to do. The handicapped should work hard to have some meaning in their life. It could even be a lesson to the so-called able-bodied, lazy people who depend on others without any self-respect.
Murugesan visualises a world where all the handicapped could do some job or the other so as to maintain their dignity, more so their self-respect. The life of Murugesan is a very good example to prove this.
Shanmugam can be contacted
@:
No: 54 Kamaraj Road,
Ramakrishna Nagar,
Alwar Thirunagar,
Chennai- 600 087.
Phone: 248 60 221
E-mail: shanmugam@azagi.com
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(Extracted
from the book 'Hope is Life')
