Onward despite odds
BHARATI PAWASKAR
There is always light at the end of the tunnel and this is proved over time and again by many torch bearers who walked the path that seemed dark and gloomy in the beginning but as they marched ahead, the torch that they carried in their hand spread light for those who followed behind them. As young parents of their first born son Eashan, for Maya and Mangesh Kamat, the journey was never easy because raising an autistic child itself was a big challenge. But the smile of hope on their face never faded and the determination in their heart never diminished. Thus, it is due to the joint efforts of all that 23-year-old Eashan could obtain his Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA) degree recently with flying colours. ‘Thank you’ is a small word, feel the Kamats who wish to remain in debt forever, of all those who walked beside their son in this journey.
Eashan received ‘A’ grade in BCA (VI) which is a three-year course that began in 2016 and ended this June. No sooner that his marks arrived, he could take up a job with an NGO in Goa that has been working towards mental health for the past two decades. This tall, handsome youth, brimming with confidence, never seems to tire of talking about web-designing, and wants to establish a start-up of his own after gaining some hands on experience at his job.
“We wanted to keep Eashan engaged, so we approached Sangath and luckily they accommodated him, offering a part-time job of data-entry, which he has started enjoying,” shares Eashan’s mother Maya Kamat, an engineer with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Goa government.
“The journey throughout our son’s academic years was, indeed, difficult, but not impossible,” states Mangesh, an architect. It was because of his flexible work timings that he could pick and drop Eashan to school, college or classes. Now, he drops and picks up Eshan from the latter’s workplace. Eashan’s learning began when he was three. A hyper kid and not very verbal, Eashan could not write. But by the time he turned four his parents realised that Eashan had tremendous interest in computer which he finds easy to learn. Eashan’s younger brother Vedang had to be his elder brother and walk besides him, taking care of his everyday needs and being his voice.
Eashan’s schools, Manovikas, and St Thomas High School (Cansaulim) were instrumental in shaping his formative years. He opted for computer technology while studying at RMS Higher Secondary, Margao. He cleared the entrance exam for BCA like any regular student and was admitted at Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, where the principal Dr Prita Mallya welcomed him with open arms. The entire college management was cooperative. However, Eashan needed some guidance in technical subjects which was provided by Mitendra Alve, proprietor and instructor at Diksha Computer Education, Margao.
How difficult was it for an instructor to handle or teach a student with autism? Mitendra elaborates. “When Eashan’s parents approached and told me about him, I thought that it would be challenging to teach this boy when he sits with a batch of normal students. But to my surprise, on day one Eashan he stood silently in the class and the first words he uttered were ‘Angel Place.’ I could read his heart. He must have received some positive vibrations in my class. This boy would surely make it, I told myself.”
That was in 2016. “Eashan came to learn syllabus oriented programming languages like C, php, database, c# etc. He knew nothing of programming then but was inquisitive and keen to learn. Gradually he started picking up, and applying his own logic. When he did not understand certain things or did not arrive at desired results, he used to get hyper. Indeed, Eashan’s world was different, but other students were cooperative. We enjoyed Eashan’s company,” recalls Mitendra. Eashan was was also blessed with a kind-hearted friend, Navneet Singh who proved to be a link between the college and Eashan as the latter could not communicate.
“While teaching, I used to record my conversation so that Eashan could hear my voice again at home. The third year seemed crucial, as the papers were set by the board and none had an idea how things would be. I could see the anxiety and pressure building up in him as he was preparing for his final exams. Yet, he seemed confident”, shares Mitendra, whose challenges are not over yet.
The Board of Examination at the Goa University helped with large font papers, set open ended questions, and gave extra time to write. To his credit, Eashan did not take any writer for BCA and wrote his own papers in the exam. Eashan’s list of guardian angels is unending. With the societal taboos that one has to face while raising a child with autism, it is not enough to just accept the disability.
It’s a constant battle. “I want to do Web Designing,” expresses Eashan who is excited to utilise his computers skills. Bigger challenges await, but the Kamats have a social message to share,
“Have faith in your child, whatever limitations they may have. Never consider it to be a disaster. Don’t feel guilty or ashamed. Accept the limitation, work to beat it and emerge a winner.”
