Meet Akhaya Kumar Das For Whom Visual Impairment Is Not An Obstacle
“When I got out of my bed in the morning, I felt the room was dark and then I went out and it still was the same. That’s when it struck me that I had lost my vision,” shudders Akhaya Kumar Das as he recalls that fateful day of his life.
It was 2002 and Das, who was working as a bus helper in Puri, had met with a freak accident when he was doing some wielding work in a workshop. His eyes came in contact with fire sparks and though he received primary treatment, his nerves had completely been damaged. Medical intervention could not help and Das became blind.
Although in such situations, people generally break down, Das decided not to succumb to his fate. Since he could not continue with his job, he decided to open a cycle repairing store instead. And, despite being visually challenged, today he is considered one of the most reliable and popular cycle mechanics in the area.
“I have been observing him for the last seven years. He is a dedicated man and customers never complain about his work. Although he is a bit slow, his work is perfect and so customers believe in him,” says Mayadhar Baral, owner of a cycle shop, which is located adjacent to the cycle repair store.
Talking about the incident, Das recalls, “Post the accident, my wife was ready to donate one of her eyes but doctor said it was not possible to transplant the eye in my case. They said it would be like transplanting a heart to a dead body as the nerves of the eyes had been permanently damaged.”
“I had lost all hope as my friends, relatives and even my mother had left me. They were scared that I would ask for financial help. Only my wife and children were there with me besides my friend Gourahari Pradhan. Gourahari helped me avail Rs. 300 as pension meant for physically handicapped persons from the Government and that was the only financial support I had,” adds Das, who currently lives at Charinala under Khuntiaba district.
Although he realises many people still do not come to him since he is blind and they also fear that they may have to give him something as sympathy, he does not let all that affect him. “For me, the world is not completely black despite being blind. This is not the time to dislike my disability. It is just a fact that I have accepted. At home, I am never treated as a disabled person. I am like any other normal person and I also do all my jobs including my personal work, “ he informs as he goes on to add, “I don’t like being treated as a disabled person and I don’t like sympathy.”
He also tells us that he has never begged before anyone as for him his self-respect matters the most. “The only thing I regret is I could not help my son, Ashish, study hotel management. He loves cooking and in fact, is an expert cook. He was interested to study hotel management, but I could not afford it,” he rues.
Talking about his family background, Das informs, “I come from a decent middle class family. But as my parents were separated, I was neglected. Being a neglected child I could not concentrate on studies during my childhood and I ended up being a bus helper.”
Indeed, Das is an inspiration for several differently abled people who lose hope and give up on life during rough times. This confident and smiling 50-year-old man, for sure, has scripted a success story for others to follow.