October 19, 1998
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HAZARIBAGH A Lesson in Ability A Villager overcomes physical handicap to run a school for the disabled. By Sanjay Kumar Jha
For Karmali, the youngest of nine children, setting up a school was the last thing on his mind. The son of a casual labourer from Murubanda village in Bihar's Hazaribagh district, he wanted to join the army. However, his life took a different turn at 15 when he lost his right hand in an accident. The disability was only physical as it did not impair Karmali's mental courage. Two years later, he founded a school for physically handicapped children at Sukarigarha-Lari village. "The disabled need encouragement not sympathy," asserts Karmali. Encouragement was what he got from Govind Prasad, a local doctor, who inspired him to work for the welfare of the disabled. When the villagers ridiculed his intention to build a school, Prasad helped him buy land and offered him the moral support to pursue his dream. In the meantime, Karmali also managed to graduate from Ramgarh College in Hazaribagh with help from his elder brother. Running the school has been no mean task for Karmali. Earlier, parents were reluctant to send their handicapped children to the school. This despite the fact that he charged no fees, distributed free books and even provided meals. But his labour and commitment-he would raise money by growing vegetables-saw Karmali's dream take shape. The school's first batch had 12 students. Later, local businessmen, politicians and social organisations pitched in with money, food, clothes and books. Former BJP MP Mahavir Vishwakarma gave a part of his constituency development fund for a two-room building. The adjacent primary health centre building, which was lying vacant, provided housing for the students. Some of the children are from Uttar Pradesh and their parents have simply abandoned them in Karmali's care. With courses up to Class VII, the school teaches regular subjects like Hindi, English, science and social studies and also trains students in sewing, embroidery and painting. "The aim is to make them self-sufficient," says Karmali. He also wants to make the school a government-recognised vocational educational institute. So far, for all his exemplary courage, Karmali has not received any support from the government. Says Shankar Chaudhary, the local BJP MLA: "This is a rare example of an individual's endeavour and society's cooperation when most NGOs depend solely on government grants." Money is a constant source of worry as the school requires at least Rs 60,000 a month to sustain itself. But Karmali is undeterred: "If God has deprived me of one hand at least he has given me a mind which always thinks about the betterment of others." Recently, Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha assured the school a grant. Earlier, officials of the Welfare Department had also promised aid which is yet to materialise. For Karmali's wards, their master's life is inspiring enough. All of them want to follow his footsteps. Mukesh Kumar, 10, wants to help the handicapped once he is able to stand on his own feet. "But for Guruji we would have been begging for alms," says 12-year-old Sudhir who has lost both his legs. As for Guruji, he is happy that his school is well into its eleventh year. "Hard work and determination have brought me here," says Karmali. "I often forget that I have a handicap. Now it makes no difference to me." But a difference it has certainly made to 112 handicapped children. With Viklang Vidyalaya, Karmali has shown to the cynical villagers and everyone else that mental strength can transcend physical barriers. |
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As he hears the squeals of laughter from a nearby
classroom, even a heavy beard cannot camouflage the hint of a smile on Deodhari Karmali's
visage. It is not without reason. His school-Viklang Vidyalaya-that he started in 1987 has
112 students, including 22 girls, today. All the school's students and six teachers are
physically handicapped, including Karmali himself. 
