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Ila
Sachan
“Where
there is a will, there is a way”
Firm
Determination:
Nothing
is impossible for a person having firm determination,
alongwith immense will power, self-confidence, deep
concentration and vigorous efforts. It can combat with
any obstacles and factors coming in way to accomplish
the Goal. The case of Ila Sachani is a unique example
of this kind. She has developed the extra ordinary skills
of knitting various kinds of embroidery as well as painting
with the help of her legs, as her both hands are totally
inactive since her birth. She has overcome her natural
bondage and made her life free, happy and prosperous.
Background:
She
has born in a farmer’s family. Her mother’s name is
Vasanthben and Father’s name is Dhirubhai. They were
cultivating a small piece of land in village Nana Rajkot
of Amreli District in Gujarat. Her birth took place
in Motivavadi of Bhavnagar District as per Hindu tradition
of having the first delivery at parent’s house. Thus
she happens to be the first child of the family.
Since
it was too difficult to maintain a family on a small
piece of land, Dhirubhai migrated to Surat for better
means of livelihood in year 1972 and settled down there.
Childhood:
As
per the fade memory of her mother her hands got little
damaged at the time of her delivery due to untrained
Dayan. In the initial stage it could not be noticed
by the parents upto one year. Therafter it was found
that here hands were not found properly working. Since
then parents started worrying about it and went on consulting
doctors one after the other and finally specialist in
Bombay. But unfortunately none could help her in recovering
this disability. The she as well as her parents, compromised
with the disability as an act of God. However, parents
continued her treatment till she attained the age of
ten years.
Education:
Her
parents tried to admit her in School but unfortunately
they could not succeed in Private Schools because of
disability of her hands. However, at last she was admitted
in a Primary School run by the Local Municipality. The
authorities of the School were not wiling to admit her
because they were worrying about her safety on account
of incapability of her hands. On the other hand her
parents and other younger sisters and brothers have
helped her a lot in strengthening her will power through
emotional support and also helped in acquiring education
upto 10th Standard. She could not perform
well in the examination of Secondary School and failed
because she could not cope up with the time limit due
to low speed of writing papers with her legs and her
parents were not aware of availing services of a Writer
in such Board examinations.
Skill:
Since
she has fortunately born in a community that was inherently
rich in traditional art of embroidery, she could very
well learn this craft from her mother and grandmother.
Both_took lot of care in raising her self confidence
and taught her embroidery craft by legs. She herself
was very much enthusiastic and determined to develop
the skill in embroidery craft by legs. She made vigorous
efforts for learning different types of embroidery work
traditionally prominent not only in the different parts
of Gujarat but also in other parts of the country. Ultimately
she acquired proficiency in doing neat, clean and perfect
embroidery work of Kathiawar, Kachchh, Lucknow, Kashmiri
etc.
She
has started doing embroidery at the age of 10 years
and acquired mastery within 2 to 3 years. Fortunately
she, as well as her parents, had lot of patience and
an immense faith in God which helped her a lot in developing
inner strength and self confidence and that made her
an expert craftsman.
Experience:
Since
she has born in a noble and cultured family, she has
not to worry about her livelihood. Therfore she did
not use her craftsmanship as source of income but she
was doing embroidery work for family, friends, relatives,
neighbours and her well wishers. Neither she nor her
parents had any insight of getting any exposure and
undertaking this activity for purpose of earning. In
view of this fact, she could not participate in any
craft fair either organized by State or Central.
For
the first time in the year 2000, she participated as
a craftsperson in the Handicraft Fair organised by the
Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), New Delhi as
well as Indext-c Gujarat State. As a matter of fact
she became a Central focal point of all the visitors
of craft fair and most of the dignitaries having some
insight about the craftsmanship have appreciated her
skill of doing embroidery as well as painting work by
legs. Majority of them were very much amazed due to
her excellent mastery of doing embroidery as well as
painting with the help of her legs. Some of them have
tried to test her ability of putting thread in the hole
of needle by her legs, which she could do more easily
and faster as compared to the craft persons doing it
with the help of their hands. The eminent visitors who
witnessed this were spell bound by her difficult performance
by legs. She was awarded 2nd Prize for excellent
performance by Udyog Bharati in one of the Sale-Cum-Exhibitions.
Along
with embroidery she went on doing painting work with
her legs and over a period of time she succeeded in
it. At present she can paint any figure shown to her
with the help of her legs.
Over
and above achieving mastery in embroidery and painting,
she did try to become self sufficient in her day-to-day
natural activities such as eating, natural calls etc.
She is helping her family in dusting and sweeping the
house, washing and folding the clothes, combing others’
hairs, cutting vegetables, cooking etc. efficiently
with the help of her legs.
Source:
Adult Training Centre for the Blind
Issue: Dated 20th July, 2002
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