Mr. Rajendra Johar
Mr. Rajendra Johar is a personification of hope and optimism.

Starting in 1969, Mr Rajendra Johar worked for 17 years as an Occupational Therapist (The Senior Observation Officer) at St. George Medical College, Lucknow. His job included advising the patients with orthopaedic, and multiple disabilities, and arranging their rehabilitation.

On March 1986, due to an accident he suffered a multiple fracture of cervical spine and eventually lost total control and movement of his body except his hands and fingers. The control over movement of the fingers and arms is limited. He doesn't have any sensation or feelings in these parts and cannot even move without other's help. After this mishap he left Lucknow and his job. He shifted to New Delhi with his wife, son and daughter to stay at his parental house.

Mr. Rajendra suffers from Quadriplegia. Initially, he tried to improve his physical condition with medicines; though being a medical professional himself he knew that these medicines would not have much of an effect. A few sessions of physiotherapy made him feel much better; however, he could not continue it for financial constraints.

Mr. Rajendra stayed in a shocked condition and suffered acute depression for 6 years. After he regained his optimism, courage and spirit, he established the organization: Family of Disabled (FOD). The chief objective of his organization is to encourage the disabled persons by helping them in various ways, and make them economically independent. He takes special care for those who are not allowed to go out of their home. He takes these cases as special challenges and does not spare any effort to make them economically independent.

Initially he managed this organization single handedly, with the help of his hands, which were nearly refused to be of any assistance. He devised a writer out of a jotter and a compass, commonly found in school geometry box, and tied it to his wrist. He cannot sit upright. He used cushions to sit upright on a common hospital bed with some adjustable features. Sitting in this position, he placed an electronic typewriter (donated by some generous person) on his lap, and typed the first whole issue of the magazine called Voice.

The magazine covers various subjects like institutions and their activities, books and films, about different diseases and health problems, legal issues, case studies of remarkable persons, general news etc. The focus of the magazine is not only to cater the disabled persons; but to cover a much larger canvas with a clientele with multifaceted interests.

In 1994, he started selling greeting cards made by disabled persons through schools, corporate houses etc. to collect funds. After many struggling years and many helping hands from his friends and relatives, now he runs a trust with 6 trustees. He used simple post cards to contact people, but did not despair even if there was no response from anyone. In April, 1992 he received a letter from Mother Teresa, the magic of her encouragement made him a stronger person to accomplish the tasks, which even able bodied persons may find difficult to do.

Gradually he got two volunteers to assist him in his cause. He managed to draw attention and received some donations also. He very fondly mentions about one gentleman from Defence Colony, New Delhi, who sponsored first 10 issues of his magazine

He started offering soft loans up to Rs. 2500/- to disabled persons so that they can make themselves self employed and can support himself and his family. His firm belief is that unless a person is economically independent, he would continue to be a burden to his family, society and government. More than 70 persons have benefited from this loan scheme and they have started their small businesses like selling paan-beedi, achaar, repairing of cycles, tea stall and so on. They need to return only Rs. 200/- per month. He claims that this scheme is 70% successful and he is planning to expand his operations. Now-a-days even organisations like AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Rajeev Gandhi Foundation, Lady Irwin Hospital, District Rehabilitation Centre sends patients to him for rehabilitation.

Source: Personal interview