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From Struggle to Success: Mr. Lalbuatsaiha’s Story
of Perseverance, Faith, and Advocacy for the Disabled
THERE is a man who came across diverse
difficulties in life. He used to find people willing to read out his books for
him. By listening, he learned. In this way, he began his journey into the world
of education. Nothing could deter his dream.
“In Mizo
society, people simply dumped the disabled persons in confined houses where
they were being turned into useless. We should give them opportunity to find
out their hidden talents by removing social attitude barriers so that they can
contribute to the society,” said Mr. Lalbuatsaiha, a PhD scholar in JNU.
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Lalbuatsaiha, born on 27 June 1984, to a humble
family of Mr. Zosiama and Ms. Rothuami, of Keifang village, Mizoram, has
become a living example for many blind people all over Mizoram and beyond. He
was the second youngest child born blind among five siblings, three boys, and
two girls.
Buata’s father retired as headmaster of Keifang
Primary School-III in 2009. His mother is an ordinary housewife. They live in a
village about 75 km away from the state capital, Aizawl.
Buata’s childish dream was schooling. “My father is a headmaster. My father used
to accompany me to his school. I used to sit among the children listening
throughout the day to what they read. I memorized it. I used to carry a pencil
and paper like other kids, who were not like me.”
“I jotted
down in my notebook without seeing it. I used to show it to my teachers. But
how kind and clever they were at that time, which I realized later. Though
whatever I jotted had no meaning, my teachers praised me, ‘You are excellent, you can take rest now.’ In those days, my father
said he used to wipe his tears secretly while seeing me. For parents, those
moments must be really painful.”
In 1991, something changed his life forever. One
fine day, an education officer, Ms. Vanlaldiki Sailo, of the then Integrated
Education for Disabled Children (SCERT), visited the school where Buata’s dad
taught. “My dad told her about me and how
I love school. Ms. Sailo, who came to survey the condition of disabled children
in government schools, encouraged my dad, informing him that many blind and
physically disabled children get formal education in central India and many of
them hold higher posts even in government services. Similarly, Mizoram also has
a blind school, and many blinds get education from there, with some of them
already employed under the state government.”
“When I
heard their conversation, I was filled with excitement. Thereafter, I started
protesting to my parents to enroll me in Kolasib Blind School, located in
Kolasib district, about 160 km away from our village. But they could not
imagine the possibility. They cared too much and didn’t allow me. ‘If you study
there, you’ll have to sleep alone; you won’t be able,’ they told me. In those
days, I never slept alone. I always slept beside my brothers. Since they
disallowed me, I began sleeping alone in the sitting room. Even when someone
died or when they told ghost stories, I still continued to sleep separately.
The next year, I begged my parents again, ‘I can sleep alone now. So please
send me to school.’ This year we’re building our house. ‘You’ll surely join
next year,’ they responded. I happily waited for the year.”
In 1992, it was like a miracle for Buata, who
found means and ways to convince his parents but failed in his several
attempts. There came a lady to Buata’s house with Braille instructional
materials. The lady, Dailovi, sent by SCERT as a resource teacher, taught him
Braille.
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At the age of nine, Buata joined Class I in the
Salvation Army Integrated School for Blind, Kolasib. This school is run by the
Salvation Army for the welfare of blind people, especially in the field of
education. In this school, blind and sighted children learn together in the
same class as well as the same syllabus. However, blind students were given
free hostel accommodation, including food, whereas sighted children attended
the class as day scholars. Buata joined the hostel happily. Amazingly, he
completed three classes (I-III) in the same year. That was 1993, the year Buata
waited for! As the saying goes, ‘Well begun is half done’, Buata had already
learned Braille from the lady teacher before he actually stepped into class.
Though Buata was the lone blind candidate in the
Class IV Board Exam 1994 conducted by the Mizoram Board of School Education
(MBSE), he came out with flying colors — topper of the examination center,
comprising eight government primary schools, and bagged a merit scholarship for
three consecutive years. His academic records proved him to be a brilliant kid.
He never seized less than the second rank throughout Classes V-VII, all in I
Division, encompassing his classmates who were born with full sight. He passed
matriculation from this school in III Division in 2000.
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In 2002, Buata cleared Class XII (Arts) in II
Division from St. John’s Higher Secondary School, Kolasib. In the same year, he
studied BA (Hons) Political Science at Govt Kolasib College. One back subject
caused him to lose a year. However, he cleared in II Division in 2006. He says
there were no ready-made printed books available in Braille for blind students
to facilitate their studies. Meanwhile, they followed the same syllabus as
sighted students from elementary level to higher studies. So blind students
always needed to employ readers to read their notes. In such situations, Buata
struggled a lot since the beginning. However, the Blind Relief Association, New
Delhi, and Webel Mediatronics Ltd (WML), Kolkata, assisted him in printing some
of his study materials in Braille during his BA studies. But he completed all
the necessary correspondence by himself with those institutions without taking
any help from his teachers.
After graduation, his sister brought him to Delhi
for further studies. However, due to a lack of proper information about the
admission process, the entrance exams of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
University, and Jamia Millia Islamia University were already over upon their
arrival. Buata waited for chances under any available quota for one and a half
months. No luck favored him, so both returned home. The next year, he gave the
three entrance exams he missed earlier. He could not make it into his preferred
JNU but cleared Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). On 16 August 2007, he began
attending MA (Political Science) classes. Since a hostel was not immediately
available to him, he put up with Mr. Sangtea, the then General Secretary of
Delhi Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Delhi Mizo Students’ Association), and his sister.
Afterward, Buata’s sister left for home.
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Buata entered Old SRK Boys Hostel on 5 September
2007. “Throughout my hostel life, Sangtea
and his sister extended their assistance. On weekends, they took me to Mizo
Sunday Worship Service. They even accompanied me back to my hostel after the
services. They treated me like their own brother whenever I needed help, which
I will not be able to forget,” he said.
Upon passing his MA with 55% in 2009, Buata
applied for MPhil in JNU. However, he did not believe he would get through. “What came to my mind was to try for MPhil
in Jamia, where I completed my MA, which might be easier,” he thought. It
was only when his friend Mr. Engkima, a PhD student, informed him that he was
selected in JNU. This good news struck him while he was in a mood of returning
home after losing hope. “I was too happy,
so much so that I couldn’t even sleep that night,” he recounts.
Buata entered JNU on 11 August 2009 and
successfully cleared his dissertation titled ‘India-Bhutan Economic
Cooperation, 1997-2010’ on 25 July 2011, and was awarded an MPhil degree on 6
February 2012 from the Centre of South Asian Studies, School of International
Studies (JNU). Now he is pursuing a PhD in the same center. His research on
‘India-Bhutan Relations: 1998-2013,’ which he plans to complete by July 2015,
keeps him busy like a bee.
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“From
Master’s degree, we used screen reader or speech software called JAWS &
Kurzweil (JAWS, Job Access with Speech). It was very tough to learn in the
beginning, but I could cope later, and it greatly helped me,” said Buata,
who was known as the first blind student in the Department of Political Science
in Jamia Millia Islamia University. Before him, there was no blind student ever
present in this department.
“I am very
grateful to many people to whom I owe thanks. Some of which I can’t ignore are
Mr. Engkima, Mr. Biaka, and Mr. Joseph, all of whom were research scholars in
JNU who helped me innumerably in my MPhil research work. I also thank Delhi
Mizo Inkhawm (Delhi Mizo Christian Fellowship), Delhi Mizo’s Welfare
Association, and DMZP for appreciating my talent and ability. I would also like
to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Salvation Army and SCERT (IEDC Cell)
for their constant support from elementary to my graduation. Lastly, I express
my deepest thanks to our Almighty God and my parents, brothers, and sisters for
their unwavering love, care, and support in every phase of my life,” said
Buata with heartfelt gratitude.
Reflecting
on his journey, Buata emphasized the importance of determination and
perseverance, even in the face of immense challenges. “Nothing is impossible for those who are willing to work hard and trust
in God’s guidance,” he remarked.
Buata’s
achievements serve as an inspiration to many, particularly those who face
similar challenges. His success story is a testament to the fact that with the
right support system, opportunities, and unwavering faith, individuals with
disabilities can break societal barriers and reach great heights.
Despite
his remarkable achievements, Buata remains humble and grounded. He continues to
advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and strives to inspire
others to pursue their dreams regardless of the obstacles they face.
As
Buata continues his PhD journey at JNU, his dedication and resilience remain a
source of hope and encouragement to many, proving that disabilities do not
define a person's capabilities or limit their potential.
Buata depends on seven percent of his eyesight,
yet he has broken many records. He is the first blind person to complete a BA
honours in Mizoram, the first Mizo blind to complete an MA and MPhil, and he is
currently enrolled in a PhD.
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As Mizos are well known for their zeal of
‘Tlawmngaihna’ (altruism), the same goes for Buata, who never turns anyone
down. He brilliantly understood English grammar from the very beginning of studying
elementary English grammar. This enabled him to write letters properly in
English from Class VI onwards, even in a Mizo medium. Though he was young, he
could explore many blind organizations in different parts of India and foreign
countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia, making correspondence by
sending letters in Braille.
From that stage, he used his unique talents and
capacity to help his fellow blind students in need, providing Braille
literature and other necessary items. He even assisted newly established blind
schools in Mizoram by supplying addresses of resourceful organizations in both
domestic and foreign countries, facilitating their correspondence with other
institutions.
Buata’s good works did not go unnoticed. He
received the Best Excellency Award from the Government of Mizoram in 2004 on
the occasion of World Disabled Day, i.e., December 03. He said: “Some blind students and people working in
rehabilitation sectors for persons with disabilities in both government and
NGOs have approached me for advice in their studies and activities. I have
helped them by giving proper information and valuable suggestions either
through telephone or e-mail. If anyone needs help, I am always ready.”
Besides education, Buata is also involved in social
and religious activities. He sometimes forgets his blindness, he says, with a
smile. Buata was the Co-convener and Convener of JNU-Visually Challenged Forum
in 2012 and 2011; an Executive Member of JNU Christian Fellowship from
2010-2012; Co-convener of JNU Northeast Students Forum from 2012-2013; a Life
Member of the National Federation of the Blind, New Delhi; and also an Active
Member of the Volunteers for the Blind Foundation, New Delhi.
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Buata can visualize the shape, size, location,
and distance of his surroundings. He stayed in a single room in Kaveri Hostel,
which has a table, a cupboard, and a courtyard where some of his utensils were
kept properly. He can easily go out, get the broom, and sweep his floor. His
bedsheet looks neat and tidy. When asked why, he responded politely, “You know, I am a good washer-man. I can
bathe and iron my clothes as you do.”
Buata has shown his computer skills by using the
keyboard and mouse. He knows the location of his files and documents stored on
his computer. Close your eyes for a while and try to operate your computer,
laptop, or cellphone. How do you feel? It’s not easy at all! But Buata can even
text and read SMSes. He can play, jump, and walk around the JNU campus. For
unfamiliar places, “I need a guide,”
he says. “If I’m in Aizawl, I don’t need
anyone because Mizo drivers are considerate of pedestrians. But in a
less-caring city like Delhi, I need a guide because any vehicle could knock me
down anywhere.”
While chatting
for quite a long time in his room around midnight, with a big smile, Buata
stared at me and took out some bottles and eatables from his cupboard. It was
surprisingly two bottles of Maaza and five packets of banana chips, which we
hastily drank and ate. He never forgets the place where he keeps things. He works
systematically. He has overcome darkness in many ways. A committed Christian
and well-disciplined man, Buata loves reading books and playing guitar. He aims
to be a lecturer in college or university.
~ BRUCE K.
THANGKHAL
New Delhi | 20 December,
2013
Special Correspondent for The Mizoram Post |
Zogam Today
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