My visually impaired cheer leader !

Manisha Ramnikbhai Jadav, is like any other woman of her age. At 27, she is full of dreams, exuberance and loads of positive energy! Manisha is visually impaired since birth. This handicap does not stop her from chasing her ambitious dreams! Her face looks very mature and stern for her age, perhaps because of the pain she has she has undergone in life. But beneath that face, exists one of the most beautiful person and finest human being I have come across in my life!

Manisha has done B.A( with English), B.Ed, a certificate course in physiotherapy  and currently pursuing diploma in physiotherapy from Blind People's Association, Ahmedabad. She visits people at home and guides them for physiotherapy exercises. I have known her for past seven years. In all these years I have learnt to see world around me with a different perspective, thanks to her. I met Manisha by sheer chance! Few years back, I had developed severe pain in my neck and was advised some physiotherapy exercises and massage. A friend recommended her to me and briefed me about her. I was a little apprehensive considering her physical handicap but with mixed feelings of curiosity and sympathy I decided to give her a chance.

From our very first meeting we bonded very well. She was thorough at her work. She combined physiotherapy and massage with interesting conversations that always posed many interesting questions. She often narrated her experiences that gave glimpse of difficulties visually impaired people face. In all these years I have never heard her complain about anything in life. Not even when she faced some serious challanges like her mother and brother losing their job of diamond polishing  or her father meeting a serious accident that caused loss of vision in one of his eyes!

Manisha gifted me a beautiful book as parting gift, when I shifted to Mumbai. I can't express what it felt like to receive it from her. After I left Ahmedabad, it is Manisha who has made a conscious effort to stay in touch with me. She calls to wish me for festivals, birthdays, Valentine day and above all to share what is happening in her life and know about mine. When I called her last, she was busy, helping someone get a job. That is exactly what Manisha is all about, always reaching out to people in whatever way she can! Sometimes I wonder, from where does this woman get so much strength to love everyone around her so deeply? Be it her family that she supports or her friends, she is someone everyone counts on.

It is rare to find selfless people in today's times. When one meets someone like Manisha, it is difficult not to be moved in some inexplicable way. There is something beautiful about her persona that stays etched in your mind forever. On the occasion of Woman's day today, I thought of writing about this extraordinary woman with great ebullient spirit who has taught me so much by just being herself. She has always been my invisible cheer leader. I owe her so much for changing my way of looking at life. I salute this woman with substance. May God bless her always!