Who is Handicap ?

I was in S.Y.B.A. I get a chance to visit ANANDVAN. (Leprosy Rehabilitation Center at Chandrapur in Maharastra). The UNICEF and AUSAID sponsored this programmed. Although these foundations made the funding I was not going to receive any remuneration.


I was informed that there would be group of deaf and dumb students along with normal students. When I entered in the room there was a group of males who were unemployed besides having M.A. and other degrees. I just started the first interactive session and begin with demonstration. After 15 minute a group of almost more than 50 small children entered in the classroom.


I waited for a while and I realize that all of them were deaf and dumb. The situation was challenging for me. It was my first program in front of handicap people. I just make up my mind I saw a black board and chock. I use lots of hand gesture to explain the different parts of planes and concept of lift.

Two or three teachers where standing near to window and in front of door. If children have any difficulty they just making some hand gestures to their teachers and teachers were explaining them with hand language.

I finished my demonstration we come back to our rooms. I just can’t control my emotions. I started crying because in our society we called them Handicap. But I was handicap in front of them. now days instead of "handicap" people prefer to use word "physical challenged" The whole experience give me new perspective to look at life.

Make and Fly

It's was after my after S.S.C examination in vacation.I had done aero-modeling course through Nehru Science Center(NSC) in year 1993. In group we totally made four models out of balasa wood (lightest wood in world) and were able to fly them successfully. It is still pleasurable to fly aircraft models. People of any age would love to see aircrafts. Course was for only Ten days.I was under impression that we know things that many people do not know and I am different than others. Giving some kind of psychological kick.


I was about to witness a real wonder in January 1994. Every year Phatak Granthalaya in Parle organise "Majestic gappa" program. They had invited Mr. Khare for Air-show in paper models. I was curious. I went to see the program. It was wonderful. I just fall in love with paper flying models. One specialty is having full control on them. what I learned in NSC was just mare wooden flying bodies but no specific control on them.

The Air-show was great.After the show. I mate Madhav Khare. I express my feelings about the learning Paper flying models. He told me to come to Pune for further assistance. I was not having any pocket money to buy these paper flying model s. I came home and told everything but I was not having any model to show. I take efforts to build the replica from my memory. I used ice cream stick to made my first model.

I have lots of relative in Pune. so I was allow to visit Pune.It's was starting of new era in my life.

Agony and disgrace !

I got angry with my school authorities. No teacher was accompanied us to NSC. we felt helpless and facing a problem of not having gate pass. . On request, we were allow to visit to inquiry counter. The people on the counter was very nice to us. We got the info that only last batch have vacancies. The batch is going to start after 30 days. If you would like to enroll? you will get confirmation letter by post. We had small chitchat with our school mate. Only Me and 'Arati Nigudker' filled the form. We got enroll for the course. Other schoolmates had to confirm with their parents. Most of them want to visit their hometown.

I went home with agony and disgrace. Monthly pass was wasted. I told everything to father. He was little skeptical about the confirmation letter. He had already booked our tickets to visit our village. I requested him to canceled my tickets if letter from NSC arrived . I avidly waited for the letter from NSC. I got the letter within 15 days. It was fun to see my name printed on the letter. My first official letter at home.

Ignorance of School Authorities !

My father had taken lots of efforts to make me smart enough to travel alone. He used to tell me lots of things about local trains, indicator,tickets etc. It was boring at that time. I was just a kid in 4^th std. I used to argue with him” why are you telling me so many things, I will come to know when I will grown up.” he just smiles at me and next time he will start over again.

I started commuting locals during my 7^th std. The occasion of the first vacation hobby course in my life. There was notice about the 10 days course at Nehru Science Center(NSC). There was no course fee. Ten students enroll for the course. It was limit for per school. School authorities told us to go to the NSC on specified date. I told my father about this course. He gave me permission and provided me monthly pass for local train.

I was eagerly waiting for the day of visit. with out schoolmate we had fixed the time for meeting at the gate of the NSC. we gathered outside the gate. we were just enter into the premises. security asked us for letter from NSC. everybody was in shock, I replied that school does not provide us any letters. We were updated with info.

"once school had sent names of selected candidate NSC will send you personal call letter. This call letter will be consider as gate pass during vacation hobby course”