With Determination, Physically Challenged St Aloysius Lad Arjun Writes II PU Exam
With Determination and Strong Will, Physically Challenged St Aloysius Pre-University Lad Arjun Adyanthaya Writes II PU Board Exam at Canara PU College-Mangaluru. Arjun suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a rare genetic disorder that results in fragile bones, due to which he can’t walk
Mangaluru: For thousands of nervous students frowned over dog-eared textbooks minutes prior to the state board’s PUC II Year exam, but for 19-year-old St Aloysius PU college-Mangaluru, Arjun Adyanthaya there was a bigger test to pass. After all, dictating answers you cannot write yourself because of a raw pain shooting up from a broken leg doesn’t make for the best circumstance to work out derivations or calculate accountancy numbers. But he did it through sheer force of will and determination, and luckily he had his neighbor help him out write these answers for him in at Canara PU College.
And this good Samaritan who volunteered to be the scribe was Rashmi Mallya- a BBA-LLB student at SDM College, and also a neighbour in the apartment where Arjun lives. Even though being a student of St Aloysius PUC, Arjun had to appear for his II PU exam at Canara PU College, since the Exam board had changed the rules, that students of the same college can’t write their exams at the same college. And of the 38,633 students that appeared for the II PU board examinations in Dakshina Kannada, Arjun Adyanthaya, the physically-challenged student from St Aloysius PUC was one among them- and he answered his Economics paper on Thursday, 1 March, the day one of the exam schedule.
Arjun Adyanthaya’s Parents
Bringing about a change in callous attitudes may take some time, but till then reservation empowers the physically challenged not just in their profession but also in their lives. What it establishes is a precedent and more than one role model. In this case, we have Arjun as a role model and inspiration to other students that in spite of him physically-challenged who was very much determined and committed to answer his exams. Arjun suffers from Osteogenesis imperfecta – a genetic disorder that results in fragile bones, which he affected with when he was six months old- and added to that he is yet to recover from the hand fracture from a freak accident a year ago. But Arjun has never given up hopes, he is always smiling and looking forward for better days to come in his life.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Bhagwandas Adyanthaya, the father of Arjun who works as an executive at Gurudev Plastics Ltd, with his wife Vanitha (a housewife) , beside Arjun, said, “When Arjun was six only months old, he developed a rare disease called Osteogenesis imperfecta – a genetic disorder that results in fragile bones. Although we knew that Arjun had weak bones, but doctors informed us saying that Arjun’s condition would improve when he turns eight years. Initially he was treated at a private hospital in Mangaluru, but later he underwent treatment at a renowned private hospital in Manipal, where they inserted rush rods, which helped in lot of developments.”
“Earlier we used to live in our own apartment on the first floor, but since this apartment building didn’t had a lift and a car park, we decided to move into a rented flat which has an elevator- since Arjun has to be moved around in a wheel-chair. Arjun can sit, but cannot walk, since he is totally dependent. My son is very intelligent and can grab things fast. He aims to be an automobile engineer since he is very much interested in learning about the manufacturing industry. Even though Arjun was suffering from fragile bones, unfortunately, couple of weeks ago when we were driving back home in our car, I was forced to apply the brakes suddenly when I saw a snake crawling in front of the car. Arjun who was sitting in the back seat, rolled out of the seat and fell down hard, which resulted in bad injuries to his right leg and both his hands, which needed a plaster.” added Bhagwandas.
He further said, ” Due to this injury which is painful, it has been hard for Arjun to sit on the wheelchair. With this condition, me or my wife have to be close to him when he studies since he is unable to hold up a book. We take all precautions so that he is not hurt while moving him around. We also had a raised donations through a web portal, and with that money we were able to buy a motorized wheelchair. Arjun has improved from last year, where he was lying on the bed, but this year he wrote his exam sitting on a wheelchair. We thank the Principal of St Aloysius PUC Fr Melwyn Mendonca and the staff for their unstinted support- they all have been kind and nice to my son, and I am very grateful to them. Also thank everyone who has been very supportive towards our son, and the media”.
Also speaking Arjun said, ” I always wanted to take active part in sports and other games, but due to my disability I can’t involve in any sporting activities. Instead I concentrated and spent my entire time on studies during revision holidays. I was all ready for my first day at the exam on Thursday, and I think I did pretty well in my economics paper. My aim was to become an automobile engineer, but due to my physical disabilities, where I can’t stand for long hours, during the practical classes, I took up computer science in commerce. I want to focus on computers and after PUC I want take up Bachelors in Computer Application (BCA) course at St Aloysius College. I am thankful to the PU exam board for relaxing the exam rules for me, and also allowing me to skip the language exam, apart from appearing the other four core subjects namely- Computer Science, Business Studies, Accountancy and Economics.
St Aloysius PU College Principal Fr Melwyn Mendonca speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” Arjun is a very bright and intelligent student, who had secured 82% in SSLC, and he was interested in joining the science course. But I felt since there is lots of standing in the lab it would be very hard for Arjun to adjust. So I suggested that he take up commerce with computer science, after which he can continue his studies in BCA or MCA. We have very supportive to him, and have provided all the facilities that he needs, while at class. We also constructed a ramp so that it would accessible for his wheelchair. A special chair is provided for him inside the class. Also our housekeeping staff are always there to assist him whenever he need help. However, he still struggles with certain issues, such as attending nature’s call. We will come up with a solution for that soon. Since he had a fall recently, and has his hands and legs plastered, we have made this special arrangements for him ”.
Following photos taken at St Aloysius PU College last year when Arjun appeared for his I PU Exams
“The college is doing everything to support him academically. Arjun has been regular to class and has always answered the exams on his own- but due to his injuries he has taken the help of a scribe. He is very good at studies, and his presence in the class is an inspiration to other students. When Arjun said he would take up the final II PU exams with the rest of the students, we could not refuse the enthusiastic and determined young boy, even though he could not sit in a chair. added Fr Mendonca.
Even this year, LLB student Rashmi K Mallya was Arjun’s scribe for the exam. She was also a scribe for him during his I PU exam last year at St Aloysius PU College. Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Rashmi Mallya said, ” Since my mother works with Arjun’s dad at Gurudev Plastics Pvt Ltd, I was approached by Arjun’s parents whether I would help him out by being a scribe, for which I readily agreed. Also since I knew Arjun for a while and since they live in the same apartment where I live, I couldn’t hesitate to be a volunteer. Arjun is very smart, and he did good in his first exam paper on Thursday. Persons like Arjun who are in need of help should be obliged without any hesitant. I feel very blessed that I have been a good Samaritan to Arjun when he needed help while he answered his exams.”
And words of gratitude from Arjun, where he said, ” My sincere thanks to my neighbour Rashmi who was very helpful as the scribe this year for my II U exams. My thanks also to my principal Fr Melwyn Mendonca for his support and blessings before I answer my papers. My lecturers and other staff at my college have been very supportive and encouraged me a lot- to all of them I say a big thank you. Not to forget my parents, they have been my supporting pillars, and I owe my humble gratitude to them. Please remember me in your prayers for my good health”.