(TISA
interviewed Soma, a Kolkata SHG member, now doing P. hd in IISc
Banglore. Very inspiring for all of us! Read on... Ed.)
Myself Soma Roy. In this interview I want to share something with all you guys.
I
am really very lucky to have very supportive parents. My father is an
agent in LICI and my mother is a classical singer. I have a cute
brother who is very brilliant student. He stood 13th
in the Higher Secondary examination in West Bengal. He is in first
year in Physics hons. in Belur Ramkrishna Mission Vidyamandir.
After
passing the 12th
exam from Siliguri Girls’ High School, I came to Kolkata for higher
education in 2009. I got admitted in my dreamed Jadavpur University
in Chemistry
subject. I passed both B.Sc (2012) and M.Sc (2014) from Jadavpur
University.
I got 55th
rank
in all India GATE exam and 48th
rank in CSIR-NET in 2014.
Now,
I am a research scholar in the renowned Indian Institute of Science
(IISc). After competing with many students from all over India, I got
through
in
IISc. I want to devote my education in the Cancer
research field and I want to help the whole society.
I
was always in toppers’ batch in my school. But I never went to any
debate competition or any exhibition in my school days - even
though I
am a very ambitious girl! After 12th
exam, I decided to go to Kolkata (Kolkata is 550 km far from my
hometown Siliguri!). I applied to
5 colleges and got chance in every college- among
which
I chose Jadavpur University as it was my dream to get admission
there. My parents were very very supportive. My idol is my father who
went to Kolkata with me and told me that he can cross every barrier
for my
education.
As my family condition was not well at that time, I was little
worried about my education, but later I got INSPIRE-DST scholarship
from central government which almost ended
my tension with the same.
Now,
the real thing is that I am a stammerer. Earlier I thought that it
must
be some problem of my tongue, but I was
surprised
that when I sing, I never stammer! It can be a
simple
problem for others, but for me, it represented
everything, stopping
me from a happy contented life!
Gradually it increased and began
eroding
my self-confidence. But I never lost hope. I practiced some
traditional speech therapy and boost up my confidence myself. My
father helps me a lot. Whenever I feel low, I remind him. He told me
a simple thing that to write the advantages and disadvantages of mine
in one page. I found some 14-15 advantages and just one disadvantage
i.e stammering! Then, I thought how this one disadvantage can destroy
me from inside.
From that day, I determined that I will never give up my hope.
I
had to compete with students from all over India for getting
admission in IISc. Now,
I
have got the best lab here and I am very happy with my work. But it
was not so easy at that time. I was worried about the
interview
as I had
to face a bunch of professors at a time. I practiced slow reading,
mirror talking etc. I didn’t give up hope for a single day. As
the result, my name was at the top of the list and I got admitted to
IISc...
Now-a-days
my life has changed a lot. I come in lab at 9.30am and go to hostel
at 1am (yes!!!! at night). I have to stay in lab for 14-15 hours
everyday (don’t be surprised :-P). I have given 8-9 seminars after
coming to
IISc. Though I stammer, the extent has been reduced, as I have
reduced my speed also. My fear has almost gone and I am becoming
confident day by day. I could have
been a shy
girl, married
to a
guy after passing graduation, could
have had a
family, been
a
good housewife etc.
IF
I would just
hide
my stammering. But it is my life and I can and
should
do whatever I want to do. I wanted to do research and I know that
nothing
can stop me if I want it
heartily. This
thought,
this
realization has
changed my life and now I am doing what I always
wanted...
I
just want to tell other pws that do whatever you guys want and don’t
give up confidence. Your life is in your hand...
Editor: Thank you Soma! And a big THANK you to your family, teachers and friends. You have brought up two important things: stammering makes things a little difficult, no doubt - but not impossible. If you set your heart on something, you can do it, as well as others- and as you prove, even better THAN others!
Second thing: society (family, teachers, colleagues, friends etc.) can play a huge role in recovery from stammering mindset. In fact, it appears that Society creates "stammering" and Society again, dissolves it. Disability is largely a social "construct". If society makes up its mind that it will treat a pws no different, then there is no problem left to be solved. This is what we in TISA are hoping to achieve through our small efforts. Thanks again for your precious time and thoughts. Keep charging ahead!
Second thing: society (family, teachers, colleagues, friends etc.) can play a huge role in recovery from stammering mindset. In fact, it appears that Society creates "stammering" and Society again, dissolves it. Disability is largely a social "construct". If society makes up its mind that it will treat a pws no different, then there is no problem left to be solved. This is what we in TISA are hoping to achieve through our small efforts. Thanks again for your precious time and thoughts. Keep charging ahead!
