MAGRAHAT: Life has not been kind to him, yet he overcame every obstacle that was thrown his way. Bapi Fakir, a 22-year-old youth with 100% disability, refused to avail of a writer when he appeared for the Higher Secondary examination on Saturday.
Like a normal candidate, he wrote his answer script himself.
Bapi was born with disabilities that forced him to stay indoors when his friends played in the field or attended classes. But the adversity brought out the best in him. Son of poor garment seller Shahjahan Fakir, Bapi had a knack for knowledge and his parents managed to get him admitted to the Magrahat Kalas High School, where he studied with other kids. In the class, a mat is kept at a corner for him to lie down as he is unable to sit for longer hours.
Everyone was startled when he decided to write answer scripts himself during the Madhyamik examinations.
His teachers asked him to review his decision for the first big examination of his life, but Bapi could not be deterred. "He did the same thing when he appeared for the Higher Secondary examination. Bapi might have physical disabilities, but his mind is independent and he refuses to take any help. I still remember his inspiring speech he gave on the last day of school. It brought tears to everyone's eyes," said Sandip Purkait, his teacher at the Magrahat Kalas High School.
Bapi scored 302 in the Madhyamik and took up the arts combination for the Higher Secondary. Eldest of the five siblings, Bapi could realise the financial pressure on his parents to support his studies. He started to weave fishing nets in his free time and sell them to earn some money to bear the cost of books. "Education is a luxury in families like ours. But we never stopped him from dreaming. He wants to complete a Master's degree and we are proud of him," said his mother Sarina Bibi. His teachers said that he takes a lot of interest in Bengali literature and history and wants to pursue his higher studies in those subjects.
