STUDENTS SHOW THEIR METTLE

LUCKNOW: The third convocation of Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University was on occasion to celebrate the success of students who defied disability to come out with flying colours. Leading the pack was visuallyimpaired student Mohammad Akram (in pic - below) who passed MA Hindi with 80.2%. He bagged six medals. Akram said, “I was born with visual impairment in the family of a farmer in Sultanpur. Since I was the only disabled child among three siblings, my parents were shocked and made all efforts to have my disability cured.” Akram wants to do research on Prem Chand, his favourite writer and thereafter get into academics as a teacher. Wheelchair-bound Deep Mala Gautam got a bronze medal in MA sociology. She was affected by polio when she was just one and a half years. She won gold medal at UG level and wants to become a teacher. Mala gave the credit of her success to her parents, who, she said were a pillar of strength. “My father took me to various places to get me cured. But when doctors could not do much, he thought of making me a successful and independent person,” she said. The university gave away 436 degrees, of which 233 were received by girls, said Prof AP Tewari, advisor to the vicechancellor.