Dance teacher optimistic despite losing part of leg
KLANG: Hope springs eternal, they say, and Arumugam Muthan is trying to prove just that.
The former bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, who once managed a thriving dance academy and lived comfortably, was dealt a cruel blow by diabetes.
A small wound on his foot turned gangrenous and spread, leading to gaping holes on his feet.
Doctors then decided on the inevitable – amputation.
“My leg wound never healed and the condition deteriorated. To make matters worse, ulcers began to form and fester on the other foot and I had to endure long periods of hospitalisation.
“The doctors had to amputate all my right toes and part of my left leg,” said Arumugam, 57, who lost his dance academy, home and car soon after that in 2013.
The wheelchair-bound Arumugam, who lives in a rented flat at Gohtong Jaya, has not simply resigned to his fate.
“I am thinking of selling snacks near my flat to eke out a living ... I don’t think I will ever be able to teach bharatanatyam again,” he said.
Arumugam recalled that his Sri Arul Dance Academy produced countless dancers over the three decades that he was involved in the traditional dance.
He said he had no one to turn to for help to restart his life other than generous Malaysians.
“I do not know what else to do in my present condition,” said Arumugam.
Community Development and Integration Initiative (CDII) director Firoza Burhan said Arumugam’s life has taken a very sad twist.
“No one should have to go through so much pain and suffering,” she said, adding that she hoped the public would come to his aid.
For enquiries, e-mail the NGO at cdii.community@gmail.com.