This assistant district collector did not let her visual impairment keep her from achieving her dreams.
Please ask me only interesting questions,” said the new assistant district collector of Ernakulam, Pranjal Patil. “Otherwise I’ll get so bored.” I mentally scratched off all my questions about success, motivation and challenges. I had to think more creatively, but under the sudden pressure to perform, I crumbled. All I could come up with was: “Why IAS?” She might have been bored already, but she answered sportingly.
“I believe you can contribute [to society] in whatever field you choose,” she said. “But I wanted to do something where I could deal with people directly. I wanted to be in a profession where you can see the direct result of your actions.”
Being visually-impaired, Patil might have preferred a profession where she does not have to face the forced sympathy of people, or their awkwardness around disabled people. But instead of running away from the storm, she walked right into it. The thing about her is that there is no trace of self-pity. Not once did she refer to her disability as setting her back in any way, although it must have in many ways. However, when I brought it up, she addressed the issue without any hesitation, and did not shrink from the questions.
This story is from the June 24, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 24, 2018 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ram temple not an issue in south
Much has been said this election season about the alleged north-south divide.
Haute and sweaty
In Mumbai, where I live and work, there is a severe heatwave going on. The highest temperature this month has been 40 degrees, sweltering and humid for the coastal city.
MOVE AWAY MARY!
In many parts of the world,unique names are becoming popular
CALL OF THE WILD
Tejas Thackeray, the younger son of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, shares his passion for wildlife conservation and photography
CEPA and beyond
Bilateral trade between the UAE and India has grown almost 16 per cent year-on-year, touching $84.5 billion
Brash and raw
When I chanced upon Raj Narain, who humbled Indira Gandhi
Lone voice of dissent
“I am keen to invite Parakala [Prabhakar] to Mumbai… What do you think? Do you know him?” A friend asked. No, I don’t know the man. And no, it is not a good idea to invite him, unless you want to invite trouble, I replied.
Modi and the Muslim syndrome
I have long been intrigued by the prime minister’s desire to hug every passing sheikh and sultan and his contrasting contempt for the ordinary Indian Muslim.
Assam Rifles not trained to guard borders; need separate force for Manipur border
Imphal is blanketed in darkness. The sun has set a little too soon in the valley, but N. Biren Singh is yet to call it a day.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SENTINELS
Manipur government wants the Assam Rifles replaced, but the Union home ministry is focused on upgrading infrastructure and connectivity before deciding who guards the state