Author: Harsha Partha

I am Harsha Parthasarthy, 44 years old. I was born different. When I was a child, I couldn’t hold anything properly, couldn’t walk, had problem in balancing, I was drooling and was very slow in speaking. My parents were worried. They took me to all the doctors but my problem couldn’t get an apt diagnosis. As a child, I didn’t have any idea about school, teachers or friends. I used to see other children going to school and felt bad about it. My Mother was a physics professor and Father, a psychology professor, both working in Maharani’s college. My Sister was a very sweet girl. She was studying, playing with me and helping with my needs. My parents would narrate great stories to me, brought books to help me in my studies. After a few years, they came to know about this special school known as Spastic Society of Karnataka. I joined school at the age of 10. When I was studying, I noticed my vision problem, for which I wore spectacles (but, it did not help much). I was very keen on reading science and maths. In school, I made many friends. My teachers, kind and understanding, taught us their subjects in detail. The therapists taught us exercise that would help make us a little more flexible. When I was in 12th I had to leave out my favourite subjects because the scribes were unable to understand me. Further, I learnt how to make paper bags and work with computers at school. After completing 12th I joined as a data entry operator in an NGO known as AMBA. I cannot use mouse. So, I use only keyboard commands. I cannot use a mobile, but I like WhatsApp. My hands do not listen to me. I operate the computer only through keyboard commands. I overcame my vision problem by using Magic screen reading software. This enlarges the font size and reads aloud the text. Since I can’t use a mobile, using a software called Bluestacks, I installed mobile apps like WhatsApp and FM radio on my computer. I have learnt to edit audio and video files using HD video converter. In addition, I enjoy typing stories on my computer. Now I’m proud to say that I can work independently on computer and help my sister, mother, niece and friends with the same. Lastly, my love for music is not new. I’ve always enjoyed listening to old & new Hindi, Kannada and Telugu songs.