T.R.U.E Grit

He's an M A in history, a psychology graduate, and a degree-holder in English literature, all rolled into one. What's more, he's a practisin...

He’s an M A in history, a psychology graduate, and a degree-holder in English literature, all rolled into one. What’s more, he’s a practising physiotherapist who’s been running his own clinic at Borivli for the last 15 years.

Being visually impaired hasn’t deterred Ramesh D Borse from unflinchingly pursuing his goals and taking challenges head-on. Here’s a man who has braved great adversities and proven that no handicap can destroy his zeal, motivation and the desire to accomplish.

Borse lost his eyesight at the age of three, when he was down with small pox. But he isn’t bitter or contemptuous of life. On the contrary, he’s content with whatever life has given him so far. He says: “All of us are handicapped in some way or the other. If someone aspiring to be a good singer doesn’t have a good voice, he/she too is handicapped. If you don’t possess wealth or are uneducated, you’re handicapped again. Then why discriminate against the blind?”

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Borse did a five-year-course in physiotherapy from the VictoriaMemorial School for the Blind, Mumbai. He worked initially at the J J Hospital and later at Masina Hospital from 1973-1981.

Borse feels he was fortunate to have had good teachers, great friends and contacts who always helped him. “God always gave me something extra,” he says. He studied books in Braille bought from London and secured loans to set up his own clinic. Today, he’s doing quite well for himself.Borse keeps his clinic open seven days a week, and in the free time he manages to get, he involves himself in research work on physiotherapy.

His wife does the secretarial work at the clinic, and his two children are engineering students. He isn’t dependent on anybody, but laments that many have tried to take advantage of the fact that he’s visually impaired. One of Borse’s patients, Sanjay Bane, a BEST supervisor, who’s been undergoing treatment at Borse’s clinic for the last one month, says: “I used to get a frequent catch in the back. But due to Borse’s treatment, I can now walk and even drive. I’mrecovering fast.”

Borse is interested in economics, politics, languages and religious philosophies. He has read the Quran and Bible, and is presently studying Judaism.

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Pointing to the inadequacy of material possessions, Borse says: “Even if you have everything, not everybody will like and accept you.” Quite an eye-opener!

Starting today, an occasional column on the real-life heroes in Mumbai.