It takes some guts to turn an adversity into an opportunity. Come difficulty, many people get it into a shell. They sympathize with themselves, complain against establishments and expect sympathy, care and concern from others. A few of them, face the difficulty and do all it takes to lead a normal life. Stories of physically challenged sports persons and individuals are examples. However, there are people with enough mental power to look around and realize that there maybe many more like them. They have the strength and courage to think of a change. Here are 2 stories of brave individuals who turned adversity into opportunity and initiated a change. A change that made a difference in not just their own life, but in the lives of many people.
1.Bashir Mir: He is the son of a contractor and political worker in Vizer-Wagoora village in Kashmir’s Baramulla district. His father was gunned down by militants. What followed was some more bloodshed in which he too was injured. He chose revenge which changed a lot of people's lives. He established a small NGO called Human Aid Society in 1999. Bashir realized that there were many people in Kashmir who, like him, were living a life of pain and he wanted to help them. To raise money for the society, he sold his apple orchard. The organization has been providing relief and care to victims of violence in Kashmir. The NGO sponsors the education of needy children and helps provide assistance to widows and the destitute, all of whom who have been affected by violence at some point in their lives. He has even sponsored the education of some of the children of the militants who died after they destroyed his life. Newspaper reports say that more than 1000 victims of violence have been taken care of. These people have been offered care, support and motivation required to lead a better life after being victimized in militant attacks.
2. Phoolbasan Bai Yadav: This 40 year old lady is a seventh grade passout. She was born and had her childhood in impoverished background. Her life was headed in the direction like that of many other women in rural India - struggle hard to manage home and family and also try and earn some money. She started off with a small initiative to help herself and other women to earn some income. She faced stiff resistance from family, but her will did not break down. This led to the formation of the first Women Self-help Group (WSHGs) in Chattisgarh. Slowly this gained prominence and hundreds of such groups have been formed in the state. Yadav has contributed significantly to make the women self-independent and occupy high positions in society. WSHGs are now threatening the monopoly of their male counterparts by taking up unconventional assignments - be it mine or fisheries contract, government jobs, fair price shops etc. The group also takes up the basic educational costs and burdens of many children from the poorest of poor families, campaigns against and stops child marriages, fights alcohol menace and has been responsible for the closure of more than 250 liqour shops. The government of Chattisgarh and Government of India have recognised her contribution. She was also awarded the Padmashree in 2012.
Source: Newspaper reports, Hindustan times, Rediff news