The Colours of Hope: ‘My Daughter, A Bharatnatyam Dancer, Was Told She’ll Never Walk Nor Hear’
Ujjwala Sahane was contemplating ending her life when her daughter had a fall that left her deaf and paralysed. A Bharatnatyam dancer today, this is her story of hope.
Ujjwala Sahane and her husband were excited to start their family in 1985 when they were blessed with a baby girl. Things were wonderful until their baby had a fall when she was six months old, which left her paralysed and permanently damaged her hearing centre.
The couple was devastated. Their dreams of Prerana growing up to have a normal childhood felt distant.
But, as Ujjwala recounts, even in the darkest of times, there is a ray of hope. All you need to do is see it.
This ray of hope in her case was reading Helen Keller’s autobiography, ‘The Story of My Life’. “At least my child can see,” she thought to herself. It was this positivity that became the family’s pillar of strength.
As time passed, Prerana regained her ability to walk with regular exercises. But her hearing impairment prevailed. Her parents were keen that Prerana’s disabilities should never come in the way of her dreams. So, when she displayed a fondness for classical dance, Ujjwala was intent on letting her pursue it.
She terms the bond between Prerana and her guru Shumita Mahajan as “magical”. She says, “Despite not being able to convey the mudras to Prerana through words, guruji never lost heart.” Years of practice were met with success when in 2007, Prerana stunned everyone at her Arangetram — a graduation ceremony in dance.
As Ujjwala and her husband look back on the day they were so devastated that they contemplated ending their lives when they learned about their daughter’s fall, they say Prerana was the best thing that ever happened to them. “It taught us that hope never dies,” Ujjwala adds. If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change. Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution- By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike. Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?
Edited by Padmashree Pande
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