Srinagar, Apr 30: In a heart-warming display of grit and determination, Sadiq Sarwar Rather, a deaf and mute student from Chattibandi village in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, has passed the Class 12 board exams with distinction—scoring a record 436 out of 500 marks.
The late Mohammad Sarwar Rather’s son Sadiq has defied the odds that deafness and silence usually pose in an area where access to special education is very low. Without being able to hear or talk, he was able to pursue a mainstream course through visual learning and the single-minded commitment of his teachers and family.
Residents have greeted his success as a ray of hope. “Sadiq’s success sends a very strong message that anything is possible,” one of his neighbors, who has known him since childhood, told Kashmir Bulletin.
While at a time when the majority of differently-abled children are denied quality education, Sadiq’s case highlights the necessity of inclusive education policies and support mechanisms in Kashmir.
While festivities echo softly within his home, Sadiq’s victory speaks volumes—speaking nothing.— (KB)
