A Gift of Opportunity!
Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. For a differently- abled Shailesh Nirlekar, it is the will that strives him towards his goal of becoming a great chess player. Hailing from a small village in Maharashtra, the 32 year old Nirlekar
Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. For a differently- abled Shailesh Nirlekar, it is the will that strives him towards his goal of becoming a great chess player. Hailing from a small village in Maharashtra, the 32 year old Nirlekar had been saving money to buy a laptop to fulfil his dream of becoming a Grand Master one day. On the foggy winter evening of 22nd January, 2010, during the Parsvnath International Chess Tournament, Deepalaya gifted Shailesh a Compaq laptop to realise his long lasting dream. Helped by his mother due to the disability to stand up on his feet, Shailesh thanked Deepalaya for giving him the gift of his life which would help him sail across his dreams. He said that he had been saving money to buy a laptop that could aid him in his chess training. He expressed his desire to play for India and win Gold during Olympics. Main GM ban kar hi dum loonga,â€Â (I will not sit back before I become a Grand Master) was his promise to all those present in the event. Disabled for life, it was his sheer spirit that made him reach the Tournament. During the opening ceremony, Shailesh had mentioned his modest family background to the media. After knowing this fact, Deepalaya came to his rescue and there was not a moment delay in taking an action. Present on the closing ceremony the Chief Executive and Secretary of Deepalaya, Rtn. T.K. Matthew wished Shailesh best for his future. His father, Madhukar Nerlikar was very grateful to the Organisation, for all the support bestowed on his son. Mrs. Sarla Nerlikar, the glorified mother, wished to treasure these moments and requested for a photograph with Mr. T. K. Mathew. Following in the shoes of Deepalaya, Mr. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder, Sulabh Sanitation & Reform Movement, who was present on the occasion as a distinguished guest, announced monetary help of Rs. 15,000 per month to Shailesh. Admiring his perseverance for the game, Mr. Pathak said that it is important to nurture such determined youth of the country in every possible way. Deepalaya has once again cemented its commitment of enabling Differently Abled people to be self-reliant and enjoy a healthy, dignified and sustainable quality of life.
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By- Pooja Sikka (Officer- Media Coordinator & Content Developer) & Punya Srivastava, Content Developer
About the Author
Ravi Pahuja
Noida
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