Quite a feet!

 

A disability is never a handicap. There is always a way out,” says 15-year-old Nadeem Shaikh as he flips the pages of his drawing book. 

Born without hands Nadeem, an SSC student, wrote all his papers using only his feet. Though he could have asked for a writer, Nadeem chose to answer his papers on his own and expects to score over 60 per cent.

Nadeem, a student of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hindi school, Worli carries his notes and reference books to school in a bag slung across his chest. But unlike other students, he sits on the bench and writes his exam with his right toes.

The Worli resident manages everything — from writing, to holding up books and even eating and combing his hair — using only his feet. “I never thought that I lacked anything, or was inferior to others.

I cannot wear clothes on my own, but can do everything else using my feet. I didn’t ask for a writer for my exams as I wanted to learn to write on my own. I love making portraits and sketches. And I wish to become a famous artist when I grow up,” he said.

“Nadeem is usually engrossed in making portraits and sketches. He is a very supportive and understanding boy. 

He was born without hands, but has never complained about anything. He has made his disability his strength and we are proud of him,” said Noorjahaan, his mother.

 

An authority at Nadeem’s school said, “He moved to our school two years ago from Agripada’s SEC Day Handicap School. Since we had heard about such a case for the first time, we were sceptical about admitting him to the same class as others his age. But after assessing his reading and writing skills for two days we decided to admit him. He is a very talented boy.”