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the-south-asian.com September 2004 |
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September
2004 Heritage
Salman
Ahmed - yet Indo-Pak TV Culture
Lifestyle
Lehngas - a limited collection Books Between
Heaven and Hell
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ANJALI ARORA - SHEER GRIT & DETERMINATION by -Surabhi Khosla
Though visually challenged, Anjali Arora is out to prove that her handicap has in no way dampened her spirit to be one of the most successful lawyers of the Supreme Court of India….
Anjali Arora is a very busy lawyer. The 29-year- old LL.B. topper from Delhi University has a list of cases on hand where she has to file petitions, cross-examine witnesses and present counter arguments. Though she argues all her cases with gusto she is especially passionate about protecting the rights of the disabled. That’s because Anjali Arora is no ordinary lawyer. She is visually challenged. One of the brightest emerging advocates of the Supreme Court of India Anjali is out to prove that her handicap has in no way dampened her spirit to be successful in her chosen field. In fact she has shown beyond doubt that disability is no disqualification, no bondage and if disabled people understand this truth, they would be able to rise above the handicap and do better than even the able bodied people. Anjali was not born visually impaired. When she was fifteen she contracted a viral fever that affected her vision. Even a cornea transplant could not save her eyesight. Says she, " After the shock, the first great challenge for me was to accept my disability and then develop my inner strength to achieve as much in life as I would have done if I had not become visually impaired at fifteen. " Instead of breaking into pieces, the then teenaged Anjali decided to face the world boldly. Helped by her mother and elder sister she not only decided to complete her studies but set out to become a lawyer. Her family has supported her in every aspect of her life. "I was determined to make myself financially independent. I have always been convinced that a person can achieve anything if he or she has the will to do so," she says. But not everything was smooth. There was much insensitivity to deal with. Though a brilliant student she never found the going easy in school or college. She had trouble getting admissions. When she applied for her LL.B the examination-conducting centres were uncooperative and initially would not let her sit for the exams. That’s when she learnt that for her to be successful, she would have to fight for her rights. Keeping Her Goal In Sight Says Anjali, ".. it was difficult to get an internship after my law degree. Senior advocates were all impressed by my bio-data but rejected me as I was visually impaired and would not be able to perform as a lawyer." But that made her more determined. And then she met senior advocate Murli Bhandare, who not only made her his understudy but even encouraged her in her efforts. Today, thanks to him, she is the country’s first visually impaired woman lawyer. And a much respected person in the corridors of India’s apex court. "It was my will to succeed against all odds which has got me where I am," says Anjali. Anjali is now a full-fledged advocate herself. She works on the computer and is fully conversant with the Internet. Of all the sophisticated equipment, a computer with a voice synthesizer has been a boon for visually challenged people like her. "With modern technology I can manage most of my personal needs. Why just talk about computers, even a little thing like threading a needle has been made simple by a special wire. Though I am also proficient in computers I prefer to write by hand and use a scale so that the lines come out straight." She is a much-respected person in the Supreme Court. Nobody views her as an oddity but there is an all-round admiration. However, the profession has not been soft to her because of her handicap. And Anjali does not want any concessions either. "My first case as an independent lawyer was a housing matter against the Delhi Development Authority. Although I prepared well and even argued it out correctly, I lost the case. Despite that, the judges really appreciated my grit and that gave me a lot of confidence to handle cases on my own," says Anjali with pride. Justice For All However, her very next case before the Supreme Court not just became her first win, it also made her famous. It was a case for the right of blind teachers to employment. The case got a lot of good press, making her a well-known person in the legal corridors. Even though fate has been cruel to her, she has learnt to accept God’s writ and is working towards targets she has set for herself. After a few years as a lawyer she wants to sit for the Judicial Services examination for judges. "That is, if I am allowed," she adds wryly. But as a lawyer she knows her rights and her resolve to succeed is writ large on her face. She is very comfortable with her environment at the Supreme Court and would like to continue the good work she is doing there. Says she, "When you put your best in a certain field, the satisfaction is immense." Indeed it is. Today Anjali is content in the knowledge that she has triumphed in the face of overwhelming odds. Handicapped yes, but she has still come up trumps in the world of the able-bodied.
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