Disability Is Not A Deterrent To This 14-Year-Old Child Prodigy

Your success and happiness lie in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

These are the words of Helen Keller who despite being deaf and blind authored a book, participated in politics and would give lectures.

It's hard for us to imagine a life with no ability to see our loved ones or hear their voice. At some point in life, we all must have wondered what it might be like to be visually impaired. But there are many who in real live this life. Few befriends a life of confinement while few warriors fight and etch their name on the hearts of people. One such person is 12-year-old Sabari Venkat who despite the odds did not deter himself from pursuing his hobbies.

When he was 3-years-old he suffered from Retinal Detachment. It is a condition where retina is separated from its attachment within the eye which leads to loss of vision. Sabari's right eye has no vision, and his left eye has only partial vision. This boy from 9th standard is a child prodigy and a famous orator who gives encouraging talks. Hailing from an agricultural family from Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Sabari shifted to Coimbatore with his family after his birth.

Speaking to The Logical Indian, Sabri said "I had to come to this city for education.I love to study and since childhood I would participate in Swami Vivekananda Competition and became popular after the contest which impressed the judges and the audience because of my spiritual knowledge. Late President APJ Abdul Kalam and Swami Vivekananda are my role models."

Sabari would listen to the verses of Swami Vivekananda and would write the meaning of the verses as well. Soon, he started giving motivational speeches across Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu. He has given more than 150 speeches which revolve around self-confidence.

Besides this, Sabari had won more than 30 awards for his various skills and had been recognised with coveted 'Creative Child with Disabilities' award by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment last year.

Sabari speaks and sings songs in English, Sanskrit and Tamil. He also understands Badaga and Malayalam. With his excellent storytelling and mimicry skills, Sabari takes his audience to the world of imagination. He intimates the sounds of animals, vehicles and adds flavours to his stories. He also learns keyboard and wishes to acquire a lot of skills as possible.

Sabari's role model Late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam once invited him to spend some time with him during his visit to Coimbatore and last year in May, Sabari met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Coimbatore airport where he had a short and crisp meeting with him.

On asking if he has any messages for people, Sabari says that with self-confidence everything can be achieved and people who confine themselves to isolation due to their disability should come forward and explore the world.

The Logical Indian salutes this 12-year-old Sabari who spreads positivity in other's life and despite being in unavoidable challenges, his smile and his talks help people build up confidence.