Meet Keshav Chandra, A Person With Cerebral Palsy, Who Beat All Odds To Score 96% Marks

Keshav Chandra will turn 19 in three days. This birthday will be even more special as he will celebrate scoring 96 per cent marks in his 12th exam with 100 marks in legal studies.

Chandra, who lives with cerebral palsy, tells a tale of courage, emotions, learning and everything a human aspires to have in order to rival the gods.

Yes, he is a courageous boy, who stood against all odds and finally achieved something that can't be ignored.

Keshav Chandra

¡°I am happy, really happy. It¡¯s hard to express. I never expected this, but had prepared for putting everything I had on the line. I am glad my effort paid off. Now, I want to pursue Political Science (Hons) in DU and would opt law as a career. I wish one day I become the Chief Justice of India (CJI)¡± said Keshav.

Keshav scored sociology (96), legal studies (100), political science (95), psychology (71) and English (95) and best of four got him 96 per cent.

Born in the year 2000, Keshav had more than his share of struggle as life was indeed very tough in last 18 years.

Mother stood by him like a rock

Rukmani Prusty, Keshav¡¯s mother always stood beside him like a rock even in the darkest of hour. ¡°We realised that he is special child when he was six months old. In initial years, family wasn¡¯t that supportive as most believed he doesn¡¯t have any future. But, I was adamant that my child will study and make a mark for himself,¡± said an emotional Rukmani Prusty whose eyes say everything about the success of her child.

Struggles were perennial and they still are

Keshav couldn't eat anything as an infant. His elder sister, Soumya, who is doctor, said that Keshav initially had Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which makes it difficult for the individual to eat.

Keshav with his family

¡°My mother would beat him to make him cry and feed him, so that he doesn¡¯t vomit. We still feel shaken when we think of the time that we have been through. But, I would also give credit to my mother that she stood by him like anything. At times, I used to think, perhaps mother doesn¡¯t love me, but now, I can understand the amount pain she endured and put her into to make Keshav what he is today,¡± said Soumya.

A series of surgeries and school life

In order to make movement of his body swifter, Keshav has undergone surgeries several times, but it were of a little help. He went to Sanskriti School and studied in the same in the school throughout.

¡°From 1st till 7th standard, he was in a section for special children and from eighth standard onwards, he studied in mainstream and eventually outperformed most,¡± said Keshav¡¯s proud mother Rukmani.

Want to help specially-abled people

Keshav wants to become CJI one day and one of the reason for having the specific goal that he wants to do his bit for the specially-abled people.

Keshav with his sister Soumya.

¡°The specially-abled people still have a long way to go and despite many things changing and life becoming relatively easier for them, a lot has to be done. I want to ensure that these people live their lives to the fullest, so that a the proverb-disability is just word, gets real,¡± said an ecstatic Keshav.