Achievement against odds
It’s the spirit that refuses to die, no matter what, cutting through a disability and apathy. It is sheer determination and her mother’s strong will that Tamana Chona could be what she is today, an inspiration for others like her. Tamana, Shyama Chona’s second child, was born with a birth defect, cerebral palsy, that affected both her mental
and physical abilities. But if life threw difficulties at her, she fought back. Today she teaches at a school and nurtures young minds. She was even selected to represent Asia-Pacific as one of Special Olympics Inc Global Messenger for 2002-03 and was one of the 12 athletes from around the world chosen for Special Olympics in March 2002.
She was just two, when the doctors told her parents that she had delayed milestones and without wasting a minute she was packed off to the States, where she was going to spend the next decade learn to be “normal”.
“I learnt to talk, blow candles and walk on my own. Though my father and brother stayed back in India, my mother became my saviour and friend and stood by me like a rock. She understood me and told me I was safe with her. She became my backbone,” says Tamana.
Her family too provided supported her to go ahead and be a success story. She adds, “My whole family helped me come a long way. They made me believe that nothing wrong can ever happen to me. That boosted my confidence.”
At 12, she retreated to India with a mission to finish her schooling. She changed four schools before passing out in the year 1998 following which she did her nursery teacher training to have a career. She has now been teaching for six years at the Delhi Public School, junior wing. She has also done a course in catering and loves to dance. Apart from surfing the Internet, she has a weakness for Bollywood films.
“I am crazy about Shah Rukh Khan and love watching Hindi movies. I also like talking to friends and going out with them. Now all I want is to be happy and make others happy,” she sums up.
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