Despite scoring well in CET, Roshan Shaikh was declared unfit for the course till
High Court ordered in her favour;MLA Amin Patel will foot her bills.
In 2008, Jogeshwari teen Roshan Shaikh lost her legs in a
train accident. A brilliant student, Roshan refused to be a victim of circumstances,
and two years later, she appeared for and scored well in CET. Just when she thought
she was close to victory, came the blow she was declared unfit for admission. Roshan's
resilient family refused to take a no for an answer and approached the High Court.
In Friday, Roshan was granted admission to Grant Medical College.
In October 2008, Roshan was on her way back from her college in Bandra to her home
in Jogeshwari when she was pushed out of a crowded train. The incident left her
with amputated legs. I was given artificial limbs, but it was difficult keeping
up my spirits'' said Roshan.
Despite the setback, she scored a commendable 92 per cent in SSC, and harboured
aspirations for higher studies. But her medical expenses were increasingly becoming
a burden on her family. Several charitable organisations came forward to help, especially
because Roshan's father was a humble vegetable vendor who barely managed to make
Rs 3, 000 per month.
Propped up by the support she received from well wishers and driven by her ambition,
"I appeared for CET in 2011 and scored 128 out of 200. I also ranked third
in the handicapped category and was called for another exam at JJ Hospital. Much
to my dismay, on July 19, I was declared unfit for an MBBS course," said Roshan.
Refusing to let their daughter's hard work go to waste, the Shaikhs approached the
High Court. Around the same time, Mumbadevi MLA Amin Patel approached Chief Minister
Prithviraj Chavan and pleaded her cause. The CM asked the then medical education
secretary Milind Mhaiskar and medical education director Pravin Shingare to look
into Roshan's case. But the state government declared Roshan unfit again.
The much-needed reprieve came from the High Court, which sought a reply from the
state government which had declared Roshan unfit. "The judges went through my reports
and found that I was fit to do the course. An order was given in my favour," said
a jubilant Roshan. On August 25, Roshan's name appeared on the second list of successful
candidates.
Roshan's education expenses will be borne by Amin Patel, who said he has requested
Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of KEM hospital to get her an accommodation in the hostel so
that she did not have to commute from Jogeshwari.
Commending Roshan's hard work, Dr Oak said, Since commuting for her would be a challenge,
we gave her a room in the closest hostel. There was a high court order in this case
and we have to abide by it.
Roshan has her future chalked out - she wants to be a nephrologist. My
sister is a dialysis technician and nephrology has always fascinated me, she said,
adding, This is the best Ramzan gift ever!
Courtesy: Times of India
