Maham Ijaz, is a 20 years old physically challenged girl from district Haripur. At just about three feet in height with short bent legs, even a brief walk seems a long distance for her to traverse and even this seems cumbersome. She gets tired easily. She has to be mindful of her weigh as well as a few extra pounds may hamper her mobility.

She was made fun of and bullied. Yet the diminutive Maham did not let her challenging disability come in the way of her passion. She recalls how her teacher mocked her creativity. A piece of calligraphy she had made by raising a modest sum from her classmates to present it to their seniors. “This is not worth the amount she had raised,” her teacher scorned. “You could have bought a present for just a fraction of this price,” she was told.

Maham was heartbroken and decided to skip the farewell party. But this setback only fuelled her determination to work even harder on her calligraphy and painting skills to prove her worth and show her teacher the value of art. She started selling her art pieces, and soon people began to notice her talent.

But all this while in her journey to pursue her passion to become a calligraphist, she continued to face bullying and discouragement from her family and others. “People would make fun of my looks,” she said.

“I still remember the day when my painting was stolen. I had worked so hard on it, pouring my heart and soul into every brushstroke. It was my best work yet, and I was so proud of it,” she recalled.

“I searched everywhere, asked my mates if they had seen it, but no one seemed to know anything. I was in a state of panic, thinking about the upcoming art competition and how would I be able to participate without my painting. I then realised I couldn’t let someone else’s jealousy to define me. I decided to create a new painting right there.”

She started working on that, putting all her efforts into it knowing it was a risk but she was determined to get first position. “I made that painting filled with vibrant colors, used every possible technique to make that special. The competition came, and my painting got first prize,” she said with a tinge of pride in her voice.

Maham is one of the many who, although gifted with talent, continue to endure humiliation and embarrassment for their physical appearance.

“People with disabilities are often left out when opportunities arise. They rarely receive preference, unlike their able-bodied counterparts. One can hardly see any promoting quotas or scholarships for the disabled. I often struggle with climbing upstairs and descending downstairs. Facilities should be offered such as adapted chairs in institutions or accessible stairways.

Moreover, there should be a separate platform where differently-abled individuals can compete among themselves. I can’t compare myself to normal people, our energies and capabilities are different and we need a level playing field to thrive.”

Psychologist, Zainab Khan believes disabilities are mostly negatively stereotyped to subject victims to bullying. “Socially, they are treated as marginalised section of society. They are also subjected to ridicule, mockery, defamation, and even physical assaults. Such discriminatory treatment leaves devastating impact on their mental well-being and make them feel completely rejected,” she maintains.

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reported 3.3 million to 27 million people with disabilities in Pakistan, based on Nadra data. Moreover, the data also shows that cases of the persons with physical disability are more ie 295,093 than the mentally retarded ones ie 31,914.

“Students like me should involve themselves in extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, people with disabilities are often degraded and stigmatised, rather than appreciated. However, we should strive to reach new heights and push beyond our limitations, proving our abilities and challenging societal perceptions. By doing so, we can lead others to change their minds and recognise our potential, regardless of our disabilities.”

In circumstances like these, it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals with physical disabilities to compete with the able-bodied persons in every sphere of life. Government and social sector offer limited opportunities to physically-challenged people including job opportunities.

But as Maham has demonstrated, those with physical challenges can fight the stereotyping and display their talent in numerous other ways. She has the ability to prove herself by her talent as a calligraphist to reverse her physical shortcoming.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2024