Having locomotive (orthopaedic) disability in both her legs did not stop her from aiming high. Pragati Vilop Karayi works as head clerk at the Directorate of Transport, Junta House in Panaji and lives at the government quarters at Bhatlem. Married to a practicing advocate, Adv K G Vilop, Pragati hails from Chorao island where she did her SSC at St Bartholomew's High School and HSCC at Raghuvir & Premavati Salkar Higher Secondary School. After her 12th in Arts stream, she did a computer course and passed a typing exam.
“Life as a disabled person can feel like a long and tough journey which requires a lot of adapting and I know how easy it is to feel frustrated by the barriers that populate our society. In childhood at the age of four, I suffered a lot of health issues and due to the adverse medication I became disabled. I had to undergo four surgeries at the age of five with my parents beside me, especially my mother, as my late father Narayan Vargaonkar who was a freedom fighter, worked in Mumbai those days,” recalls Pragati. Her name speaks for herself – pragati meaning progress.
Soon, her progressive journey began with the help of a very supportive family. “I had three brothers and a very strong mother who stood beside me in ups and downs in life. I needed physical support to step out of home and they accompanied me everywhere. Even my sisters-in-law are very helpful. Friends, teachers helped me during her school time at Chorao from where she did SSC and HSSC. I remember my teacher Luiza Pereira – a very kind and compassionate person who was always there whenever I required any help,” she admires.
Luckily, Pragati got a job soon after she completed her education, at the age of 22. "When I entered the government service in 1997 I was a little bit nervous as even after four operations, I couldn’t walk alone and had to take physical support from my brother to reach office. With the support of those friends and families comes the gentleness and understanding I needed to realise that acceptance of my disabilities will be a lifelong work,” she asserts.
Then a miracle happened. One day an unknown ‘father’ from some church entered her office and after seeing her condition, suggested to meet a doctor at Miraj, who would operate on her legs and help her walk. He also gave her a landline number of the doctor. Pragati’s brothers did not waste time, and taking appointment with the said doctor, took her to Miraj, where she had to undergo two operations in 2000. After that she could walk with the help of a walking stick. Now only climbing steps is difficult.
Today at 49, Pragati recalls how miraculous and unbelievable the whole episode was. That unknown angel never turned up again, even though she wanted to thank him. Physical disability did not affect her psychological strength. She is a very strong woman and this is visible through her actions and her words, “Accepting a disability is an intensely personal and subjective process. But, I eventually decided that I wanted to get to a point, where, the fact that I am physically disabled and have set concrete limits on physical abilities, did not cause me everyday distress. I am proud of who I am, and disability does not make me incomplete."
Pragati loves cooking and knows Goan and as well as South Indian dishes which are favourite of her South Indian husband, a practicing advocate in Bengaluru and a strong pillar in her life who has a BSc, LLB, MLIS and a diploma in Forensic Science.
“Real life isn’t Hollywood. I will always have my bad days and so will you but that doesn’t mean you can’t get through them, you can come out stronger on the other side. Each challenge is a lesson in disguise. You might feel defeated at times, you might feel like you’re swimming against the tide but you can champion and overcome those challenges that come your way,” concludes an optimistic Pragati.
