Yogeeta Paryekar (right), Preeti Gaonkar
This is a story of grit and determination of two sisters Yogeeta Paryekar and Preeti Gaonkar, both born deaf in a farmer’s family from Bicholim. While Yogeeta is working as a Lower Division Clerk at Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour in Bambolim, her sister is pursuing second year BCom at Zantye College in Bicholim.
Born to parents Barkelo and Parvati Gaonkar, who have four daughters and a son, the two sisters were born with hearing impairment, and as Yogeeta was the eldest daughter, the parents did not know about her disability till she was two-and-a-half or three-years old.
“We came to know about our elder daughter’s hearing impairment after local doctors told us about it and suggested to take her to GMC for check-up. She did not speak till she was four, and we didn’t know why. Later we found out that it is because she cannot hear us speak. The doctors gave her hearing aid machine which she used but after it broke the child never used it. And hence schooling became very difficult for her.
“Initially I faced difficulty in communication but later on in school I learnt sign language and English language that helped me to communicate in the society with people,” states Yogeeta Paryekar, a very lively person, happily married to Gauresh Paryekar, a KTC employee.
But life posed another challenge before Barkelo, as his fourth daughter Preeti was also born deaf. “I was depressed and took to drinking. I was worried about the future of my daughters, who could not hear or speak. What would be their future, I used to think,” shares the father. But then he found that there was a way out.
Barkelo recalls that Yogeeta’s primary school teachers advised him to enrol her in Sanjay School, a special school where she can learn and master various skills that would equip her to live and interact in the society. Yogeeta had passed class IV. By then Preeti was three years old. “I quit my habit of drinking and thought of educating both my daughters at Sanjay School. I purchased a second-hand vehicle and started dropping and picking both of them from Sanjay School, travelling daily twice from Bicholim. My hardships bore fruit, and as Yogeeta learnt various skills, Preeti too picked up sign language and progressed.”
Yogeeta did her SSC and HSC from Sanjay School and did ITI (COPA) course from Mapusa. Despite challenges, it was education that helped her to overcome her difficulties, as she puts it. “My teachers and family were the primary source of my motivation. Today, I am financially independent as I'm working as LDC at IPHB Bambolim for the past three years. The society should accept deaf persons as part of the society and should not exclude them.”
Yogeeta is very creative, and likes flower making, glass painting, cloth painting, weaving, making wall hangings etc. She is outgoing too and has a wide friend circle. She likes to meet up with her friends and attend family functions. This confidence of mixing and mingling with the society came through education. She even goes trekking, travelling and is an enthusiastic badminton player. When asked what are you best at, she quips, “I am good at cooking, too.”
Science and technology have helped persons with disabilities to conquer their battles. “I can use smart phone and am connected to my family and friends. I can also gain knowledge through various sign language videos on YouTube. I look at the world as a place to always explore new places and people in the society and also to learn things from them. I do believe in doing my duties and I know God will keep blessing me,” says Yogeeta.
While Yogeeta is living at government quarters in Altinho with her husband, her sister Preeti lives with the family at Bicholim and continues studying at Zantye College.
“She is very brilliant, and good at drawing. After graduating, she plans to take up a job. She picked up English at Sanjay School. My two other daughters, Asmita and Gautami are both MA, one in Economics and the other in Konkani. While Asmita is a teacher, Gautami is doing her last year in MA. I could study only up to class IV. But my children are all educated. My youngest son is in FYBCom at Zantye College. I have understood the importance of education,” concludes Barkelo, an ideal example of a father of five, who did not give up despite his poor financial background, and allowed all his children to pursue their careers.
