XTRASPECIAL
Makarand Dattaram Barve
The day was February 16, 2009, when Makarand Dattaram Barve met with a self-accident and dashed against a tree, causing permanent injury to his spinal cord resulting in 100% damage and disability. It’s been 16 long years that he underwent the trauma, but time is the biggest healer, he admits, and today by adopting a positive outlook towards life, Makarand is living happily. This Valpoi Sattari resident was working as a photographer, videographer and camera person in electronic media, prior to his accident. The accident changed the track of his life, but not sulking or blaming his fate, Makarand (popularly known as Raju) today runs Arya Graphics, offering flax banner designing and off-set printing services – albeit sitting on his wheelchair.
“The credit to my positive perspective goes to my entire family and two other persons – Dr Ashok Anant Amshekar, a medical practitioner from Sattari and Dr Prakash Parienkar from Goa University. These people hold an important position in my life,” claims Makarand who took to writing to express his emotions. His Marathi book ‘Navi Pahat’ was published in February 2021 and currently he is writing his second book in Chitpavani dialect. The first book had received a huge response.
Makarand chooses to be joyful and accepts that each person has his own perspective of looking at life, and that one cannot blame his/her destiny for what he or she had to suffer. He recalls that his wife Kirti had got a job as a surveyor in the forest department just a fortnight before his accident. As the accident compelled him to stay put at home, he is thankful that she had a job. Lauding her courage, Makarand shares, “My wife Kirti has been my backbone from day one. My parents, brother Manoj, son Atharv are my strong support systems,” says Makarand.
“I was on bed for five years and still had hopes of recovering someday. But the injury had left me paralysed from below the chest. Dr Amshekar made me accept the condition, and not to be depressed. It was hard but I slowly accepted the fact and with the strong backing of my family, embraced life again,” shares Makarand.
Dr Amshekar, a social figure in Sattari, has a bond with the people in this district, and all look up to him when they need any help, support or guidance. “I am lucky to have Dr Amshekar in my life, as he stood by me during the crises, and is still a call away. It is because of his constant encouragement that I could become who I am,” says a thankful Makarand.
Makarand recalls the day when his close friend Dr Prakash Parienkar, faculty from Goa University visited him after his accident. “Dr Parienkar proved to be an angel for me. He told me that he would like to do a literary programme at my home to discuss literature and invite various writers. The event brought a smile on my face, and I began to take interest in books. Dr Parienkar gifted me some books and asked me to read them,” adds Makarand who later participated in the Sahitya Manthan bimonthly programme and read his article, ‘Dev Tari Tyala Kon Mari’.
It was the beginning of his writing. He met new writers, poets. Wife Kirti bought a car so that he could attend literary programmes along with his wheelchair. The members of Sahitya Manthan take good care of his needs and even carry him to the fourth floor.
A member of Sahitya Manthan since 2015, Makarand is currently the vice-president of this organisation. He also held the post of the secretary for three years. In 2019 when he was the secretary and Gopinath Gawas the president of Sahitya Manthan, the organisation was honoured as the best organisation. "Our fourth Gramin Sahitya Sammelan will be held on March 21 and 22,” he adds.
Makarand shouldered the responsibility of the second Sahitya Sammelan in 2019 wherein he was asked to design the souvenir which was appreciated by all. Makarand who has written for Konkani daily ‘Bhaangarbhuin’ and Marathi daily ‘Goan Varta’ calls writing a boon. “I began writing about my own experiences in the society, and what I learnt from them. Expressing has boosted my spirits and my will to live on,” agrees Makarand who has been spending his birthday with the children of Keshav Seva Sadhana for the past 15 years. He is also associated with the Samvedan Kendra, a body that works for the Katkari community and contributes in whichever small way he can.
Makarand is an ideal example of how a person with physical disability not only overcomes it with determination but also shows how to take everything head on with a smiling face. Today’s youth get depressed with little failure. They should not lose hope and find a positive way to deal with the toughest situation. No situation remains static. We should remain positive in all situations and keep criticism aside, is what I want to tell youth, says Makarand.
