Xtraspecial
Life seemed to test Sayad Mosik Ahmed Mauli who experienced poverty since childhood. As a kid he walked on his toes and couldn’t balance himself. He could not wear normal footwear. After he was suggested to undergo a surgery so that he could wear regular footwear, he decided to opt for it. However, the corrective surgery didn’t help much to straighten his feet, and instead he had to start wearing callipers for the right leg. “After my surgery in 2008, I began to use callipers from 2009,” recalls Mosik, who works as LDC in administrative department of Sanjay Centre for Special Education at Porvorim.
Happy to work here, Mosik is surrounded by cooperative and helpful people like member secretary Neetal Amonkar who is always there to guide him. Mosik is thankful to the then chairman of Sanjay Centre for Special Education, Guruprasad Pawaskar who also stood like a pillar for him, just like his own brother Azim Sayad, who accompanied him throughout his school and college education. Living with wife Noorjahan, daughters Mehran and Maheera, mother Haseena Banu, Mosik has not given up his dream to be a teacher someday.
The Sayad family was not financially well off. Mosik’s elder brother Azim Sayad opted to drop out of school, Mosik continued studying. It was his father and brother who dropped him to school and college. “Without my brother Azim I would not have been who I am,” says a grateful Mosik who worked in a call centre to fund his education.
“I worked whole night at the Hello Group Pvt Ltd and attended Arts classes during the day at Dhempe College Miramar. Those were my struggling days. I worked from 10 pm to 8 am, reach home at 8.30 am, freshen up and study for a while. Taking a quick nap, I used to leave for college. The classes were from 12 noon to 5 pm. after reaching home at 6.30 I used to take tuitions to earn extra. I taught students from class I to XII till 9 pm. After dinner I rushed again to my job at Porvorim. I followed this routine for six years,” shares Mosik who managed to do BA.
He wanted to do B Ed but could not afford the fees. Meanwhile, an advertisement for a post at Sanjay Centre caught his attention. One of the four posts was for physically disabled. Mosik saw an opportunity. But he was in two minds whether to enrol for B Ed or grab the job. Finally, he left the call centre and joined Sanjay Centre. He found out about a three-year correspondence course in teaching in Hyderabad and enrolled for it, after seeking a NOC from Sanjay Centre.
The course required three months compulsory attendance. Here, again Azim offered help. He accompanied Mosik while travelling to Hyderabad to attend classes. Mosik completed Special B Ed continuing with his job at Sanjay Centre. Now he is answering GPSC exams. “I have answered four times, though not cleared. But I will not give up,” he quips.
Mosik participated in Goa State Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities organised by the Purple Fest Goa 2025, that’s currently going on at Ponda. In the upcoming Purple Fest he will be playing wheelchair cricket. Into sports from 2018, Mosik played badminton for State level on behalf of Election Commission and bagged the first place. In the same year he played for National Para table tennis at Madhya Pradesh. During last year’s Purple Fest he played wheelchair cricket and was the vice-captain of the Goa team.
Mosik overcomes his physical issues with his strong willpower. He was always positive, and luckily he met people who motivated him. He still remembers his high school teacher Deepika Kudav who told him stories of Sudha Chandran and A P J Abdul Kalam to instil confidence in him. “Nothing is impossible. Try, and think, I can do it,” she used to advise him. Such words succeeded to bring Mosik out of his shell and live confidently. A socially active Mosik participates in cultural programmes too.
Challenges would be there at every step, regardless of that one should keep trying until the goal is achieved, says Mosik and adds, “Focus on God. He will send appropriate people to help us.” Today Mosik rides a two-wheeler and drives a four-wheeler. He rides a two-wheeler without a side wheel, which itself is a great achievement for him.
Meeting good people in life has helped Mosik move on in life. When he met likeminded friends like Vishant Nagvekar and Patrick D’Souza, together they came up with an association ‘Disability Alliance for Inclusive Goa’ that is working for the betterment of the PwDs in Goa, and of which Mosik was the first secretary. Now, Mosik has only one wish, to be a teacher someday. “I feel I am eligible and someday I will surely live my dream,” he expresses with confidence.
