PANAJI
“Visual challenge never became a hurdle in my success as I believe where there is a will, there is a way. I have no complaints, no regrets. I’m happy, and I don’t consider myself disabled. Despite this challenge, I achieved success. This accomplishment has significantly boosted my confidence. However, the term ‘disability’ can be disempowering, and I’ve struggled with it for years. I am working to redefine what it means to be capable and confident,” says Ravindra Vasudev Kudalkar from Valpoi-Sattari.
A postgraduate in Physics, Ravi also completed his LLB while gradually losing his eyesight. By the time he sat for his last law exam, he had become 100% visually challenged.
“I was totally blind when I began practice in 2005. I never had any goals in my life. It’s only when I came to know I was losing my eyesight that I took my life seriously and thought of doing LLB to earn my bread and butter.”
Today, Advocate Ravi has been nominated as a non-official member of the State Legal Services Authority by the Goa government in consultation with the High Court of Bombay.
“God helped me at every stage by sending some or the other person with a helping hand, including drivers, conductors and passengers. I’m grateful to all. Sunil Naik, a teacher from Damodar College even paid my LLB fees. He was very helpful, whenever I missed my bus to Valpoi, he took me to his home,” recalls Ravi, who is now financially independent. He has built a bungalow with his hard-earned money, owns a car, employs a driver, and has a stenographer.
“I have generated jobs. My mother made me self-sufficient and efficient to help others. I didn’t enrol myself in any government scheme, leaving it for the needy. I also learnt not to share problems with others because 25 per cent people will laugh at you and 75 per cent will ignore you. Therefore, look for the solution and don’t sit with the problem. Make your sorrow your strength,” is Ravi’s motto.
Ravi’s vision problems began in childhood, though he never thought he would lose his eyesight completely. “After post-graduation I lost my eyesight. Pondering over what to do next, I decided to secure my future by taking a degree in Law so that I could earn my living. I enrolled at Kare College of Law in 2003. By the time my last exam was over, my vision was lost forever. Thankfully till then I could see a little bit,” he recalls.
Accepting complete blindness was not easy. Ravi was frustrated but found strength through the support of people around him. His senior, Advocate Anacleto Viegas, and retired District and Sessions Court Judge Desmond D’Costa motivated him after he completed his LLB. “I was completely blind when I started practising as an advocate, thankfully Adv Anacleto along with the now retired District and Sessions Court judge Desmond D’Costa motivated me. Adv Anacleto is Gita and Bible for me, even today. He is the angel in my life. I am thankful to these wonderful human beings who came in my life with a purpose and it is because of their constant encouragement that I can fight cases independently and efficiently,” says Ravi, who memorises every point in each case, presents his client’s side clearly in court, and argues systematically during hearings.
In his career, Adv Ravi has fought many cases successfully and met several supportive people. “Many of my advocate friends offered moral support and that’s the reason why I could reach here,” he says, giving credit for his success to his mentors, friends, teachers, parents and siblings. “Without all of them it would have been difficult to overcome this visual challenge.”
Initially, Ravi travelled from Valpoi to Margao Court by bus, without revealing his blindness. Unable to see empty seats, he chose to stand for the journey, even when people wondered why. Later, he began using a stick, and conductors started recognising him.
Ravi’s advice is simple: “Don’t prove; improve! I saw people trying to prove themselves to others and failing to improve themselves, inviting all kinds of frustration. The best thing we can do is stop wasting our energy on proving something to others; instead, it’s better to utilise it to improve ourselves, which would automatically prove everything to everyone.”
