BHARATI PAWASKAR
Expressing her innermost feelings through writings was what she always wished to do, intensely. And finally she did it “ first through a book of poetry called ‘Reflection’ and now a with a novel, ‘In Search of…’ which is in fact, a reflection of her search for the self within. Stacy Rodrigues surprises all. Her innate strength and talent, her potential and skills outnumber her shortcomings and that’s what is applauded even by veteran authors and cartoonists like Damodar Mauzo and Alexyz who made their presence at the launch ceremony of Stacy’s recently published book “ ‘In Search of…’
Mauzo who read the book and spoke on it agreed that Stacy surprised him by this visually impaired girl’s journey from an artist to a poet and now an author and a singer “ all at 31. “I am deeply moved by her book. It’s a journey of the character Amber playing the game of snake and ladder. The learnings of this character at every step of the journey and at every single phase of life are important even for us as individuals. The book narrates an inspiring story in a simple, flowing manner,” states Mauzo who was glad to be there at the launch, appreciating the way Stacy battled every odd situation of her life, despite her disability and yet, could make it so far, finally emerging as a winner.
For Alexyz, it was like a journey together, of two friends, witnessing each other’s achievements. However, he too was taken by surprise with Stacy’s grit and determination. “Every time I got to know that she’s doing something new, I felt it as an inspirational journey of her as an artist. One thing is common between both of us “ as artists, we are in constant seeking for something to explore. Stacy should never stop her search,” said this renowned cartoonist from Goa.
If you ask her, what she has learnt from life, Stacy smiles, “I never wanted to be the centre of attraction, and my impairment is considered as a hurdle by those in the outside world who could hire me for a job. What did I want to do in life, I asked myself, and tried to look within myself, getting introduced to my inner self. Believe me that inward journey was so soothing. I could explore and exploit my potential to the maximum and achieve what I always wanted to, in life.”
Writing poetry was her hobby at 14 and she always wanted to be a writer. But one hurdle kept her from pursuing her goal of becoming a writer, as it required reading and writing, which she couldn’t do much because of her limited vision. Yet, this brave-heart didn’t give up. She tried learning music, but her heart was not into it. She did a diploma in radio management too. But the urge to express through writing overshadowed everything else.
Restrictions could never hold her back. As time went by, technology came handy. Audio books were available online. She listened to stories. Software like Jaws helped her write down her thoughts into poems. This progress instilled confidence in her that someday she will be a writer. “The desire to have my own identity by doing something different and creative compelled me to keep trying. I failed many times, but never gave up. Then one most beautiful thing happened in my life “ at 25, I discovered that I could paint. I followed painting and soon was known as an artist. But the desire to be a writer still kept me on guard,” recalls Stacy, for whom too much of reading or writing was difficult as she had only 20 per cent of vision.
Today, she is in her early thirties but her journey has been a long one. The tribe of artists began recognizing her as a visual artist. Her first exhibition was displayed at Carpe Diem in 2012. She met a lot of people, whose feedback boosted her moral. She also realized that art is not restricted to only landscapes, but has different forms and abstract is one of them. With three solo and five group exhibitions to her credit, people appreciate Stacy’s artwork. The collection of her poems, ‘Reflection’ too, has seen the light of the day. She composes music and also sings. Coming across yoga and meditation she not only mastered but became a yoga instructor herself, tutoring others. “Moreover, my spiritual journey is on and it’s truly fulfilling,” she claims.
It was now time to tell a story, felt Stacy. But she didn’t know where to begin. At this juncture, a beauty contest, ‘Princess India’ was announced. It was for visually impaired girls. Out of 15 contestants, Stacy was selected. And here, she knew which story she should continue with in her novel. The thought of working on a story of a challenged character cleared her confusion. She found her character. And her journey as an author began. But who would publish her story? Her manuscript travelled from one publisher to next. Finally, she found her publisher “ BlueRose Publishers, who accepted ‘In Search of…’ and the novel saw the light of the day on October 12.
What next? It’s time to give back, she feels. A certified yoga practitioner, Stacy enjoys teaching yoga and healing people. She also takes art classes for kids. Free time is devoted for music. With traces of fights and battles, the trail towards a positive life continues. “Life has taught me to live blissfully and I wish to live to the fullest. I am truly blessed!,” exclaims this synonym of courage and bravery.
