JOIN USAshwini Angadi, who was honoured by the United Nations (UN) recently, kept the audience enthralled while addressing them at a felicitation programme organised by the Bangalore Mahanagara District Congress Committee in the City on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Bangalore-based visually challenged girl humbly apologised to the audience for turning up 20 minutes late for the function.
“My happiest moment was when UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told me that they would help me in all possible ways. I felt overjoyed when 16-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai walked up to me and called me an inspiration. My struggle seems trivial when compared to Malala’s journey. We feel like we share a bond. I will lend support to her every cause.”
She also thanked her parents, school authorities and college teachers for their support. When asked about her plans for the future, Angadi told Deccan Herald, “I want to meet higher education officials with regard to making colleges more disabled-friendly.”
She studied PU at NMKRV College and graduated from Maharani’s College of Arts and Commerce. Both lacked computers with special software for the blind, although they have good teachers.
“I feel it’s the right time to take up the issue. But, I cannot do it alone and need like-minded volunteers,” she explained. “People have given me so much love and affection, I still have a long way to go and need to give back something to society.”