Kottayam: His story is as touching as it is inspiring. Sreedev S, a class IV student of the Government High school, Manarcaud, is special in more ways than one. Suffering from ‘dystonic cerebral palsy’ a neurological disability from birth, he has already published two books of short stories and poems.
A visit to his home in Meenadom Wednesday evening saw him lying on the floor drawing the picture of an elephant with the help of his mother seated in a chair nearby.Unable to sit or stand erect , his speech too lacks clarity, but proving that happiness is a state of mind and not dependant on one’s condition, he writes stories and poems about flowers, animals, and the wonders of nature. Two of his books, Myilpeelikal and ‘Manimuthukal’ are a collection of stories and poems revolving around butterflies, rain, plants , animals and his village.
“I would like to be a great writer when I grow up. Drawing doesn’t interest me much,” says Sreedev, the light of hope glittering in his eyes. Sreedev’s mother, Pushpa, was diabetic when pregnant, leading to his disability, that makes muscle movement very strenuous. While he can walk for a small distance with support, most times he is carried by his parents. His condition has however improved after he was treated at the Christian Medical College, Vellore.
His father Sugathan, a plumber by profession, says Sreedev began to tell stories when he was four years old and his mother would jot them down. “We were awe-struck by his ability,” adds the proud father. Sreedev’s mother appears to have ignited his imagination by reading stories from children’s publications aloud to him while he was still very young.
Happy to go to school where he sits in a special chair, the boy is a favourite with his teachers as he is good at his studies as well. He even attends poets’ meets, that are held once a week in Meenadom. More immediately, he is looking for a publisher for the 60 stories and poems that he has written of late, proving that life is certainly what you make of it.
