Fingerless Lonchongpulu Golmei: An inspiration to all
Source: Hueiyen News Service / N Sanajaoba

Imphal, June 13 2012: Though born fingerless and orphaned at an early age, Lonchongpulu Golmei has been leading a normal life bringing up her younger brother and daughter defying all odds.

Lonchongpulu Golmei lives in Sangaiprou Kabui Village.

Both her parents died when she was just 8 years old leaving all the responsibilities of looking after her younger brother, whom she has brought up with great difficulties.

Undeterred by the ordeals of life despite being born fingerless, Lonchongpulu started practicing to hold spoon with both her wrists since childhood.

Later, she learnt to hold a pen and after that she got herself enrolled at the Sangaiprou LP School.

She read upto class II in that school before its closure.

After the demise of both her parents, Lonchongpulu began to do whatever works that were available in her village to feed herself and her younger brother.

Soon she learnt to brew local wine.

After she mastered the art of holding the spoon with one wrist, her business of brewing local wine too flourished.

Narrating how she learnt to hold the spoon with one wrist, Lonchongpulu Golmei informed this reporter that the art of holding the spoon with one wrist was taught by her late cousin Kakhuton.

He bought her a copper bangle and put it around her wrist.

The spoon was made to slide between the wrist and the bangle.

This way, she could eat her food with the help of the spoon.

Not only that she also learnt to hold a knife and even put thread in the eye of a needle.

Subsequently, she also learnt to do embroidery work using sewing machines.

"Now I can do all the works any normal person can perform", Lonchongpulu said proudly.

With passage of time, Lonchongpulu got married to one Amuthoi Golmei of the same locality.

They were blessed with a girl child.

But unfortunately her husband passed away leaving to fend for herself once again.

In spite of all the problems being faced, Lunchongpulu lamented that she has not received any assistance from the state government.

However, she did manage to get a BPL card and built a house under Indira Awaz Yojana ten years back.

Social activist Laishram Nabakishore has also providing her with a monthly stipend of Rs 200 .

Having done everything she could first as a sister to her younger brother and later as mother to her daughter, Lonchongpulu got her daughter married and she (Lonchongpulu Golmei) is happy that she can now live happily with her grand children very soon.

"With God giving us the chance to live, we should live with our heads held high, instead of feeling dejected over being born as a disable", Lonchongpulu said.

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