Laishram Eseihanbi
- Foot Embroidery Expert -

By Thingnam Anjulika Samom *

Achievements come after conquering insurmountable obstacles that are strewn in the human path. Usually most of these obstacles are external conditions. But when one has to overcome both internal and external forces at work, it is an extraordinary achievement which humbles all other.

Laishram Eseihanbi is one such extraordinary person who has surmounted both manmade external and internal conditions to score a place for herself in history. She was born on 10th August, 1957 as the eldest child of five children – two sons and three daughters -- Laishram Manglem, a renowned Moirang Praba artiste popularly known as Nongbansaba, and Laishram ongbi Nupimacha a skilled weaver and housewife.

"I can clean dishes, mop the floor, cut my own finger nails, apply chandon on my nose and forehead, thread needles, embroider ... I bet I can do all these much better than you," she beamed.

To most people these actions hardly count as achievements. But when you are living with cerebral palsy, these are major triumphs that call for a thousand medals. Cerebral palsy is paralysis or loss of volitional control over a motor function resulting from brain disorder suffered either before or at birth or during infancy.

Cerebral Palsy can be caused before birth, during birth or after birth. It can be categorized into three main types. Spastic cerebral palsy-- where movement and flexibility are drastically affected because of muscle stiffness, Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy, which affects speech and hearing due to an involuntary stiffening of the muscles and Ataxic cerebral palsy, which affects balance and coordination.

When her mother also fell seriously ill after her birth, Eseihanbi was initially brought up by her maternal grandmother. A late developer, she learnt to sit up and walk only when she reached around ten years.

"We did everything we could. We consulted many maiba, many panji, performed so many pujas, but her condition didn't improve," said her mother, Nupimacha. "We didn't know so much about medical science or doctors then," she added.

The disabilities proved only superficial and physical, for Eseihanbi's indomitable spirit and strong will taught her every skill that would help her. "I can embroider with my feet," she said showing off the tablecloth that she is embroidering.

"When I was around 30 years, I used to watch the kids carry water in buckets, and I wanted to carry it. So I asked them to put it over my arm. This was my exercise that I had devised for myself. I also asked the kids to help me stretch out my hands and palms and ask them to press the spread out palm on the floor with their full might," she said.

"I also learnt to embroider after watching the local girls do that in their free time. This is now my passion and I wish to earn my livelihood through my embroidery," Eseihanbi confided, and added earnestly, "You are like my own sister. Please see how you could help me fulfill this desire."

Unlike in her childhood, when she had to be helped for every need or bodily function, Eseihanbi can independently perform much of her daily activities like eating, etc. For some of her activities like dressing up or putting on her earring, her mother and sister are there to help.

"She learnt to speak around 30 years, before that I would convey through signs only. Only I would know. Now I am in my seventies, how will she live on after I am gone?" said her mother Nupimacha.

Financial constraints are an additional concern. "When father was there, there wasn't much worry about money. But after his death about ten years back, it is a hand-to-mouth existence for us," she adds.

Besides some odd donations from well-wishers, Eseihanbi started receiving a monthly pension of Rs. 100 each from the State Social Welfare Department since a couple of years back.

"Sometimes I start thinking about many things. Sometimes these churning of thoughts in my mind make me want to die. But I can't. I have faith in god, I believe in him," Eseihanbi confided as she took me out to a teashop for a treat. Each word she spoke is an effort. But her efforts are superhuman.

"When I was younger and I saw the children going to school I wanted to go with them to school so much. How much would my life had been different had I been a little educated!" she sighed. But the next instant she is her joyous self again, "And now I am too busy to study – so many things that are to be done."

Contrary to common beliefs, although motor control is affected in many people with cerebrla palsy, their level of intelligence can be still be pretty high. "Sound minds but rebellious bodies" describe their condition best.

Some of the more famous people with cerebral palsy include Christy brown (1932-1981) author of "My Left Foot," Chris Nolan author of Whitbread Prize winning autobiography "Under The Eye Of The Clock," and Stephen Hawking - the famous physicist regarded as the best since Albert Einstein. Hawking is known for his work on black holes and for his book "A Brief History Of Time."