A mother’s support and inspiration can work wonders and often help one reach inconceivable heights. No one knows it better than Swarna Rani Sarker, who is attending this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations despite losing both her hands in an accident when she was in fifth grade.

Swarna’s mother Swapna Rani Sarker did not let her daughter’s physical disabilities or the family’s financial hardship get in the way of Swarna’s educational aspirations.

When everyone else wondered about what would become of Swarna or how such a young girl would be able to write for her studies, her mother stood by her as a source of hope and encouragement.

Swarna, a resident of Mymensingh’s Charpara village in Ishwarganj upazila, has come a long way since then and she gives all the credit to her mother.

“I reached this stage as my mother’s inspiration helped me become confident to carry on my studies,” said Swarna, a student at Razibpur Islamia Technical and BM (business management) College in the upazila. 

In 2008, Swarna along with her older sister (now married off) and parents used to live in a flat of a three-storey building in Razabari area of Gazipur near Dhaka. Her father Dulal Chandra Sarker used to work at a local hardware store.

One fateful day, like any other fifth grader, Swarna went to the roof of the house to play badminton. All hell broke loose suddenly when she fell off the roof onto a power line.  

For three months the young girl fought for her life at Dhaka Medical College Hospital where her two hands, below the mid-section of the forearms, had to be amputated. 

After losing her writing hand, there was visibly no way that Swarna could carry on her studies, let alone appearing for her Primary Education Completion Examination (PEC) -- only three months away.

Swapna, her mother, however, would not give in. She came up with the idea of writing by holding the pen with both forearms.

“With massive practice, I gradually learned to write using my forearms -- the way my mother showed me,” Swarna said. 

Her mother’s avid support and encouragement helped Swarna pass class after class and a few years later, she even passed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations from Harinal High School in Gazipur.

By that time, her father, Dulal Chandra Sarker, lost his job and moved the family to his village home in Mymensingh after getting into debt.  

Without owning any land, Dulal now makes a meagre living by working as a day labourer.

It would be simply impossible for her daughter to come this far with only Tk 500 monthly disability allowance from the government unless her college tuition was waived by Rafiqul Islam, principal of Razibpur Islamia Technical and BM College, said Swapna.

Despite the tuition waiver and disability allowance, her husband is struggling to cope with the family’s day-to-day expenses including the cost of Swarna’s books, Swapna also said, adding, “I won’t be able to leave any money to support her in future. But her education will provide the support all throughout her life.”

Pondering how to reach her goals with present financial setbacks, Swarna with dreamy eyes said, “If I could finish my studies, I would like to be a teacher and help differently abled children in their educational endeavours.” 

Contacted, Ishwarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Umme Rumana Tua said she would take initiatives to provide support for Swarna.