When we met Muskan Devta at her North Shore City home nine years ago, we described her as a ‘Special Child with Special Abilities.’
For, displaying alacrity far beyond her age, Muskan was reading the Opinion Page (now called Viewlink) of Indian Newslink with such ease and clarity that her confidence and courage were unmatched.
But we as a community often decide that such children need to be tended differently in a different environment.
That was the problem. Muskan could not understand why her schoolmates, teachers and others thought that she needed closer attention.
The little girl could not realise the harsh realities of life but knew that she must perform better – as a student, as a daughter and as a human being.
When the family moved to New Zealand in 2004, Jaimini was told that Muskan would probably need special attention at home, school and everywhere.
They were wrong.
Special abilities
Muskan is a Special Child with Special Abilities.
A year later after their arrival, Muskan delighted more than 200 people at the ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Temple in Auckland, with her 12-minute narration of Lord Krishna and his combination of pranks and bravery (Indian Newslink, September 1, 2005)
The little girl, whose name denotes smile, not only did her parents Arun and Jaimini proud, but also made them the object of envy.
Our report
We had written about Muskan, her parents Jaimini and Arun Devta and her younger brother Aman in our March 15, 2006 issue. Here is an extract:
“Jaimini recounted the anxious hours and weeks that she and her husband had to endure when doctors pronounced upon Muskan’s birth that the child may not survive beyond 100 hours. If the human brain does not ‘instruct’ the system to ‘breathe,’ there can be a serious problem – and that was what Muskan faced when she was 16 days old. The medical practitioners said the child was affected by hemiplegia, which meant partial paralysis and hence stunted growth. The child was obliged to wear a splint on her right leg and glasses to compensate for weak muscles in her right eye.”
Young presenter
The little girl that we knew has blossomed into a teenager and a proficient presenter of programmes on Radio Tarana and a writer in this newspaper.
She was the centre of attraction at the BNZ Partners in North Shore City on December 3, when the Bank (where Jaimini is employed) sponsored the launch of her book ‘i dream,’ a much readable autobiography.
BNZ proved yet again that it is not only the financial heart of the community but also a responsible corporate citizen meeting the obligation of seeing people happy and prosperous.
The speakers
Among those who spoke at the launch were Head of Direct BNZ Mel Cadman, Starship Hospital Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Ten Bidwell, Westlake Girls School Dean Mathew Cable and i dream Editor Aradhna Agnihotri and this reporter.
We hope to carry a review of the Book in an ensuring edition.
Photo : A moment to share- The Devta family- Arun, Jaimini, Aman and Muskan
