Hope of a little boutique brings light to his life
Ashoka and below, the space he has prepared for his business
Striving to be independent and start his “own” thing to make ends meet, blind Wathukarage Ashoka Thilakeratne is seeking some support from kind-hearted people.
Diminutive Ashoka, 37, who lives in remote Pussethota, far away from Pallebedda town off the Embilipitiya-Ratnapura Road, has turned a small section close to the sandy track in the front of his humble home into a tiny boutique.
“I am hoping to sell sillara badu (dry rations) such as rice, dhal, tea leaves, sugar and milk powder,” says Ashoka who has somehow managed to renovate and paint the section and get one wall shelf and another stand-alone shelf.
Now he is pleading for a little funds, about Rs. 60,000, to get the initial sillara badu stocks and launch his home-based self-employment project. He hopes to get the support of an “old uncle” living in his rural neighbourhood to weigh the requirements of customers.
It was on March 19, 2017 that the Sunday Times wrote about Ashoka in an article headlined ‘Stumbling in the dark for 20 years’ after visiting him in his home.
We brought to light that Ashoka could smell the flowers but could not see the vibrant hues of pink and red of the roses, zeeniyas and ixora in his garden. For, even though he had not been blind from birth, the cruel hand of fate had rendered him a hard blow when he was a boy of 11.
The terrible and unexpected life-changer had come as he was walking home after school and was struck by a speeding motorcycle. “Maava wisiwuna,” he said.
He had got thrown off his feet and landed on a nearby rock, smashing the left side of his head. There was heavy bleeding, three stitches and darkness descending on his little world gradually, leaving him blind.
Ashoka looking sightlessly into the future, lives with his bedridden 79-year-old father and an older “abaditha” (disabled) sister who is both deaf and dumb from birth. The family has a tiny mada idama (kumbura) which keeps them supplied with rice and a few vegetables.
Even though Ashoka tried to learn Braille, it had been difficult as he had been able to see earlier. It made it difficult for him to engage in this new way of assimilating knowledge.
He had also undergone vocational training, learning how to make kosu-idal (brooms and ekel-brooms) but the competition from bigger manufacturers and also the distance to his home had been too much of a challenge. He gets a disability allowance of Rs. 5,000 per month from the Department of Social Services.
Ashoka, wherever he goes, has to be guided by his faithful friend Supun.
| If you wish to help | |
| All those wishing to give a helping hand, may send whatever they can spare to Account No. 245 2001 2005 60 34 at the People’s Bank, Godakawala branch in the name of W.A. Thilakeratne. Ashoka is contactable on Mobile: 0774277975. His postal address is: W. Ashoka Thilakeratne, C/o Danapala Stores, Pussethota, Pallebedda.
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