Arjun’s heroic progress despite disabling condition

Arjun’s heroic progress despite disabling condition

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 03, 2018: Among the thousands of  students appearing for the II PU board examinations in Mangaluru, one of them was Arjun Adyanthaya – a physically-challenged teenager – who wants to carve a niche of his own is unique.

Arjun suffers from a rare genetic disorder, osteogenesis imperfecta, (OI) which has left him with fragile bones, due to which he can’t walk or move. His body is so fragile, that he is yet to recover from a fracture on his hand 12 months ago. However, Arjun, said with a broad smile that he is determined to face the world despite his disability.

“I have accepted myself the way I am, in a positive frame. I cannot play, so I invest  my time fully on studies during the revision holidays. Most days I have used entirely for study. I feel well prepared for  the exams,” Arjun boldly stated after giving his first paper, which was economics.

LLB student Rashmi K Mallya was Arjun’s scribe for the exam. Rashmi is the daughter of Arjun’s father K Bhagwandas Adyanthaya’s, colleague, and also a neighbour. It was Rashmi who wrote Arjun’s I PU final exams as well.

Bhagwandas is an executive at a private firm, while his mother Vanitha B is a homemaker. A few years ago, the family bought a first-floor apartment, hoping that Arjun’s condition will improve. However, as it didn’t and Arjun wanted a place that will be more suited to his needs, the family shifted to another residence as they wanted him to be in a positive frame come what may.

St Aloysius PU College, has helped Arjun immensely. However, he still struggles with certain issues, such as using the washroom his parents said.

“We have designed his food intake in such a way with expert help to preclude him from the urgency to use the college washroom. After the home packed lunch at college, he drinks only half a glass of water. He avoids using the washroom till he gets home in the evening. This has been the practice for the last three years,” Bhagwandas said, adding that they cannot expect help from anybody in college, to help a grown-up Arjun use the wash room. 

Considering his case, the PU education board has relaxed rules for Arjun. The board has said Arjun can answer only four core subject exams, and that he need not appear for the language exam.


Arjun aspired to become an automobile engineer. However, as it wouldn’t be possible for him to stand for long hours during the practical classes, Arjun took up computer science in commerce. Arjun now wants to focus on computers and has zeroed in on taking up the Bachelors in Computer Application (BCA) course next.