In a story of resilience and academic triumph, two visually-impaired women have become assistant professors in different universities in Shimla, setting a remarkable example for others facing similar challenges.
Muskan and Pratibha Thakur, who have contended with disability throughout their lives, recently commenced their roles as assistant professors in two Shimla colleges, fulfilling their long-held academic aspirations. They secured these posts within a week of each other.
Muskan, now an Assistant Professor of Music at Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya (RKMV) in Shimla, is also a gifted singer and a doctoral candidate in Music. The Election Commission of India has further honoured her as a youth icon from Himachal Pradesh.
A native of the remote Chirgaon area near Rohru of Shimla district, Muskan has demonstrated her resolve to overcome adversity from an early age. She had previously been one of the first five blind girls to gain admission to RKMV in 2013, making college history. Just last week, she joined the same institution as an Associate Professor.
Pratibha Thakur, who once faced rejection for school admission in Mandi due to her visual impairment, is now an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Rajeev Gandhi Government Degree College. Like Muskan, Pratibha is also pursuing her PhD.
The daughter of a journalist and a teacher from Matak village in Mandi district, Pratibha only joined school in Class 6 but has since excelled academically, earning first division scores in all her exams. Her resolve to help weak students was strengthened after her initial school admission denial.