Defeating polio: A young girl's inspiring journey of resilience and determination
14-year-old Irtiqa Mehraj, who is currently in 8th grade, wrote her 3rd book. Her father and younger brother are handicapped, while her mother and sister are normal.
Srinagar, Feb 06: Despite being affected by polio, a young girl from South Kashmir's Pulwama district refuses to let her physical disability hold her back. Instead, she has channeled her energy into her passion for writing.
At just 14, Irtiqa Mehraj from Khrew, Pulwama has become a skilled wordsmith. Her unique perspective, shaped by her special abilities, sets her apart from other young writers in the region. Instead of feeling limited by her condition, Irtiqa uses it as inspiration for her creative endeavors.
At only 14 years old, Irtiqa has written three books. She is a writer, public speaker, poetess, and ambassador for the Ellipsis Publication. She wrote her first book at the age of 13 and came into the limelight when “The Star Shines In Dark” was published in 2021.
While talking to Kashmir Bulletin--(KB), Irtiqa said she is the youngest specially-abled writer from the Khrew area of Pulwama district and is very happy with her life. “I learned about my disability when I was 9 and then thought that Allah had given me this life and made it better. I motivated myself and thought, Irtiqa, it's your life and you can do anything you want,” she said.
“I used to write quotes and one day my younger sister came to me and said, 'you write very well, you should try writing books,” Irtiqa said.
Irtiqa used to walk on her own feet, but suddenly got rickets and became paralyzed at the age of 12. Now she can walk only with the help of calipers. “I also go to the doctor, but they told me it's God's will and to keep exercising. We don't know how long it will last. I had an operation, but it was not successful,” she said.
“So far, I have written three books and they are all available on Amazon. My published books are The Star Shines in Dark, The Deep Secret, and The Desires Were Illusions,” said Irtiqa. (KB)
