RAJKOT: Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors, goes an African proverb.
Smit Changela, 18, is no stranger to adversity. For he has been suffering from
neuropathy since he was just three months old. Yet, he has taken life in his stride.
At a time when teens of his age face
severe psychological issues after remaining hooked on their cell
phones for hours together, Smit used the
Covid-19 induced
lockdown to turn financially independent. This even as he belongs to a well to do family with his father Chetan owning a ceramic factory in Morbi.
The
teenager’s hands and legs do not work properly due to the suffering from numbness and pain in his nerves caused by neuropathy. Yet, he achieved 95 percentile in class X last year.
The class XI student even used the lockdown period to start his own venture through which he earns anywhere between Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 a month.
Unlike his peers, the pain in his hands and legs does not allow Smit to use his fingers to type on his cell phone. So, he has started using his nose to type on the mobile screen.
“He has a very big friend circle on social media. He utilised this circle to start online sale of products. He got in touch with some wholesale dealers from whom he purchases the products and sells it to consumers,” his mother Hina Changela told TOI.
From t-shirts to shoes, watches to mobile accessories, Smit has sold it all. Whenever he comes to know of any requirement, he gets quotations and pictures from wholesale dealers, chooses the best quality at a reasonable price.
“His selection of quality products in a reasonable range is his unique selling point,” she said, adding that the teenager gets the product packed and couriered it to his customers while payments are accepted through
UPI.
“Like other children of my age, I cannot move everywhere. But I am firm that I won’t get frustrated from any situation. I have good support from my family and friends in ventures,” Smit said.
His parents too have motivated him to take part in all school competitions. He also took part in the Rajkot Marathon on a wheelchair in the category of
differently-abled people. While he was in a wheelchair, his parents ran behind him to cheer him up.