Not every day do we come across a truly happy man. Ask anyone who knows Jeevan B. Manoj, they would disagree. There’s not one moment or photograph where Jeevan does not sport a charming smile on his face. Ask Jeevan himself, he’d say that happiness is a choice he made, and proves it with a story – of his life. Born with the condition osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone disease, Jeevan grew up through excruciating pain and sleepless nights, but his willpower and the perseverance of his family helped him lead an inspirational journey. From a feeble baby who wasn’t expected to survive the first couple of years, Jeevan has grown into a 28-year-old software engineer armed with grit, optimism and contagious smile.
Confessing that he has never felt like having achieved a lot, Jeevan says, “My parents prepared me well for the real world. Even before I started schooling, I was prepared to face bullying and staring. But my teachers and classmates were very protective and took care of me; my friends used to tell new kids in school to not stare at me. And everywhere, I was treated like a normal person – school, college and workplace. They often forget about my disability and remember of it only when we reach a stairway.”
Manoj and Tara, Jeevan’s parents, weren’t aware of their baby’s condition until the last trimester of pregnancy. During birth, Jeevan fractured his limbs; the newborn had plasters all over the body. According to doctors, a baby with a condition like brittle bones might not survive for long, but the couple was determined to go to any length to save the child.
A mechanical engineer, Manoj developed a wheelchair from a baby walker for the toddler and built ramps and slopes all over their Thiruvananthapuram home. Tara became a special educator and psychologist to train the child and together with their younger son Madhav, they helped Jeevan grow up as a happy, confident and independent person. In Bengaluru too, Jeevan still uses a modified wheelchair designed by his dad.
“I am blessed with a great support system,” says Jeevan, who grew up reading books, watching tennis and motorsports, drawing and learning to play the guitar, harmonica and melodica. Yet he humbly confesses that he is a master of none. “I think I could try my hands at whatever I was interested in as I had more time than kids of my age. I read a lot and even now, ensure that I finish at least one book a month. In fiction, my favourite is Agatha Christie, but now, I am more into science books and the likes of Oliver Sacks and Richard Dawkins. I am curious about matters like origin of life, brain studies and where we come from. Books take me all over the places where I can’t reach physically,” he adds.
A diehard fan of tennis star Roger Federer, Jeevan has another passion too – workout. His Instagram handle, under the hashtag mybonesbreakidont, he has posted photos and videos of him working out. “A healthy body and a happy mind are correlated. I know it’s dangerous for me to do pushups and workout, but I feel good about it. The last fracture I had was years back and now, I am pretty confident about my body. Maintaining fitness is a very liberating act for me,” he says.
Jeevan’s aim is to be cent per cent independent. “That’s my goal now. My biggest dream was to get a job in Microsoft which I did. And I decided to move to Bengaluru which is a more inclusive city as part of that. My parents were very supportive of my decision despite skepticism from others. But I had to get out of my comfort zone and there was no better choice than this city with wheel-chair friendly amenities. Even at office, there’s not a single corner I can’t access. I have not once regretted moving to Bengaluru,” He hopes that Kerala too adopts inclusive facilities so that not just malls and cinemas but all public places become wheel-chair friendly.
Jeevan’s life is filmed by Ritwik Baiju in the documentary Jeevanulla Swapnangal (translated as both ‘Jeevan’s dreams’ and ‘Lively dreams’), which will be premiered at 9 am at Kalabhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, on Saturday.
Sharing his journey with Jeevan, Ritwik says, “I have known Jeevan since a child and it took me four years of coaxing to finally make him agree to be part of the documentary. It was shot over seven days in three schedules in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Bengaluru.”
Excited about the documentary, Jeevan says, “I am lucky to have associated with such talented crew. At first, I was apprehensive, but later, when I gave it a thought, if my story could make a difference in the life of someone or make them feel positive about life, why not!”
Impressed by Jeevan’s persona, Ritwik says, “A person of very high IQ, Jeevan has knowledge about so many things – music, gadgets, art, sports, gaming… His positive attitude and his family’s perseverance have inspired me and my crew. And he is such a happy person.”
Jeevan adds that he has his low moments, but he is generally a happy person. “I think I inherited happiness from my mother,” he quips.
The story of this tiny man who thinks big is sure to inspire everyone who overlooks the little joys of life and focus on their shortcomings. As Jeevan puts it, “I don’t believe in the phrase ‘Nothing is impossible’ because disability is a reality and there are some things that aren’t possible. The first step is acceptance of that reality. Focus on what you can and make a difference in that. I am on a quest for happiness; all I want to do is to stay happy till the last day of my life.”
