All

❮

❯

“I love to listen to music and do drawing. I want to become an artist”

 Saurav Deb (18) is eager to receive his brother Sayan’s present on his birthday, 6 April, although he knows exactly what it is. Every year Sayan (17) gifts him a new notebook and pencils. Saurav, who was diagnosed with an intellectual disability, transmutes his vision of the world into imaginative drawings.  
 
Saurav is the eldest son of Shailen Kumar Deb and Protima Deb, both 46, who live in Katigora in Assam’s Cachar district. Shailen is a daily wage labourer, taking up odd jobs in plumbing and electrical work, barely managing to earn ₹6000-7000 per month, while Protima shoulders the responsibilities of caregiving and household chores. Despite financial hardships (their house consists of a single large room), the couple is bent upon educating their four sons, all of whom go to school, and who include Sanjib (15) and Sumit (13). Sayan, currently in Grade 11, has chosen the Arts stream, finds refuge in Bengali literature especially in Rabindranath Tagore, and hopes to pursue Economics in college. Sanjib is fascinated by mechanics, while Sumit is still shaping his aspirations.
 
Saurav was born with physical deformities – two joined toes, and three fingers on one hand – which affected his mobility and coordination. Walking came late, at five years, and speech arrived even later, at seven. A pivotal moment came in 2014 when a local club, Deshbandhu Vidyaniketan, organised a medical camp for the disabled. Saurav underwent an IQ test, scoring 46, and was officially certified as intellectually disabled. He is enrolled in Grade 9 at Yudisthir Saha Higher Secondary School but teachers, instead of fostering an inclusive environment, have advised the family against sending him to school daily, saying that other students might harass him. They haven’t allowed him to sit for exams either.
 
Sayan, the closest to Saurav, is not just a brother but his guide, mentor, and best friend. When Saurav was struggling to form words, it was Sayan who persistently encouraged him to communicate. Protima recalls, “Even as a four-year-old, Sayan would talk endlessly to Saurav. It was his effort that helped Saurav start speaking.” Sayan helps Saurav with his studies, assists him in applying colours to his drawings (“I help him adjust the composition and colour balance”), and most importantly, ensures he never feels alone. He says that Saurav adores animals – goats, cows, stray dogs – he loves playing with and feeding them. If he finds a hurt animal he tends to its wounds and nurses it back to health.  
 
From a young age, Saurav has found solace in art. Where words faltered, his pencil took over. His notebooks, meant for studies, would soon be filled with sketches instead. His vivid imagination compensates for the lack of formal instruction. Protima once considered enrolling him in drawing classes, but their economic reality crushed that dream. The family would like him to participate in competitions but they fear he might face the brunt of social prejudice.
 
“If financial help comes,” Protima says, “we can build a better home, give our sons a good education, and maybe, just maybe, Saurav can become the artist he dreams to be.” Sayan, who carries responsibilities far beyond his years, says, “I love my family and I will do whatever it takes to ensure we all have a better future.” With the right support, Saurav’s hands could one day craft brilliant works of art that narrate his unspoken story.