Mumbai
Roshan, a resident of Jogeshwari, Mumbai, is now Dr. Roshan Jawwad, M.D.
Her's is a long story of rising above adversity with determination and grit to fulfill a dream and not letting anything come in between.
It was 13 years ago that Roshan Jawwad met with an accident during her train journey. Both of her legs were amputated during the treatment. The day Roshan woke up from the hospital bed realizing her loss, he felt her life was over.
Roshan thought she would never be able to become a doctor – it was her dream since she was a child.
So when finally Roshan not only fulfilled her dream but also created history by fighting a legal battle for her right to pursue her dream career notwithstanding her disability.
This gutsy woman also survived a bone tumour and yet she continued her march to realizing her dream.
The 29-year old Dr. Roshan Jawwad says, “I am very happy after clearing my MD. It was hard for me to do that, but I promised myself I wouldn't give up.”
Roshan Jawwad receiving an award at a function
Recalling that fateful day, Dr. Roshan says it was October 2008, she left for her school, Anjuman Islam Girls College, Bandra, to write her exams. On her return journey home on the local train she tripped and she fell on the track from a moving train. Both his legs were crushed under the moving train.
Despite the tragedy and despondency that set in her family after the accident and the loss of her limbs, Roshan continued to study hard. She scored 92.2% marks in the 10th class.
Despite this, the life of this ambitious daughter of a vegetable seller was far from easy. Even after passing the entrance test, she had to approach the Bombay High Court for admission to a medical college.
Dr. Roshan Jawwad says the rule was that people with only 70% disability could study medicine and she was 86 percent disabled. Therefore, he had to know at the doors of the court. Besides, she also faced untold financial difficulties.
After a long battle, Roshan finally was allowed admission into the medical college. The then Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Justice Mohit Shah ruled that Roshan be allowed into the medical college.
Roshan passed MBBS with first class from Seth GS Medical College (KEM Hospital) in 2016. She then passed the PG Medical Entrance Examination in 2018 and got admission to the same college for Doctor of medicine, MD (Pathology).
"Before I joined the MD, I had the same problem with 86% disability," Roshan said. “I had to fill so many forms online and there were only two days left. The then Member of Parliament Krit Somiya met the Union Minister of Health with my documents. I found out that the rule has changed. I applied and I was admitted.”
While Dr. Roshan Jawwad lost both his legs in a train accident, he also has a bone tumor. Bone tumors were diagnosed during MD studies.
"I had an operation and our HOD, Dr. Amita Joshi, my beach mates, teachers, and friends helped me a lot," she says.
The results of the MD examinations were announced on September 15, 2021. She scored 65% in the KEM Pathology Department and finished fourth.
She is the third of four siblings and lives in a 10x10 size rented house in Jogeshwari. Her father Jawwad Sheikh no longer works, her brother Abu Talib is a salesman. Abu Talib takes care of the family.
Dr. Roshan Jawad remembers all the people who helped her in some way and yet she particularly mentions three names. Number one is Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Sanjay Kantharia, who, she says, always treated her like a daughter and took care of her every need.
Roshan with her proud parents while receiving her MBBS degree
The second person is senior Advocate VP Patil who fought her legal case for free.
The third one, Roshan remembers is Member of Assembly Amin Patel who played a key role in meeting the cost of her medical education.
Dr. Roshan Jawwad says that after doing MBBS and MD, she now has two years of bond service and she will complete it first. After that, if there is a vacancy in a government hospital, she will apply there.
"I plan to set up a lab and diagnostic center in rural areas so that people do not have to travel long distances for medical tests," she added. “If I get financial help, I will be able to start it or wait until I am financially able to open a lab.”
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