Alka Nangia

Most of the time she remains confined to her bed and a wheel chair as her constant companion. Due to her limbs getting affected by paralysis, she is not able to move even her fingers. But still, Alka Nangia, brimming with determination and enthusiasm is trying to get her name entered in Guinness book of world records under the category Calendar related calculations Such an achievement for a person would be considered unique, if s/he is  suffering from Spino cerebellar degeneration.

Basically a resident of Garden Estate, Gurgaon, Alka now stays at Okhla situated Cheshire home. In 1982, as a 21 years old student of lady Irwin College, she suffered injuries to her spinal cord when her scooter skidded. Around same time she had a mysterious attack of viral fever. Difficult to say because of which reason or perhaps both, she started feeling instability during her walks which gradually turned her completely immobile. Ultimately she lost control on her hands, feet and other physical faculties. In spite of being given the best medical treatment available in country, there was no improvement in her condition. Gradually escalating, this disease incapacitated her conducting nerves which transmit signals to all other organs in body. 

It was a setback for young lass. But her brain remained agile and she was able to scribble slowly. She wrote several articles and ‘letters to the editor’. Her father, Vidya Bhushan Nangia, a retired railway engineer informs that nearly 20 0f such articles got published. According to her “now whenever she wants to write something she dictates in her feeble voice.” 

But providing constant care to a handicapped daughter, who could not even take turns on her own in the bed was becoming difficult for her old parents. As such, they got her admitted into Cheshire Home situated near Escort Hospital in Delhi. This institution, run by retired service officers looks after such handicapped persons. Twice a year Alka comes to her parents in Gurgaon to spend some time with them. Otherwise Cheshire is her home. 

During some such moments, lying on her bed unable to move around, Alka started gazing at a calendar hanging on the opposite wall and started making calculations regarding some dates from the past and future. The choice of these dates was just random. Initially, she told about her newly acquired skill to some of her close relatives. Gradually, she reached a level when for any date falling in 20^th and 21^st century, she could immediately tell the corresponding day of the week. This skill of hers was recognized by Limca Book of Records. 

Now in Delhi Cheshire Home she is trying for the acceptance by Guinness Book of records. To test her for this extra-ordinary capability, a demo-test was arranged on 19 Jan 2004 in front of 30 selected examiners. She was asked to state the days falling on 18 randomly selected dates between 4 Apr 1917 and 30 May 2085. A computer was used to verify the correctness of her answers. All 18 answers were found correct. Her average reaction time was 12.5 seconds. 

Affected by the acute weakness of her lungs muscles, she tells about her technique. “Partially calculations, partially memory.” She is able to speak only this much. This test has been videotaped and sent for acceptance in Guinness book of world records. Meanwhile Alka remains busy in extending the range of her calculations.

 

I have to state now that Alka was my niece. She expired in 2010 due to her disease related complications getting aggravated.

 

 

Author with Alka Nangia (Gurgaon Sept 1996)