Simu Das, a visually impaired cricketer from an impoverished family in Assam’s Nagaon district, has emerged as an unlikely national hero after helping India clinch the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup in Colombo last week. Born completely blind, the 22-year-old top-order batter smashed a match-winning 86 and claimed a crucial wicket in the final against Nepal, earning Player of the Match honours as India chased down the target with seven wickets to spare.
Her extraordinary journey caught the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally telephoned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at 5:30 am to enquire about Simu and ensure her grievances were addressed. Sarma, initially unaware of the player, later admitted publicly that even as Chief Minister he had no prior knowledge of the star from his own state. “I asked the PMO who Simu was. They told me she is from Assam and part of the World-Champion blind women’s team,” he recounted while felicitating her in Guwahati.
Raised in extreme hardship with no permanent home, Simu shares responsibility for her younger brother, who is both blind and deaf. Her mother, Anju Das, a daily-wage labourer, single-handedly supported the family. Identified at age 14 by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and Samarthanam Trust, Simu left for Delhi after Class 8 to train, overcoming language barriers and financial constraints through sheer determination.
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In recognition of her achievements, Chief Minister Sarma presented Simu with a cheque of ₹10 lakh and announced a government job under the sports quota. “Today is the most emotional day of my life. There were times I felt my dreams were too big for someone like me,” an overwhelmed Simu said at the felicitation ceremony, expressing gratitude to her mother and coaches.
Prime Minister Modi met the entire champion squad in New Delhi on Tuesday, where the team gifted him an autographed bat. Simu’s story of triumph against unimaginable odds has resonated nationwide, earning praise as a testament to resilience and the transformative power of sport.
From the dusty maidans of Nagaon to the world stage, Simu Das has become Assam’s newest sporting icon, proving that disability is no barrier when backed by unbreakable spirit and opportunity. Her mother, Anju, tearfully watching the honours, summed it up simply: “When you have no one, you make everyone yours.”
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