Young author wears a winning smile

Young author wears a winning smile

When Muskan Devta was born prematurely in her home country of India, doctors said she would not survive. Muskan, which means ‘smile’, proved the doctors wrong and is now a happy 15-year-old with a passion for writing and fundraising for worthy causes.

Last night Muskan was given another reason to smile, as she was announced the winner of the inaugural Junior Award at the Attitude Awards on World Disability Day.

The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living with a disability. This year’s winners (subs note: full list of winners below) were announced at a black tie gala held at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre on December 3 and hosted by TV news presenter Simon Dallow.

The Awards have grown out of the Attitude TV series, which screens on TV ONE on Sunday mornings at 8.30am. The overall Attitude ACC Supreme Award was taken out by champion Paralympic swimmer Mary Fisher (21).

Attitude Awards Trustee Dan Buckingham, a member of the elite national wheelchair rugby team the Wheel Blacks, says the Awards are about raising expectations around what is achievable for people living with disabilities.

“Last night we celebrated winners across a range of categories, but really the aim of the Awards is to change peoples’ perceptions about this broad and diverse sector of society. So in that sense, all 24 finalists are winners and fantastic role models,” he said.

Muskan Devta and her family relocated to New Zealand in 2004 to seek better healthcare for her medical condition, partial hemiplegia, which means half her body is weaker than the other. But adapting to a new country, language and school came with its challenges. She became extremely shy and buried herself in books.
But through her love for books and reading she developed a passion and talent for writing.

At nine-years-old she wrote and published a story about Lord Genesha – her version of how the Hindu god of wisdom and success got an elephant’s head. Proceeds from the book were used to purchase an exercise bike for the Wilson Home in Takapuna, where Muskan received treatment for her condition.

“I didn’t even realise when reading and writing became my strength,” she says. “I loved reading. I loved writing. In fact, I grew so fond of it that my teachers began asking me to help them edit my peers’ work.”

Last year Muskan published her autobiography, I Dream, to raise money for Starship Children’s Hospital where she underwent long-awaited corrective surgery. Just this month she donated $500 of her birthday money to support the Breakfast Club, a programme providing breakfast for low decile schools in Auckland. Her future goal is to fundraise to build a girls’ school in the small village of Orissa, India.

A shy girl no more, fundraising and writing have given Muskan a huge confidence boost. She presents a popular programme on Radio Tarana called ‘You and Muskan’, was school captain and even gave a TEDx talk last month. Now she can add an Attitude Award to her achievements.

Other Attitude Award winners are Matthew Weir (Courage In Sport), Craig Jessop (Spirit of Attitude), Corey Peters (Sport Performer of the Year) Mary Fisher (Youth and ACC Supreme Award), Paul Barrett (Artistic Achievement), Selwyn Cook, SSC Service Stations (ACC Employer Award) and Lyn Cotton (Making A Difference). John Baldwin Munro was inducted in the Attitude Hall of Fame and Jess Quinn took home the People’s Choice Award.

Chief Executive of ACC Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the Awards for the seventh year running, including sponsorship of the Attitude ACC Employer Award and the Attitude ACC Supreme Award.

“Congratulations to all the 2014 Attitude Awards winners. They are high achievers and their determination and spirit is inspirational.”

The Junior Award is sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson. Other sponsors supporting the awards include: Invacare, Westpac, IHC Foundation, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health, Air New Zealand, Wayne Francis Charitable Trust and The Lion Foundation.

For all the latest on the Awards and the Attitude Programme:
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/attitudetv
Follow us on twitter
https://twitter.com/attitude_tv

Ends

© Scoop Media