: Bihar to Sydney: My Story of Studying Under Kerosene Lamp to Starting a Brain Clot Bank #IndiaNEWS Great leaders and thinkers often come from humble beginnings. One such man is Dr Sonu Bhaskar. On

Bihar to Sydney: My Story of Studying Under Kerosene Lamp to Starting a Brain Clot Bank #IndiaNEWS
Great leaders and thinkers often come from humble beginnings. One such man is Dr Sonu Bhaskar. On a mission to find out the reason for the occurrence of strokes, Dr Bhaskar started one of the world’s largest brain clot banks in Sydney, Australia, in 2019. He is the recipient of several awards, including two European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Investigator Awards, the Australian Global Talent Award, the 40 Under 40 Asian-Australian Awards 2022 and many more.

What makes this 38-year-old’s achievements incredible is his resilience.

Many years before there was limited awareness of neurodiversity in India, he recollects on the challenges of ‘being different’.

Coming from a strong supportive family, his constant companions were his books and his grandfather. But growing up in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, in the 80s meant walking 4-5 km to school every day and studying despite massive power cuts daily.

“I was a shy, soft child who was an introvert. I would stammer and have dyspraxia. I would find it difficult to do things like tie my shoelaces. I was bullied at school but found refuge in books and science. It was a world where I could hide. As my father was a clerk at a bank, he couldn’t afford to buy new books. He would take me to a second-hand bookshop, and the seller became one of my best friends. He would give me many books for free too,�? says Dr Bhaskar to The Better India.

It was only after he grew up that this neurologist realised that he was on the spectrum.

This love for books brought about a keen interest in science and mathematics in him. However, even reading those books was a challenge due to the power cuts.

The Bhaskars would study using kerosene lamps.

Dr Sonu Bhaskar established the NSW Brain clot bank

“I have a younger sister and brother. In those days, we would have power only for 7-8 hours a day. We would use kerosene lamps to study. I would teach my siblings first, and then study myself,�? adds Dr Bhaskar.

He also remembers owning just one pair of shoes and every time it would get torn, he would get it repaired.

“On the way to school, there was a football field and a railway track that we had to cross. My black shoes would always get dirty in the field. I would try to wipe it using a cloth or newspaper, but it wasn’t enough. We were punished in school for having dirty shoes,�? says Bhaskar.

He would also compete for several scholarships and olympiads from a young age.

“Since we didn’t have many opportunities in our school or town, we would try and participate in as many competitions as possible to enhance our knowledge.