The 23-year-old Latheesha Ansari, a specially-abled artist from Erumeli in Pathanamthitta, has been honoured Eastern Bhoomika Award 2018 for being a role model for others.  Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disorder, Latheesha’s bones are weaker than normal and more prone to fractures.  However, this disability was not strong enough to stop her from doing what she’s passionate about.  Latheesha, a graduate in MCom and keyboard player she dreams to become a district collector.

Latheesha was awarded first rank for excellent academics during her schooling and has many achievements in the field of art as well.  Latheesha loves to play keyboard. And, she’s good at it. She was encouraged at an early age to pursue piano by her father as a way of avoiding inferiority from creeping in. Playing keyboard has done wonders to her confidence. Despite of her limited mobility, she has performed at more than 25 temple festivals and Rotary programs. Being treated as a normal child by her parents is counted as her blessing.

An artist with extra ordinary calibre, Latheesha is capable of composing her own songs and doesn’t let her condition from becoming the best. Her constant battle with death has made her spirit indomitable and strongly agrees that the social stigma of disabled are not fit for the society needs to be altered. Latheesha is an inspiration to everyone who knows her, and insists on dreaming more and more. On March 2018, she was awarded Bhoomika Award by Firoz Meeran, Eastern Group Managing Director.