In the narrow lanes of Haryana’s Hindwan village, a unique fragrance drifts through the air — one that symbolises the remarkable journey of Rajesh Kumar, who transformed his life despite the odds stacked against him.

Rajesh’s life was marked by a series of struggles.

Born with vision impairment, securing stable employment was a monumental challenge for him. “I suffer from genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration. My visual field is 10 degrees [considered blindness] as compared to the 180-degree peripheral expanses most enjoy,” he shares. “Because of this, finding traditional work was an uphill struggle.”

From displaying tiles in a shop to working as a security guard and washing cars, Rajesh toiled at humble tasks until even these opportunities dimmed. By 2014, his earnings barely helped him make ends meet.

“Even with all my efforts, I could manage to earn only around Rs 5,000 a month. Most of this amount would get exhausted clearing debts for groceries and milk. When my children would ask me for pencils and copies, I would be forced to turn down their smallest requests,” he recalls.

Despite the despair, there was an undying spark of hope. The turning point in his life came in 2015 when Rajesh ventured into rose farming.

The Class 10 graduate now runs a successful business by selling value-added products made using rose petals — such as gulkand (rose petal jam), rose water, sherbet, rose hair oil, and rose bath soap.

Battling both societal challenges and physical limitations, he did not just set up a thriving rose farm but rebuilt his life.

© The Better India