His battle against the crippling disease of polio has only been half won, believes 31-year old Gautam Lewis. Born in Howrah and brought up in London, Lewis has overcome his own disability, but still returns to Kolkata to inspire courage among children suffering from polio and making their parents aware about vaccination through an awareness exhibition.

Lewis, who has since acquired a pilot’s licence and gives flight training to the polio-affected, had contracted polio during the seven years of his childhood he spent in Kolkata.

Abandoned by his family after being affected with the disease, Lewis, who was left in an orphanage, was adopted by his present mother and taken abroad. His resilience to overcome polio has now made him an active campaigner for complete eradication of the virus from the country.

Despite leaving his town years ago, Lewis who has come a long way from being a nightclub owner to band manager and finally a pilot, has returned to his city to spread awareness of polio vaccination. India is among the four countries (India, Afghanistan, Nigerai and Pakistan) where the disease is recognised as endemic.

An exhibition titled Full Circle will be held from December 4 to December 7, where there would be standalone photographs of polio-affected children and also of parents taking their children for vaccination. The show would be launched by former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Speaker of West Bengal Assmebly H A Halim will be among other dignitaries present there.

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