As the junior minister for social justice in the UPA Government, actor-politician Napol-eon is learning the ropes of administering welfare to the physically challenged; for the father in him, the subject is close to his heart—only two months ago, he bought a wheelchair for his son.

The minister’s elder son Dhanoosh, an 11-year-old Class VI student in a Chennai school, suffers from muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that leads to progressive weakness and degeneration of muscles, restricting the patient’s movement.

After his son was diagnosed with the disease in 2005, Napoleon initiated a series of efforts, including setting up India’s first school for students affected by muscular dystrophy that was opened in Chennai on Thursday.

At the inauguration, the minister broke down on stage while speaking about his experience as the father of a muscular dystrophy patient. “I know the pain...It is my responsibility as a minister and as a father to ensure their welfare,” he told the gathering.

“Dhanoosh is a good student and is extremely efficient. But his muscles are not strong enough for physical work. I used to carry him to the car and from the car to his classroom or home. But as he grew up, it became difficult for me to carry him,” said the minister from his office in Chennai.

About two months ago, he bought his son a wheelchair. “But he didn’t want to use it. He said he will be fine soon and won’t require it,” said Napolean. That was a difficult moment for the family. But as they got to know of the disease, they found out that there were several such cases in the city. The family became members of the Muscular Dystrophy Association India (MDAI) and Napolean’s wife Jayasudha was elected as its general secretary.

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