Eleven-year-old Raju Sapra hasn't let his poverty or learning disability come in the way of his skill in basketball - or dream of becoming a Magic Johnson.

Raju, whose parents are salt workers, was part of the Gujarat basketball team that participated in the national sub-junior (under 14) basketball championship in New Delhi last month.

According to Gujarat state basketball association secretary Shafique Sheikh,
Raju is a highly talented basketball player. His mother Manguben and father Balabhai have little idea about the game their child is proficient in.

For his parents, who live in Dhrangadhra, the salt-producing belt near Kutch, around 100 km from here, Raju's education had posed a problem as he had been diagnosed with dyslexia - a learning disability. His teachers would complain he was not able to grasp things quickly.

Things changed when Dhrangadhra Pragati Mandal, a voluntary agency, noticed Raju and suggested special schooling for him.

Two years ago his parents sent him to Visamo Kids - a city-based foster home and school for children from the slums. Nutan Kesliwal of Prerna Project, an associate of Visamo Kids, gave special attention to Raju. She noticed his liking for basketball.

"With counselling Raju has emerged as a national-level player in his age group," Kasliwal told.

Raju has, in the process, discovered self-confidence. "I feel like having the best time of life whenever I am on the basketball court," said Raju.

"I need to work hard on improving my skills," said the youngster who dreams of becoming an aeronautical engineer.

"People label dyslexics as dumb, which is not the case. Medically speaking, it is not a disease, but only a neurobiological condition," Kesliwal said.

"It is wrong to say that such children do not have any future. They may lag behind the average in traditional studies, but they can do exceptionally well in extra-curricular activities," she added.

Raju's parents are happy too. "Raju is excelling is sports and earning fame. People of our village and neighbouring ones are talking about him. It feels nice," said Manguben.

"We never thought even in our dreams that he would achieve something like this," she added.

Kasliwal hopes that there would be a day when Raju would become for India like
US basketball star Magic Johnson. Magic Johnson, too, suffered from dyslexia.