Like every other day, I woke up at 0445 HRS, just when the alarm was about to go on. The body now has programmed itself or rather lets just say that the logic has been force-fed into our mainframe. But then suddenly I realized that there was no Physical Torture err... PT today. Today we were to go to Dehradun to visit the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH) and an NGO named Raphael which looks into the care, training and rehabilitation of the intellectually disabled children. It was going to be an emotionally draining visit but I had no idea that the extent would be knocking us off our feet.
So after realizing that I had another hour at my disposal, I pounced under the covers again. I don't know of any other feeling which is even close to this one when you wake up and realize that there is still more time for another nap. Yes yes, it's even better than what you are thinking. Pure bliss. Anyway, finally we assembled in the Kalindi lawns and then were asked to move to our respective buses. Now in the allocation letter, most were allocated some Bus number whereas our little group was to go in a Tempo. What discrimination, we thought. But then that Tempo turned out to be a very cozy traveler. And the fact that we were a smaller group comparatively, that proved to be of much use when we went to tour the various sections of these institutions. Larger the better, does not always hold true.
Our leader was Jigme from Bhutan Royal Police Service and was already standing in front of the bus with the thing that matters the most here. The coveted attendance sheet. After duly putting our initials we set off for the downhill journey to Dehradun. The driver apparently was a big Fast and Furious fan and the way he was flying the tempo, yes flying and not driving, surely meant that we all would be soon joining Paul walker up there. No offence meant to the great actor, we all miss you dude. And then it happened. What happens in all road journeys. No no, don't worry, i only meant Antakshari. But given our diverse group, not more than a couple of people were to appreciate a song in any language. So, we just sang some random songs and tried our level best to take those songs to their ever low levels. And boy, we did it with some dignity. Cheers to that, I say.
We were approaching Dehradun at lightening speed courtesy Vin Diesel on the wheels. But there was this glitch of sorts. On the bus was written Raphael but as per plan we were to reach NIVH first. When we passed by NIVH, I looked at Anmol and he was as surprised as me. And then we foolishly agreed that the entry gates must be on the other side or something. We went too far ahead by the time we realized that something smells fishy. But soon we reached Raphael. As OTs got down, they were as puzzled as the faculty present there as if we have done some blasphemous act. Meanwhile the admin was in shock, the OTs moved inside the seminar room and just when they were about to pour tea into their cups, they were told to rush back to their respective vehicles and go to NIVH first. KLPD. Chutzpah. And all that jazz. Some sane mind would ponder why not keep this group here and the other group there. Just flip the schedule around as a contingency measure. But sane mind, ahh, a rarity of sorts i guess.
Retracing our path, we reached to the "right" destination. The whole group assembled in an auditorium and were divided for the campus tour and were assigned guides. We visited the Braille typing center where they were converting all reading materials to Braille, the proofreading section where the blind were reading it faster than reading speed of "normal" people like us. Amazing. Then we had a glance over the very expensive Braille printers and the large printing units. The later makes available books in whichever font desired by the people with low vision. Great initiative. Post that we moved to various classrooms where the visually disabled were being trained for daily chores, cooking, working with machines, computers, programming and what not. In all those classes, the special instructors where of the view that with few modifications and a little extra effort, these people can do any work. The only problem is that the Private sector is not willing to walk that extra mile. I was amazed to see their talents and zeal. There is no ounce of doubt that they deserve to walk alongside us in whatsoever avenue.
Then we went to the school for the blind and just as we entered, we saw a group playing cricket with that special ball making sounds as it rolled towards the batsman. It was such a joy to see them in joy. They were enjoying their Game period to the fullest. We all felt like joining them on the pitch but the time constraint was keeping us on our toes. We went to one of the classroom where they were playing board games. Guddu, one among the sweet kids resent there told me that he loved playing chess and how that was a specially made set for them. The white figurines had a dot over them, the black did not. He told me he also loves to play cricket and his favorite player was Mallinga. When I asked him if no one from the Indian cricket team was good enough, he laughed and even strongly disagreed. He was so happy to see visitors. So were all of them.
They all asked us various questions and did not want us to go. Few of them surprised us with amazing vocal performances. It was such a joy to be with them. And they were so happy, so confident that they will not stop for what they do not have. After being with them, i felt ashamed of myself remembering all those times when I had complaints for such petty things. I could see that reaction on many faces around. Many OTs were disturbed seeing their conditions and struggle. They were just trying to hold it up inside them. But we seldom have control over our eyes. They give us away. People can just read us through them. Vulnerable we!
After that we all assembled back in the seminar room for an address by the Director of NIVH. When we reached there, she was already there eagerly waiting for our reactions, questions and suggestions. She patiently answered all our concerns in detail and what I really liked about her was that through her answers she also showed us the way in which we can help them in our own administrative capacities. It was wonderful to listen to her views. And that soft and composed texture of her voice was engaging and encouraging. She her self was visually disabled. She lost her vision in an accident. But the work she has done and is doing for visually disabled is phenomenal and inspirational. Lastly our colleague Beno who is herself visually disabled gave a fitting Vote of Thanks by quoting Helen Keller "I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. "
Then we moved to an even more challenging place. Raphael, the home to the intellectually disabled. As we reached there, we were served this excellent lunch. We discussed the possibility of sending our Mess staff there for an attachment. If only. Once again, we were divided into groups and led by the special instructors there. We went to see the TB hospital that they efficiently run, various special classes and modules which were developed for the autistic children, independent living homes for such children and finally a workshop where articles made by these children are displayed for purchase. It was my first experience interacting with this specially abled lot. Before this I had no idea how to talk to them or how to react to their actions and gestures. But here is when I realized that they are no different. They are as simple as we are, they are as complex as we are. All we need is to have patience, patience and patience. All they want from others is that they should not be seen as useless. They are as much a part of this world as others. All they want from us is a smile. A smile that says they are one of us. Nothing else. It is that simple.
This was perhaps a day of immense learning for all of us. This cannot be taught by the in-house faculty or by the very many eminent speakers from around the world. To understand the concerns and needs of such special sections, you need to be with them, you need to listen to them, you need to see it in their eyes. We must understand that if such people lack something, they are good at something else which we are not trying to see. We only see what they cannot do and we tend to judge them by that. That is wrong. And especially we, as public servants, have an even bigger responsibility to make sure they are not deprived of their rights and that masses are sensitized.
Let's pledge to help them in whatever which way we can and to actively pursue their concerns. Let's pledge not to see them as disabled. They are just differently abled. Or rather, specially abled!
So after realizing that I had another hour at my disposal, I pounced under the covers again. I don't know of any other feeling which is even close to this one when you wake up and realize that there is still more time for another nap. Yes yes, it's even better than what you are thinking. Pure bliss. Anyway, finally we assembled in the Kalindi lawns and then were asked to move to our respective buses. Now in the allocation letter, most were allocated some Bus number whereas our little group was to go in a Tempo. What discrimination, we thought. But then that Tempo turned out to be a very cozy traveler. And the fact that we were a smaller group comparatively, that proved to be of much use when we went to tour the various sections of these institutions. Larger the better, does not always hold true.
Our leader was Jigme from Bhutan Royal Police Service and was already standing in front of the bus with the thing that matters the most here. The coveted attendance sheet. After duly putting our initials we set off for the downhill journey to Dehradun. The driver apparently was a big Fast and Furious fan and the way he was flying the tempo, yes flying and not driving, surely meant that we all would be soon joining Paul walker up there. No offence meant to the great actor, we all miss you dude. And then it happened. What happens in all road journeys. No no, don't worry, i only meant Antakshari. But given our diverse group, not more than a couple of people were to appreciate a song in any language. So, we just sang some random songs and tried our level best to take those songs to their ever low levels. And boy, we did it with some dignity. Cheers to that, I say.
We were approaching Dehradun at lightening speed courtesy Vin Diesel on the wheels. But there was this glitch of sorts. On the bus was written Raphael but as per plan we were to reach NIVH first. When we passed by NIVH, I looked at Anmol and he was as surprised as me. And then we foolishly agreed that the entry gates must be on the other side or something. We went too far ahead by the time we realized that something smells fishy. But soon we reached Raphael. As OTs got down, they were as puzzled as the faculty present there as if we have done some blasphemous act. Meanwhile the admin was in shock, the OTs moved inside the seminar room and just when they were about to pour tea into their cups, they were told to rush back to their respective vehicles and go to NIVH first. KLPD. Chutzpah. And all that jazz. Some sane mind would ponder why not keep this group here and the other group there. Just flip the schedule around as a contingency measure. But sane mind, ahh, a rarity of sorts i guess.
Retracing our path, we reached to the "right" destination. The whole group assembled in an auditorium and were divided for the campus tour and were assigned guides. We visited the Braille typing center where they were converting all reading materials to Braille, the proofreading section where the blind were reading it faster than reading speed of "normal" people like us. Amazing. Then we had a glance over the very expensive Braille printers and the large printing units. The later makes available books in whichever font desired by the people with low vision. Great initiative. Post that we moved to various classrooms where the visually disabled were being trained for daily chores, cooking, working with machines, computers, programming and what not. In all those classes, the special instructors where of the view that with few modifications and a little extra effort, these people can do any work. The only problem is that the Private sector is not willing to walk that extra mile. I was amazed to see their talents and zeal. There is no ounce of doubt that they deserve to walk alongside us in whatsoever avenue.
Then we went to the school for the blind and just as we entered, we saw a group playing cricket with that special ball making sounds as it rolled towards the batsman. It was such a joy to see them in joy. They were enjoying their Game period to the fullest. We all felt like joining them on the pitch but the time constraint was keeping us on our toes. We went to one of the classroom where they were playing board games. Guddu, one among the sweet kids resent there told me that he loved playing chess and how that was a specially made set for them. The white figurines had a dot over them, the black did not. He told me he also loves to play cricket and his favorite player was Mallinga. When I asked him if no one from the Indian cricket team was good enough, he laughed and even strongly disagreed. He was so happy to see visitors. So were all of them.
They all asked us various questions and did not want us to go. Few of them surprised us with amazing vocal performances. It was such a joy to be with them. And they were so happy, so confident that they will not stop for what they do not have. After being with them, i felt ashamed of myself remembering all those times when I had complaints for such petty things. I could see that reaction on many faces around. Many OTs were disturbed seeing their conditions and struggle. They were just trying to hold it up inside them. But we seldom have control over our eyes. They give us away. People can just read us through them. Vulnerable we!
After that we all assembled back in the seminar room for an address by the Director of NIVH. When we reached there, she was already there eagerly waiting for our reactions, questions and suggestions. She patiently answered all our concerns in detail and what I really liked about her was that through her answers she also showed us the way in which we can help them in our own administrative capacities. It was wonderful to listen to her views. And that soft and composed texture of her voice was engaging and encouraging. She her self was visually disabled. She lost her vision in an accident. But the work she has done and is doing for visually disabled is phenomenal and inspirational. Lastly our colleague Beno who is herself visually disabled gave a fitting Vote of Thanks by quoting Helen Keller "I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. "
Then we moved to an even more challenging place. Raphael, the home to the intellectually disabled. As we reached there, we were served this excellent lunch. We discussed the possibility of sending our Mess staff there for an attachment. If only. Once again, we were divided into groups and led by the special instructors there. We went to see the TB hospital that they efficiently run, various special classes and modules which were developed for the autistic children, independent living homes for such children and finally a workshop where articles made by these children are displayed for purchase. It was my first experience interacting with this specially abled lot. Before this I had no idea how to talk to them or how to react to their actions and gestures. But here is when I realized that they are no different. They are as simple as we are, they are as complex as we are. All we need is to have patience, patience and patience. All they want from others is that they should not be seen as useless. They are as much a part of this world as others. All they want from us is a smile. A smile that says they are one of us. Nothing else. It is that simple.
This was perhaps a day of immense learning for all of us. This cannot be taught by the in-house faculty or by the very many eminent speakers from around the world. To understand the concerns and needs of such special sections, you need to be with them, you need to listen to them, you need to see it in their eyes. We must understand that if such people lack something, they are good at something else which we are not trying to see. We only see what they cannot do and we tend to judge them by that. That is wrong. And especially we, as public servants, have an even bigger responsibility to make sure they are not deprived of their rights and that masses are sensitized.
Let's pledge to help them in whatever which way we can and to actively pursue their concerns. Let's pledge not to see them as disabled. They are just differently abled. Or rather, specially abled!
2 comments:
When I was a kid, my Mr.Dad, once told me that when God deprives a being of something, he justifies it with something special that isn't visible to naked eye!... I think, you have noticed that!!! :)
And you should have taken a snap of Guddu's with his friends... And of course uploaded it. Photos complement Words, you see!
Yes, that's what even I felt. I should get a good camera phone! :D
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