by
Aparajita Mehta.
Today
can we consciously call ourselves
responsible citizens? Looks
like our responsibility ends
at, ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘myself’.
We have become so hard hearted
in our never ending quest
for survival and have pulled
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cotton wool over our eyes
to lull ourselves into the false
notion that as long as we are not
harming anyone, all is ok. We just
have to look around to know how
far from the truth we actually
are. What have we as responsible,
educated people, contributed to
our society? “Greed and Hatred?”
How many of us have stepped out
of our artificially secure walls
to help the poor and the downtrodden,
the under privileged and the physically
handicapped? I can see many of
you smirk while reading this, but
look deep within yourself and truthfully
answer, ‘do you consider these
people equal to you and that it
is only fate that’s sets them apart?’
India today is moving forward
in every sphere, but the problems
of development stems from a deep
routed social stigma which not
one for us can voice eloquently.
This puts us into the category
of, ‘uneducated’. Then why do we
put ourselves through so many wasted
years of education? Why do we strive
to reach the pinnacle in our chosen
profession? I have come across
the saying many times that sums
up the current state of mind rather
well, “I was born intelligent but
education ruined me.” Basing my
writing on this phase, I would
say, it’s better to remain an uneducated
child.
The innocence of childhood is
a marvelous time. Babies are babies.
One year olds are one year olds.
All children are equal and then
we start learning. Hate, greed,
jealousy and the list goes on.
Today we stand at the threshold
of confusion, gone are the simple
pleasures of eating, sleeping and
playing without a worry in the
world. And its been replaced by
stress, stress and more stress.
Who are we to judge the world?
Have we elevated ourselves to the
position of demi-gods, looking
down at people as if we alone,
the educated, the healthy, have
a right to live? God put man on
this earth only for them to serve
others – not their superiors alone.
Let’s look into the plight of
children to start with. How many
of us, consciously stretch forth
to grab their outstretched hand,
however grimy it may be? I am not
in favour of giving them alms.
They don’t need our charity. Love
is what they need – the emotional
need of every human being. The
birth right of every child. Why
do we build walls around us when
confronted by imperfections? Are
we perfect humans?
An
excerpt from Marsha Saxton's
'Ordinary moments - the
disabled experience'.
“All those people trying
to help me…all of them
hoping for them to…do well,
all wanting to be kind
and useful, all feeling
how important helping me
was. Yet
never did anyone of them ask
me, what it
was like for me.
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They
never asked me what I wanted
for myself. They never
asked me if I wanted their help…I
do not feel entirely grateful,
I feel, instead, a remote anger
stored beneath my coping g pattern
of complacent understanding. People
do the best they can, to help n
meaningful ways, I know. I just
wish all the disabled children
would say to their helpers: “Before
you do anything else, just listen
to me.” Disability is not a deficiency
but a vital part of the diversity
of human community. In a society
which idolizes normalcy and perfection,
with emphasis on achievement, tracking
and segregation lead most, if not
all students, to see their acceptance
in schools and society with a sense
of belonging.
I
have been in touch with
a ‘Good Samaritan’ in the
humble guise of a principal,
in one of Delhi’s leading
schools, Mrs. Usha Ram.
Her association with physically
and mentally handicapped
children – or rather children
with special needs – goes
back almost 30 years. Her
focus as an educator has
always been towards
integrated and
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inclusive
education, where every child
is
given a basic education, and those
who are unable to cope, are taught
a vocation that will enable them
to become independent and capable
of earning their own livelihood.
These children are a gift of God
– and physical and mental deformities
should not be a barrier. She is
the pioneer of social equity and
community outreach programs under
the free education system, and
has also been conducting post literacy
programs for quite a few years.
She follows a holistic approach
to education and sees that the
normal children in her school are
taught the values of compassion,
justice and empathy to all.
You may say that she has the resources.
She has the place. Maybe she has
the time too. But look at it from
a different perspective – she is
giving back to society, and is
making a change in many lives.
Its all about inclination, desire
and attitude towards making a difference.
The sparkle in the eyes and smile
on the face of a child, who has
been looked down upon, is enough
reward for her. Enough to strengthen
her resolve, to do all she can
for them.
Since time immemorial, people
have talked about, written about
and sung about, ‘change’. We all
have something to give back to
society, Love, a listening ear,
a hug, a warm handshake, just trying
to be there for them, to say the
least. If we can’t give back to
society, we have no right to take
from it either. Its time we looked
out through our keyholes and realized
that everyone, rich, poor, educated,
uneducated, physically and mentally
handicapped, downtrodden, etc.,
are all facets of the gem called
‘MANKIND’.
Every person has a contribution
to offer the world. Its never to
late…to make a fresh beginning.
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