Success & ABILITY
India’s Cross-disability Magazine
Jan – Mar, 2012
Rs. 30
CAVINKARE ABILITY AWARDS
2012
RUCHIS PICKLES AD
Editor: Jayshree Raveendran
Deputy Editor: Janaki Pillai
Associate Editors: Vaishnavi Venkatesh,
Seena Raveendran
Assistant Editor:Preetha Chari-Srinivas
Senior Designer: RG Kishore Kumar
Correspondents:
India:
Bangalore:
Gayatri Kiran Ph: 09844525045
Ali Khwaja Ph: 080 233302000
Hyderabad:
Sai Prasad Viswanathan Ph: 0810685503
New Delhi:
Abhilasha Ojha Ph: 9810557946
Pune:
Saaz Aggarwal Ph: 9823144189
Bhubaneshwar:
Dr. Sruti Mohapatra Ph: 0674 2313311
Bhopal:
Anil Mudgal Ph: 0755 2589168
KATHUA (J&K)
Manbir Sambyal Ph: 233914
ANANTNAG (J&K)
Javed Ahmad Tak Ph: 01936 211363
USA
Malathi Rajagopal
10247, Fairway Drive, Ellicot City, MD 21042
Anindya Bhattacharyya
Helen Keller National Center, Sands Point, NY 11050
………………………………………………………….
PUBLISHERS: Ability Foundation
EDITORIAL OFFICE: New no. 4, Old no. 23,
3rd Cross Street, Radhakrishnan Nagar,
Contents
4 Celebrity Speak BlaaZe – our rhythmic
poet shares his soul-stirring thoughts.
7 Cover Feature Capturing the spirit of a
decade - CavinKare Ability Awards 2003 to
2012
35 Spotlight A focus on arts as a catalyst
for therapy in rehabilitation centres.
39 Close Up Get to know the unknown
dimensions of Dr.Sudha Kaul.
41 Awareness Learning disability: the
known and the unknown.
44 Book Reviews Two books “From Street
to Hope” and “The Sense of an Ending”
reviewed by Girija Kumarababu & Paresh
Palicha respectively.
47 Insight Circle of Support – unearthing
the value of support networks.
51 First Person Siblings can do much to
make or mar things on the homefront. Here,
Preetha Chari-Srinivas, shares interesting
things on how her siblings embraced her
disability with love and empathy.
53 Personality A profile on Akash, the
wonder-boy.
Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600 041, India.
Tel/Fax: 91 44 2452 0016 / 2440 1303
e-mail: magazine@abilityfoundation.org
Website: www.abilityfoundation.org
56 International Scene Breaking barriers
behind the scenes - Inclusive film making.
Published by Jayshree Raveendran on behalf of
Ability Foundation, 27 Fourth Main Road,
Gandhi Nagar, Chennai 600 020.
Ph: 91 44 2452 0016
Printed at Rathna Offset Printers,
40 Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014.
Tel: 91 44 2813 2790 / 2813 1232
…………………………………………………………...
Rights and Permissions: No part of this work may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
without the prior written permission of Ability
Foundation. Ability Foundation reserves the right to
make any changes or corrections without changing the
meaning, to submitted articles, as it sees fit and in order
to uphold the standard of the magazine. The views
expressed are, however, solely those of the authors.
60 Globe Trotting Jordan - truly an
Arabian adventure, says Kalpana Sunder.
58 Outlook Accessibility in sport: how far
have we progressed, asks B. S Manjunath.
65 Practicalities A creative insight into the
mystifying and magical world of
mathematics.
67 Flipside Sneha Prabhu races to catch up
with the ever changing technology of today.
GRUNDFOS AD
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Friends,
There's a magic in the CavinKare Ability Awards.
From the time we took the first step in 2003 towards dispelling stereotypes, to this 10th edition, year
after year, the magic remains. The responsibility of doing all the spade work selecting from among
some of the most awesome nominations from the disability sector, to showcasing to the world what
people with disabilities are capable of, has been one of the most exhilarating and breathtaking things
we've ever done.
Receiving nominations from a vast group of absolutely awe-inspiring people and sifting through these,
nearly always makes us stop in our tracks, reminding us that this is yet another arduous task ahead. We
then begin slowly soaking in the sheer passion of these persons, living their lives, believing in their
beliefs, challenging obstacles and going on with dogged determination. To pick out a few individuals
from these exceptional array, is a daunting task. We have in our heart the mantra that these awards are
for those who have defied conventional norms, and have been the daredevils and the lonely travellers
along the road less travelled, not those who have conformed to predictable standards.
Under the sensitive and inspiring stewardship of C K Ranganathan of CavinKare (P) Ltd, who has
remained a great pillar of support all these years, Team Ability has been able to consistently rise to
expectations and handle the enormous work surrounding the event.
Our jury has been the icing on the cake, every single time. Comprising eminent celebrities with their
heart in the right place, the jury meet has, time and again, been an invigorating exercise. It's been a
privilege for us to witness their passionate arguments deciding on the awardees. In which task, they are
ably aided by the written reports of the regional representatives and the films taken by the cameramen.
Alongside all this… as a gentle support, is Ernst & Young – validating the entire Awards process,
ensuring total democracy in the selection. We heave a sigh of relief, and rest assured that the best will
be done… every single time. Our gratitude to all of them is immense.
As for the reward for our labour… what more... than the responses from the recipients themselves! The
lives touched, lives changed, lives transformed, lives that promulgated onto prominence… from the
smallest of rural hamlets, to the largest metro cities… social entrepreneurs, small craftsmen, suave
adventurers… all marching ahead towards brighter horizons… more strength derived, more happiness
acquired… my heartfelt thanks to all of them.
Yes… the CavinKare Ability Awards are all about milestones covered, about mindsets changed, about
stereotypes dispelled, of diversity celebrated, of inclusion recognised…
This issue of Success & ABILITY commemorates these 10 glorious years of the Awards… and also
packs in a lot more that you always look forward to, in every issue.
Jayshree Raveendran
j.raveendran@abilityfoundation.org
CELEBRITY SPEAK
ABILITY
BLAAZE
BlaaZe is a renowned rap artist and a playback singer. He was one of the lead singers / lyricists
in the Oscar winning film, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and is a frequent voice in A.R.Rahman's sound
tracks. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, BlaaZe has rapped with many
world renowned singers. He recently brought out India's first Hip-Hop 'protest' album, "Time for
Gandhi". BlaaZe is known to write lyrics that have a powerful message underlying that foottapping rap, which earned him MTV's Youth Icon Award, recently.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
7
CELEBRITY SPEAK
Ability
When the world says, 'No'
Ability
Let the rhymes flow
Ability
Oh yes we can
Ability
The divine masterplan
Ability
To overcome tomorrow
Ability
To shine through the shadow
Ability
Not just a word
Ability
The power to serve
Ability
The power to rise
Ability
Beyond disguise
Ability
In lessons we learn
Ability
It's now your your turn
Ability
Awake the desire
Ability
Aim even higher
Ability
Try touch the sky
Ability
Be brave and try
Ability
When the world says, 'No'
Ability
Let your spirit m!
-BlaaZe( the Rhythmic Poet)
THE SAVERA- FONDUE AD
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
9
COVER FEATURE
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
The journey of a decade, the voyage of 3650 days, the culmination of 87,600 hours of
unwavering conviction and single-minded determination. This is the result of grit and willpower
to make a difference where it matters. This is the story of CavinKare Ability Awards.
COVER FEATURE
The time was 6.28 pm on March 16, 2003. The auditorium at Tidel Park in Chennai was packed
to capacity. There was anticipation in the air. Curiosity too. Perhaps some skeptics as well…
after all, it was perhaps, yet another awards function?
However behind the scenes, for the entire event team, there was much anxious pacing up and
down, hearts pounding just that little bit faster. The dancers from Bangalore and actor/dancer
Sukanya tapping their feet , impatient to perform. The awardees, dressed in their official best,
still in disbelief that an event of this scale had been put together….and that too disability related.
As the countdown began, it was, at that time almost unbelievable for all of us as well, that the
CavinKare Ability Awards had emerged from a germ of an idea, to a fleshing out of the concept,
moving on to the actual process of inviting nominations, to meeting shortlisted nominees and
selecting the recipients, and now… at last… to this glittering evening, as high profile and
glamorous as the best of the best! Then, the curtains went up; Revathy began her warm words of
welcome… it was show time!
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
11
COVER FEATURE
Across the country today, there is a scattering of a group of people. At first glance, you will not
know the connect. What similarity do they share? Do they know each other? Is there even
something in common? Some are dancers, others businessmen. Some are social activists, others
sportsmen. And yet, look a little closer and you'll see. Whether it be Naseema Hurzuk or Preeti
Chhatrapati, Rajinder Johar or Arun Jain or Babli Gambhir, they are all individuals with the
passion to explore and the zest to live. They do not take 'NO' for an answer and overcome every
hurdle in their path. As for the common characteristic? They are all recepients of the CavinKare
Ability Awards.
It's been an amazing journey since then. Looking back, it doesn't seem so long that the curtains
went up for the first time, welcoming the first set of CavinKare Ability awardees. Yet, as the
curtains get ready to rise again this time for the tenth edition of the awards, one can see the long
journey that has been traversed…in the eyes of the award winners, the regional representatives,
the jury members, the members of the audience and of course at CavinKare (P) Ltd., and Ability
Foundation.
The first edition of the CavinKare Ability Awards was held at Tidel Park, Chennai's prestigious
technology park. Over the years, other cities like Bangalore and Delhi played host to the awards
as well…but Chennai became a stronghold, a home, in a manner of speaking. Every February,
the city welcomes people from all over the country to Chennai and to interact and work towards
breaking grounds and walking hand-in-hand.
Revisiting each year of the awards, opens up a plethora of memories in our minds. We reflect on
those special moments that truly sets our Awards apart. From interacting with jury members,
eminent people of society, watching outstanding cultural performances by renowned artistes, the
ceremony has only grown in stature and grandeur over the years.
COVER FEATURE
All those who attended the 2007 awards will remember watching A.R.Rahman's fingers flowing
magically over the ivory keys of the piano. Giving one of his rare solo performances, Rahman
left the audience spellbound, as he rendered one masterpiece after another. What was more aweinspiring was to see him play the accompanying music to two amazing singers with disability –
Heeru Chandnani and Radha Roy. Rahman had taken time off from his busier than busy schedule
to handpick these two singers, for their talent, from among several others, and gave them the
platform that many could only dream of. In fact, Rahman's journey with the awards has been a
longstanding one as well. He came as a guest of honour one year, performed for us one year, and
returned again as a jury member the next year. He, in fact, rushed to the airport post haste, after
the jury meet to participate in the BAFTA Awards and won it as well, that week. His support and
association with Ability Foundation reflects the degree of sensitising power that has changed the
attitudes of several other jury members, who had until then, not been part of the disability sector
in any capacity. It has been their journey as well, that has contributed richly to the awards.
The awardees – or rather the men and women of the moment – have redefined inspiration.
Watching different achievers bag the awards each year, we would conclude that we had seen it
all. But no! The next year would bring in newer surprises, and we'd change our thoughts all over
again! In fact, there has been a transition in the way we have addressed them as well. Initially we
announced their names as 'winners' of the award. Then we realised that it would it be un fair to
label a handful of people 'winners'? After all, anyone who breaks barriers in society is a winner
in his own right. Therefore, today, we call them 'recipients' of the awards. A small change in the
word, but a large change in our perception.
True to this nature, some of our regional
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
13
COVER FEATURE
representatives, people who have so kindly travelled to every nook and corner of the country to
meet shortlisted nominees personally, have felt that their lives have changed remarkably after the
experience.
Saaz Aggarwal, who has been a regional representative for several years now, continues to be
awestruck with every year of nominees. Looking back on her journey, she says, From different
people I learnt different things. Kanchan Pamnani and Divya Roongta can't see … but they
showed me how colourful life can be when you're determined to have a good time regardless.
Rahul Deshmukh and Sangeeta Agarwal, also blind, have given direction and shown the light to
numerous others with the same disability.
Sujatha Burla, Sanam Karunakar and Bajrang Lal Suthar are paraplegic – and rely on others
for even the smallest physical task. Yet, each of them has carved a solid professional reputation
and earned respect for themselves in a competitive world. Parveen Kumar Bahl and Amit
Kataria, afflicted by polio at a young age, cannot walk – but they have used their personal
resources, creativity, and enterprise to help many others to stand on their own feet. Ranjini
Ramanujam was born deaf – and grew to be one of the most open minded and communicative
people I've had the pleasure of meeting.
Through each of the wonderful people I've met, I've got a clear sense that for a person with
disability there are two fundamental necessities to live life in the mainstream. One is a strong
and loving group of people who will support and help you. The other is your own positive
attitude.
In the process of filming shortlisted nominees, several regional representatives gained friends.
Gayatri Kiran, who went on her first award representation in 2009, had this to say, “The 2009 set
of nominees opened my eyes really wide- they were all achievers, each one of them. They had
COVER FEATURE
overcome tough times, lived life to the fullest and moreover come out smiling! Not one of them
had even a pinch of bitterness or the feeling of why-me, in them! I can say this has stood true
across the 3 years, across gender, across socio-economic status and across ability.
I can honestly say that I am a better person and a better professional since then. The changes are
inside, I find myself a more positive person, not given to brooding about the negatives of life, and
ready to take that extra step to make my dreams come true.
I am really thankful to the nominees who have become friends, who stay in touch with me and
reach out to me regularly reminding me of the one thing I don't seem to have still learnt very
well- and that is to keep in touch with friends on a regular basis!
Listening to accounts of the regional representatives, one understands that the awards have a
much deeper impact than what is seen. As Biju Matthew, another regional representative put it,
Even though I work in the disability sector, I was humbled by the resilience of the wonderful
people I met as part of the process. More than the excitement of visiting new places and knowing
about the achievements of the nominees, it was a self realisation about the small things in life
which we take for granted. While appreciating the achievements of the nominees, it was equally
important to understand and appreciate their journey to success. I salute each one of them for
their confidence and determination to succeed.
The travel to the locations has been a mixture of fun and adventure- drive through the forest
from Khajuraho to Chirtrakoot, broken car and a minor road accident at Unnao and so on. All
this over a cup of tea from the roadside dhaba shared with Sarvanan and Aswin- both great at
the camera and even greater friends.
Every edition of the awards created a new
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
community of regional representatives, award winners and camerapersons, all mutually learning
from one another. Of course, films that have captured these experiences have taken the
achievements of every nominee to a visual pinnacle. On the actual ceremony, these films are
shown just before presenting the awards, so the audience can share their joy at having overcome
so many challenges.
So inspiring have these films been, that several members of the audience have demanded for a
copy so they can show them to people they know! And who wouldn't? Watching Zamir Dhale (a
deafblind person and the recipient of the CKA Award in 2010) presenting a conference paper,
seeing the determination on Varun Jain (Recipient of CKA 2011 and a paraplegic person) plough
his many atop the Himalayas, it strikes us that these are people who have taken grit and
perseverance to a new level.
But this is only on film. As life slowly returns from the reel to real, we have watched these
people go on stage and collect their awards proudly, speak to the audience, enthrall them,
motivate them, struggling off their troubles with a brilliant smile… every moment is worth living
for and to be cherished forever.
Again and again, as each year the stage lights up, the team gears up and the participants look up
for what is likely to be a momentous occasion etched in memories of all those whose lives are
touched along the way. While the actual award ceremony is infused with glitz and glamour, it
takes a deeper look into the process to understand the rationale for the awards. From short-listing
nominees to picking the jury members, every step is well thought and meticulously executed.
The first edition of the Awards was in the year 2003. Flipping through the report of the ceremony
then, one cannot help a soft chuckle. It reads “little did we expect to be literally snowed under by
nominations”.
COVER FEATURE
If only the Ability Team from 2003 could have had the power of foresight, they may have had a
laugh themselves! The subsequent editions of the Awards only saw a larger response and wider
reach. Nominees who couldn't make it the first time, applied again the next year. People who
missed the deadline one year waited in eager anticipation for word of the next year to reach
them.
It becomes impossible to document every moment that has impacted our lives in the course of
ten years of CavinKare Ability Awards. In fact, we wouldn't be doing justice to the awards, if we
don't mention how thankful the Ability Foundation and CavinKare Pvt Ltd has been to everyone,
from applicants to jury members and audience, who have supported it so wholeheartedly.
Ten years ago, we created history when for the first time; a deafblind person was the first
recipient of the awards. Pradip Sinha, a person who was acknowledged and awarded for his
achievements. He was the first, but he went on to inspire so many like him to sit up and take
notice. Today, we are flooded with calls from people all over the country, wanting to know when
they can send in their applications to next year's awards. They call so many months before the
awards are announced! Then we get calls from people who want to know when the event will be
held, so can we please give them extra invitation cards, so they can bring along others, to be
inspired. Truly a reflection of changing times as well as the growth of the awards. A small idea
that was picked up by kindred spirits has revolutionised how people think of disability today. The
tenth year of the awards is but another milestone on a long journey that yet remains to be taken.
In the words of Robert Frost, we have miles to go before we sleep.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
17
COVER FEATURE
REMINISCENCES…
We will always treasure their spirit …they carved out a new meaning to “success” and
“achievement”, and in the bargain won all our hearts. The CavinKare Ability awardees share
that moment of excitement when they received the award… and how it is still so close to their
hearts
NASEEMA HURZUK
(Eminence Award, 2003)
The CavinKare Ability award was my first award with such a large amount in prize money. The
function in itself was so well organised. I had the opportunity to interact with the guests at the
event, and kept in touch with them after the ceremony as well. One of them was in the Human
Rights department and gave us a lot of help in rehabilitating a woman with a severe disability.
Today, she is well settled in her job, married and is in a good position. Our project was in the
initial stages, and it got a good boost with the money. Today, the project is well underway and
over a hundred people have been employed and empowered. With the money, we also managed
to have a well constructed to provide drinking water to everyone. So in that sense, we think of
the awards everyday! I also get the magazine regularly, and keep myself updated about the news
around the country. My best wishes are with Ability Foundation.
BUSE GOWDA (Mastery award, 2003)
The moment that I received the CavinKare Ability award is still etched in my mind more than
anything else. The crowd was fascinating, and the moment was heartening. It was a chance for
me to realise myself and my strengths. Awards are always inspiring. And it is more so when you
get it from the hands that you can relate to, most. It instilled in me abundant confidence and
energy – the confidence that I can contribute much more even while staying back where I am. It
motivated me to learn how and where I can make the difference in my life and in the lives of
others.
COVER FEATURE
RAJANI GOPALKRISHNA (Mastery Award, 2005)
The best part of receiving the CavinKare Ability Awards was that it boosted my confidence,
beyond just the recognition factor. It was a good experience being recognised on a large scale
amidst huge audience. Receiving the award from such eminent people is beyond words. This
recognition made me realise that there won't be any barriers on your way if you have the real
passion inside. CavinKare Ability Awards is definitely an energy booster for me all through my
life.
NAVIN GULIA (Mastery Award, 2006)
Cavinkare Ability Mastery Award for me was not only a great pleasure and an honour, it was the
beginning of my journey to take my personal achievements to another level and move forward to
do more beautiful and meaningful work in society. I always wanted to work with the
underprivileged children in the society and to try and provide them opportunities for a better
future. It was then that I started my effort called ADAA - Apni Duniya Apna Ashiana - (Our
World Our Home) 'Let's make a better world', for the welfare of underprivileged children in the
society. This journey began when my achievements were appreciated by Cavinkare Ability
Awards. I cannot be thankful enough ever for all the affection, appreciation and support I
received at Cavinkare Ability Awards and later as a well. My many thanks and best wishes to
everyone at Cavinkare and Ability Foundation and I wish and pray that the awards should
continue to recognise, appreciate and encourage more and more people in the times to come.
ANJALI ARORA (.(Mastery Award, 2007)
Being there for the CavinKare Ability awards itself was a great experience. And receiving th
award was a double boost. The entire process of selection was exciting; speaking to the regional
representatives, finalisation, and the final results were all very special. The amount that was
given to the winners adds to its worth. Be it in any field, it is always important to be recognised.
Many talents might go unnoticed if not acknowledged, that too, at the right time. Winning
CavinKare Ability awards is an important achievement in my life.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
VEENA MEHTA VERMA (Mastery award, 2008)
Receiving the CavinKare Mastery Award in 2008 was a great honor. I was pleased to see that this
award had a very good selection procedure where the selection team actually went out to meet
the candidate, see them work and interview their family, friends and employers. I have received
several other awards but this won gave me most satisfaction and a sense of responsibility for
living upto the expectation.
Ever since, I have felt a sense of duty and have wanted to keep up with justifying the award by
continuing to work for development of myself and persons with disabilities. This award gave me
lot of recognition and respect which has enabled me to put my views and ideas strongly at
various forums.
SAI PRASAD VISHWANATHAN (Mastery award, 2009)
Someone once told me that the greatest purpose of human life is to be acknowledged for what
you are and to be loved for what you have done. And receiving the 7th CavinKare ability award
in 2009, was such an acknowledgement and love that I shall always cherish. To the world, it
might have been recognition of the things that I did despite my physical disability. But for me, it
was a recognition of the simple truth that - when a person's ability is supported by a wonderful
family, great friendships, amazing teachers and a caring environment – he/she is will always
overcome the challenges that come in the way. It was a reminder of the fact that - when a person
is inspired by the faith and encouragement people around him show, it is only a matter of time
before he/she feels a part of them.
It is only a matter of time before s/he works hard to build a life worth pride and celebration. It is
only a matter of time, before s/he builds a work that will outlast life in itself and brings an
everlasting change for the better. And these are not just words for the sake of it. They are facts
that I experienced in my life. Three years after receiving the award, I cherish the various
moments that have happened in life because of it – Getting my admission into the prestigious
I.S.B., being awarded the Helen Keller Award by NCPEDP, meeting the honourable Home
Minister and presenting him a report on building a sustainable employment model for persons
with disabilities, winning the Torchbearer leadership award at I.S.B., becoming a consultant at
Deloitte, working to make my undergraduate engineering college accessible and various other
things. But what I cherish the most is that moment, where all the inspiration began – That
moment, when on a lovely march evening, in front of a crowd of 1000, in front of my relatives,
friends and parents – I found myself a new family in Ability Foundation and an inspiration called
the CavinKare Ability Award. It was, is and will remain, the greatest inspiration of my life.
COVER FEATURE
JAVED AHMAD TAK (Eminence Award, 2009)
When I received the CavinKare Ability Award, my first thoughts were that my responsibilities
have increased. Until then, I saw my work for persons with disabilities as a routine job. But after
the award was given to me, I became a known face. So my accountability and responsibilities
increased, which is a very good thing. I have begun to work harder to meet the expectations of
the award. My status has also been elevated, and this has given me the drive to work more and
better. Economically, the award helped me set up new ventures. The certificate itself, gave
credibility to my work and now I have the duty to work with a renewed sense of dedication.
NITHYANANDA DAS (Mastery Award, 2009)
Initiatives like CavinKare Ability Awards helps the world see better and understand better. This
award makes people sit up and take notice. After I received the award, I realised that my voice is
now heard by a wider section of the society. My confidence has increased tremendously and I
want to show my skills to the world. Because the award increased my confidence to such levels,
I am sure that other award recipients, along with myself, will help in increasing the confidence of
so many other people waiting for a chance to be heard.
VEDANTAM SADA SIVA MURTHY (Eminence Award, 2010)
“Unforgettable” is the word that I can tell, when I think of the CavinKare Ability Awards.
Receiving the award was a turning point in my life. I had lost my 2 legs in a train accident 30
years before. I saw the darker side of life, which, till that moment I was not familiar with. But
CavinKare Ability Awards changed my perspective of life altogether. It was not just recognition.
It
opened
the
windows
of
self-realisation;
I realised the umpteen possibilities that I could do… It inspired me to support others who went
through such struggles in life. CavinKare Ability Awards was a soothing wind to the broken
hearts!
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COVER FEATURE
ZAMIR DHALE (Mastery Award, 2010)
It was nice and wonderful receiving the award and it indeed had a great impact. It gave more
recognition to the work do for deafblind people. It also helped our organisation to reach more
people because of greater awareness. It was an inspiration not only for me but to all other
deafblind people in the country. I do hope that Indian government will acknowledge this and will
ensure fulfillment of the rights of deafblind people in this country.
PUJA SUBRAMANIUM (Mastery award, 2010)
Every award one gets stands as a memento of one's successful emergence out of tough situations
in life. Yet CKA award came with a difference and became one of the most cherished moments
of my life. Ability Foundation with its selflessly dedicated team embodies an inclusive society
where people both with and without disability stand together, work together and celebrate ability
in disability.
After meeting Jayshree and all the other members of Ability family, I found a whole new energy
not just to LEAD but LIVE life in its true spirit. The grandeur of the event and meeting my
fellow awardees faded away the pain of my constant struggle and suffering of living with a
challenged body. That moment when I was on stage reintroduced me to the winner in myself.
The award helped me to further strengthen the trust of my associates and contemporaries in my
potential. It facilitated my efforts to inspire other persons with disability and make them believe
if I can, so can they! It also helped me to instill faith in parents regarding the future of their
children with disabilities.
The whole experience of receiving CKA Awards has become a beacon for lifetime. Whenever the
grim side of life tries to overpower my mental strength, the sight of this award in my shelf makes
me believe in my ability all over again. It calls out loud…”WE BELIEVE IN YOU….NEVER
EVER GIVE UP!”
COVER FEATURE
BAJRANG LAL SUTHAR (Mastery Award, 2010)
There has been a TREMENDOUS change in my life since the CavinKare Ability Awards. I am
now recognised by people all over the country. New opportunities have come my way, I have
more work. Media has also taken notice of me now, and I have given many interviews in
magazines and television shows after the awards. Recently, I was felicitated by the Rajasthan
government. My paintings were also displayed at the Ganpati Plaza, along with fifty other artists,
and my paintings were very well received. I will be exhibiting my paintings in a show in Delhi
and one in Canada in this month. So things have really taken a strong turn for a promising future.
Before the awards, I was a man living in a village, with no information about the world outside.
With the awards money, I bought myself a laptop, and now I can connect with the world. I use
Facebook now, and know what is happening around me. I never thought I would get this sort of
exposure. Even during the awards, I was treated very well. The Ability Foundation people flew
me and my family down from Rajasthan and took great care of us. I will always remember those
moments. So yes, these awards have been my biggest turning point. I am the first person from
Rajasthan to win these, so I feel very proud. My best wishes are always with the team at Ability.
VARUN JAIN (Mastery Award, 2011)
The year 2011 has been quite a rewarding year for me, and it all started with the Cavinkare
Ability Award. Following the CavinKare Ability Award I've received two more National Award
and a State Award.
Receiving the Cavinkare Ability Award in front of so many eminent personalities of our Nation
was a very encouraging and acknowledging moment for me & my fight despite all odds. It was
indeed a very proud moment for me and my family. The CavinKare Ability Award has added a
lot of confidence & self worth to me and most importantly, it has changed the perception of
people towards me. Now, people look up to me as a fighter, achiever and a role model. This is
truly the most delighting experience of receiving this award.
As a part of my travel venture I'm also working at providing the tourism & adventure services to
Rishikesh for people with special needs such as, people on wheelchair. In this I've short listed
certain places which are accessible by wheelchair and I'm talking with many other hotel & resort
owners to work on accessibility.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
23
COVER FEATURE
BABLI GAMBHIR
(Mastery Award, 2011)
Diamonds are often hidden in coal, and it takes mining to discover and make it shine. The
CavinKare Ability Awards did just that, it discovers the diamonds in society and unearths them
from the coal they are surrounded by, because persons with disabilities are often not included in
society. Where society rejected, the award accepted and embraced by ability like a parent would.
Personally speaking, I have been living in the same town for so many years, but people never
took notice of me. To be appreciated for his ability, a person need not be born with all his
facilities intact. Even people who have some disabilities are more than capable of achieving their
dreams. But life has been a struggle. And in this struggle, the award has really taken my efforts
forward. I have now been appreciated by my entire town. In a way, the awards gave me wings to
fly. Today I have received many awards, and it was the CavinKare Ability Award that really
began this trend in my life. My life has definitely changed in innumerable ways after the awards.
I lost my mother a couple of months before the ceremony, but as I received the award, I felt as if
she was smiling and blessing me. The Foundation took on the role of my parents to boost my
confidence and appreciate my efforts.
COVER FEATURE
CAVINKARE ABILITY AWARDS
DOWN THE AGES:
Text of Cavinkare Ability Awards Brochure
2003-2011
THE AWARDS 2003
Award for Eminence:
Naseema Mohamed Amin Hurzuk, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
Naseema Hurzuk not only overcame the societal stigma of small town, but also she looked
beyond herself and contributed immensely to the disabled communities by establishing “Helpers
of The Handicapped”. A wheelchair user since age 16, she has rehabilitated over 8,000 disabled
persons through various avenues that include a medical aid centre, vocational training centre, an
inclusive school, hostel and cooperative credit society.
Mastery Awards:
Buse Gowda, Bangalore, Karnataka.
As the first visually impaired person to have sought for and mastered the visual medium of
classical dance, Buse Gowda is a name to reckon with in dance, with many others like him
taking up the art form. He is now part of a dance troupe called 'Natyanjalli' and has over a
thousand dance performances, world over, to his credit.
Pradip Sinha, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Pradip Sinha is the first deaf-blind person to be acknowledged with an award. For one who can
neither hear, nor speak, nor see, he has come a long way towards independent living as well. He
works at a Braille press, is proficient with computers, is also a trained masseuse and he also
trains other disabled person at the press.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
25
COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2004
Award for Eminence:
S.M.A. Jinnah, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Not only has S.M.A. Jinnah overcome mountain-high hurdles, as a person with vision
impairment and one from the economically weaker section of society, he has also established an
outstanding institution that has transformed the lives of over 3000 other blind persons, through
education, vocational training, self-employment opportunities and distribution of aids and
appliances.
Mastery Awards:
Prasad Nagesh Ghadi, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Prasad Ghadi was a person with acute Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which rendered him with no
mobility below his shoulders. This notwithstanding, this sixteen-year-old was a school topper in
the Board exams, an accomplished artist, poet, orator, singer with several public performances
and accolades to his credit. At the time of conferring the award, he was working on his first
music album. Although, he is no longer with us today, he will always be remembered as an
example worth imitating.
Preeti Chhatrapati, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Preeti Chhatrapati is profoundly deaf and speaks three languages fluently, is a successful,
confident and highly respected software programmer. Overcoming all the social, emotional and
physical disadvantages of this invisible disability, she works on par with everybody else at work
and is a poised, confident young lady.
COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2005
Award for Eminence:
Rajinder Johar, New Delhi.
Rajinder Johar is a name to be reckoned with. With cervical spine injury and 100% quadriplegia,
he has socially and economically rehabilitated scores of disabled persons through the
organisation he initiated, “Friends of the Disabled”. Every activity has been initiated and is being
overseen by him, amazingly, from his bed.
Mastery Awards:
Rajani Gopalakrishna, Bangalore, Karnataka.
First it was loss of vision due to medical negligence. Then it was her father's demise. With
fortitude as her companion, she became the first visually impaired person in India to become a
full-fledged Chartered Accountant: a course that gives no concession to disability. She has
previously worked at the Taj and is currently with Infosys. In her spare time, she also teaches
computers and other school subjects to disadvantaged children and more.
Sanjeev Sachdeva & Anjlee Agarwal, New Delhi.
Joint winners for the award, Sanjeev and Anjlee are persons with progressive muscular
dystrophy. Credited for making Dilli Haat completely accessible for persons with disabilities
(the first barrier free tourist spot in India), their centre Samarthya promotes barrier-free
environment. Anjlee runs a fashion boutique and Sanjeev holds a government job, but their love
for travel has them organising tours for severely disabled people. Their enthusiasm for life and
their celebration for ability are easily the envy of everyone they come across.
Special Award for Recognition:
Boniface Prabhu, Bangalore, Karnataka.
A paraplegic since age 2, Boniface Prabhu is the only Indian to represent the country in
Wheelchair Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments, winning a medal in every match despite being the
only one to use a non-motorized wheelchair. This apart, he is also working for the empowerment
of others with disability through sports.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2006
Award for Eminence:
Uma Shanker Pandey, Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
Unable to bear the taunts to his disability and refusing to become a beggar as ordained by his
uncle, Uma Shanker Pandey ran away from his village, only to return there later, determined to
start a movement to fight for the rights of disabled children. He had no money but he would not
allow disabled kids to end up as beggars. Supported only by crutches and his conviction, he
started Viklang Aavasya Vidhyalaya, a residential school for disabled and deprived kids with a
curriculum that emphasised self-reliance. In less than 10 years through accepting donations only
in kind, he has been able to help more than a thousand people.
Mastery Awards:
Rinku Jee Bhat, Jammu, J & K.
At four, electrocution and the resultant amputation took away his arms right up to his shoulders,
but the tragedy couldn't touch his spirit. With his father too becoming disabled in a shoot-out,
and the family having to migrate to Jammu, Rinku just could not afford the luxury of self pity.
He completed school and took it upon himself to support his poverty-ridden migrant family.
Ironically, he trained himself to be an electrician (the very cause for his disability) and today
earns his living fixing and assembling electrical appliances. He is completely self-sufficient and
trains those interested in his skill. Villagers come to him for their electrical jobs, all done quickly
and neatly by his highly proficient toes.
Navin Gulia, New Delhi.
How does one begin to describe an adventurer, scuba diver, hang glider and marathon driver who
has merited a mention in the Limca Book of Records for driving non-stop in the Himalayas? The
first person with quadriplegia and a 90% paralysis to obtain a driving license? One doesn't! One
just awards such a person! An accident while training for the army lost him the use of his limbs
but Navin simply shifted his battleground to rehabilitation from 100% disability. Driving all over
the country, he gives motivational talks. He volunteers with the “War Wounded Foundation” and
has also started a foundation to find solutions to the problems of people with disabilities.
COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2007
Award for Eminence:
Kali Vinod Tiwari, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh.
Severely affected by polio that paralysed him waist down, Tiwari went on to set up his own steel
fabrication enterprise, and developed the first auto tri-wheeler way back in 1978 which
facilitated the mobility of hundreds of mobility-impaired persons, spurring them on to
independence. This, he did, despite all the extensive discrimination that he himself had to go
through and that too at a time when there were nil facilities for orthopedically impaired people.
Today he is no longer with us, but he will always be remembered as a path-breaker in society.
Mastery Awards:
Anjali Arora, New Delhi.
With persistence and resolute determination, Anjali Arora fought her way through educational
institutions to realise her goal of becoming a lawyer. For Anjali, total loss of sight was never a
barrier to live the life she had designed for herself. She saw the legal profession as a form of
empowerment and practicing in Supreme Court, as an intellectual challenge. Generating her own
resources, Anjali drafted and prepared pleadings and appeared in Delhi High Court and the
Supreme Court to argue cases in constitutional law and civil matters. Achieving mastery in the
highly competitive field of legal practice, she has appeared against senior counsel and won the
confidence of her clients. She is currently employed by the Airports Authority of India as Asst.
Manager-Law, a highly responsible position. Her zest for life takes her on travels all over the
country. An excellent writer, she expresses her thoughts in beautiful prose.
Neha Bansal, New Delhi.
A young woman with a strong resolve, Neha Bansal pursued her dream of qualifying as a
Chartered Accountant with unequalled grit and confidence. Her relentless pursuit of excellence
helped her stand out in the 10th rank at the Chartered Accountancy Final exam, a rare feat by any
standard! More so for a victim of spinal cord injury, which made her a tetraplegic, paralysed
neck down, while she was still in school. Undiminished, she had the tenacity and courage to take
life head-on. Though her fingers were not fully functional, Neha insisted on writing the CA
exams herself. Today, she works with a Chartered Accountancy firm.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2008
Award for Eminence:
Madhukar Vishvanath Shiordhonkar, Indore, MP.
Over and above being one of the first qualified visually-impaired physiotherapists, this veteran
has been instrumental in initiating several associations and federations leading to the habilitation,
rehabilitation and empowerment of thousands of visually-impaired men and women, since the
1960s when initiatives as these were extremely scarce, if at all.
Mastery Awards:
Shivani Gupta, New Delhi.
A familiar figure in New Delhi's disability activism circles, Shivani has allowed neither her
tetraplegia nor society's stereotypical attitudes towards a woman with disability to prevent her
from seeking out her rights. With a PG degree in Architecture from UK she pursues her dream of
an India sans physical barriers.
Jagdeep Singh Dangi, Vidisha, MP.
Necessity is the mother of invention is a known adage and this extends itself even further when
the necessity is felt by a genius. So much so, the place he lived in, with its rampant lack of
facilities, as well as his impoverished economic status, were no impediments to this entrepreneur.
Orthopedically and visually impaired he may be, but that did not come in the way of his creating
a Hindi-English i-Browser (innovative software that promotes Hindi language to increase the
information technology penetration into rural areas and easy use of computers, which we hope, is
just the first step towards several more.
Veena Mehta Verma, New Delhi.
A person who's defied stereotypes from day one – studying subjects that are normally denied to
visually-impaired, like Maths, Science, Accounts, Commerce and Management, she has fought
tooth and nail for her rights. Veena is the first blind woman to have been offered a job at her level
at NTPC, prior to which she was a top performer in a multi-national IT company. She has been,
besides all this, a mountaineer, para-glider, horse rider, model, rock-climber and more.
COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2009
Award for Eminence:
Javed Ahmed Tak, Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir.
The scars of bullet-hit Kashmir are unending. The adversity that can bring out the best or the
worst in people. With Javed Ahmed Tak, it was the former. Bruised and maimed by a militant
attack nearly eleven years ago, which left him a paraplegic, with a host of other related problems,
Javed turned his adversity into a mission. Spearheading a movement for peace and rehabilitation
in a strife torn town, he used the media to create awareness and sensitisation programmes on
disability, and has established an organisation that caters to the needs of people with all
disabilities.
Mastery Awards:
Nityananda Das, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.
“The beauty of life is an endless struggle” this epitomises the life, struggles and triumphs of
Nityananda Das. He has risen like a phoenix from the ravages and scars of a gruesome accident,
that left him – a professional dancer – with only one leg. His love and passion for Odissi dance, a
positive attitude, immense self-will and confidence, sustained by the love and support of his guru
have helped him overcome seemingly insurmountable odds: physical and emotional. Continuing
to dance on one leg, he has also started a dance school, ' Kalashram' and is today a dancer,
teacher and choreographer in his own right.
Rajiv Rajan, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
A person with cerebral palsy, Rajiv Rajan has combated innumerable odds – big and small –
disability-related being the least of them. Negative mindsets, condescending attitudes, unfriendly
atmosphere – all these, he battled through sheer self-belief, and a never-say-die spirit, advocating
what disabled people can do and not what they cannot do. A born leader and team member
through his work at Vidya Sagar as well as a member of several committees, he is the epitome of
the saying, 'Where there is a will, there is a way'.
Sai Prasad Vishwanathan, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Living life to the fullest is what Sai Prasad believes in. Defying a crippling and life threatening,
progressive disability, Sai Prasad has overcome the greatest odds in life and has succeeded. He is
also one of the select few to have received a full research fellowship in the field of Computer
Architecture and Chip Design at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2010
Award for Eminence:
Vedantam Sada Siva Murthy, Palakol, Andhra Pradesh.
Vedantam Sada Siva Murthy lost both his legs in a train accident twenty eight years ago. With
the minimum facilities he was able to access to, he got back on his feet with great difficulty. He
deeply understood the pain of losing a limb and wanted others to have access to the facilities he
had had. Thus was born the ‘Chaitanya Artificial Limb Centre’ at Palakol, near Rajahmundry,
with the aim of providing both physical and psychological rehabilitation for everyone. He
believes that positive thinking can bring about total transformation in one’s approach to life. An
agriculturalist by profession he has also adopted his own village Abbirajupalem and lobbied for
its development.
Mastery Awards:
Puja B.Subramaniam, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Puja Subramaniam’s story is exemplary and exceptional in every sense of the word. At age 12,
Puja was diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disorder named Charcot-Marie-Tooth. The
nature of this disorder is such that it constantly and unpredictably leads to new difficulties in
mobility. This in no way deterred Puja. Accepting fresh challenges not just disability related
ones, but also as a woman with disability, she effectively countered all stumbling blocks and
completed her post-graduation and she established an engineering consultancy company –
‘Bolster Engineering Solutions’
Bajrang Lal Suthar, Rajasthan, New Delhi.
Bajrang Lal Suthar had a paralytic attack that rendered him paralysed neck-down. In an
economically backward family where he and his father were the sole breadwinners, this meant
loss of livelihood and complete dependence on his aged parents. Using the sensation that he had
in two fingers of his left hand, Bajrang began writing a couple of lines a day. Four years later, he
discovered he could paint too. Thus began his artistic voyage of self-discovery. His confidence
acquired a boost when he discovered that his paintings could be sold and some semblance of
economic independence reached. Two exhibitions later, there was no looking back for Bajrang
Lal who today looks at life with renewed hopes and vitality..
Zamir Dhale, Gujarat.
Think of Helen Keller. Think of Rani Mukherjee’s character in “Black”. That’s Zamir Dhale for
you. Zamir Dhale is deafblind. Proof to all that’s said about allowing nothing to come between
one’s capabilities and one’s dreams toward achievement. And yes…he was the one who worked
with Sanjay Leela Bhansali toward sensitising everyone in the unit about deafblindness. Living
every moment of life to the fullest, as an advocacy officer at Sense International (India),
Ahmedabad, he is also a loving husband, a doting father and a vociferous activist who has
travelled extensively in India and overseas, presenting papers at conferences in tactile sign
language to create awareness about the needs and rights of deafblind people.
COVER FEATURE
THE AWARDS 2010
Award for Eminence:
Harman Singh Sidhu, Chandigarh.
Rather than be dejected and yield to a life of resigned acceptance or curse fate for an accident
that left him paralysed neck below, Harman decided to look beyond himself and chose to save
lives from road accidents. While lesser people might have taken to a life of retreat, Harman
chose to establish an NGO “Arrive Safe” where the mission was to advocate policy level
changes and create awareness on road safety. Today, Harman has become a spokesperson in most
matters relating to road safety and has represented the country in international forums. Thanks to
his determined and persistent efforts, several roads have become safer today and several traffic
regulations have been brought about as well.
Mastery Awards:
Babli Gambir, Jaora, Madhya Pradesh.
Being shunned by public because of her short hands Babli only became more determined to
excel in a field that required persistent and dexterous use of hands. Beauty services were what
she chose to do…confident that she would dispel stereotypes. They now call her the girl with the
“golden hands”. A great triumph when one also considers the economically low background that
she comes from. Turning a seeming “weakness” into her greatest “strength” today, she owns a
most sought after beauty parlour in Jaora…one that is acclaimed for its client services. What
started as a small set-up is also an employment opportunity for other economically backward
girls.
Sujatha Burla, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
TV anchor, woman entrepreneur as well as initiating her own NGO…there are no full stops for
Sujata Burla. With a story behind her that cannot be described briefly, Sujata can only be looked
up to as a beauty with brains and an example to be emulated by everyone of us, not only as a
successful businesswoman and a media person but also as a person with a heart of gold lending a
helping hand to orphans with disabilities…indeed, living up to her organisation's tagline, “Life
beyond imagination”.
Varun Jain, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
Adventure – thy name is Varun. Becoming a wheelchair user at age twenty…when life was
seemingly near perfect, his infallible never-say-die spirit of adventure, goaded him on to not just
becoming financially independent but also move on to routes where “angels fear to tread”...
river-rafting, mountaineering, kayaking, lonely road trips on a quad-bike…passions that set one's
adrenalin rushing… and all these with a determined purpose too, to create awareness for
accessible infrastructure and equal status for persons with disabilities. In his own words,
“Adversity causes some people to breakdown and others to break records.”
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
CAVINKARE ABILITY AWARDS
2012 AWARDEES
AWARD FOR EMINENCE
Mohammed Iqbal, Leh-Ladakh
Despair and despondency are the two words Mohammed Iqbal removed from his dictionary of
life. With severe orthopedic disability since birth and that too living in a remote region like LehLadakh, Mohammed Iqbal hardly got any formal education. School education was inaccessible
for Iqbal and there was also limited awareness on the importance of education. However, Iqbal
had a dream. He needed to soar great heights as well as explore the deep… and it was this dream
that inspired him to take his own initiative to learn to read and write on his own.
Mohammed Iqbal then dedicated his life to work for the wellbeing of other disabled persons and
to change their image from being mere 'receivers', to being 'contributors' to society. Today,
Mohammed Iqbal is the president of People's Action Group for Inclusion and Rights (PAGIR)
which was founded in 2007. Ever since, PAGIR has been doing remarkable work towards
capacity-building and inclusion of disabled persons in mainstream society. Their work focuses on
advocacy, environmental management and livelihood generation.
Two of PAGIR's main initiatives are “Himalaya on Wheels” and “Jungwa Shrugskyob” (waste to
resource initiative) both of which serve to promote livelihood as well. The Jungwa group collects
waste paper from communities, institutions and offices which consequently cause pollution and
reuse or recycle to make various products like paper bags, cushions, wall hangings, paintings,
file covers, stone painting, etc and sell this to a local shop keeper. This was a great relief and
support for the disabled people as the livelihood opportunities for them were extremely limited
and they always had to depend on the mercy of others. The economic empowerment and
independence gained through such efforts enhanced the self esteem and the self confidence in
them to live and enjoy their life to the fullest.
Muhammed Iqbal is the CEO of “Himalaya on Wheels”, a first of its kind project in India, which
promotes inclusive and accessible travel. This makes travel a pleasurable activity to all travellers
on wheelchairs, to senior citizens as well as for infants in prams who visit Leh accompanied by
well informed guides and trained helpers and drivers.
PAGIR has made several efforts towards the recognition of rights for disabled persons,
advocating equality, equitable opportunities and inclusion in social and political processes.
Several awareness programmes towards disseminating information to all persons with disabilities
have persistently been conducted. Iqbal relentlessly works towards the implementation of the
Persons with Disability Act in Leh District. He actively works on the issues of inclusive
education, health, physical access, employment and electoral rights of all persons with
disabilities.
His enthusiasm and joie-de-vivre are infectious and motivates others to make the world a better
place. His dynamism has helped many disabled persons to earn a livelihood and a confidence to
live as equal citizens. As a person with endless zeal and a brilliant leader, it is our pleasure to
award Mohammed Iqbal the CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence this year.
COVER FEATURE
MASTERY AWARD
Azeem Bolar, Banglore
A Vision Beyond! One would expect that a person who has suddenly become 100% visually
impaired and hemi plegic might feel the need to consult a counselor. However, if somebody with
these disabilities is a counselor to other supposedly “normal” people, that is exceptional. Azeem
is a person who loves to socialise and interact with people and extends all help to those in need –
qualities which make him the successful Counselor that he is today.
Azeem achieved all his educational qualifications and professional skills during the period when
he moved from a state of diminishing vision to that of total blindness. He is a person with wide
exposure to life and living… having been brought up and educated in Tanzania, Kenya, France
and England. Azeem was born sighted but at the age of 13 he was diagnosed with juvenile
arthritis, when he was studying in Kenya. He however, confronted this bravely and continued to
pursue his dreams. After completing his Master of Arts in Hotel Management from France, he
was working in a restaurant in India when all of a sudden he found he had lost the vision in his
left eye...
Life was not an easy journey thereafter for Azeem, and as his vision continued to deteriorate, he
conditioned himself to using the white cane. It was during this stage that he had meningitis
resulting in his first paralytic attack, making him hemiplegic. While he spent this period with his
family in Uganda, Azeem returned to India in 2004 and joined National Association for Blind
(NAB) to get mobility training and computer training. He also completed the NIIT Swift India
Certificate. Azeem faced each battle with an extraordinarily optimistic attitude, teaching himself
to walk, to talk and to write… all over again. It was during this time that Dr. Ali Khwaja of
Banjara Academy identified the positive spirit and counseling ability in Azeem.
Today, Azeem is one of the most preferred and sought after counselors in Bangalore city who is
qualified in all most all aspects of counseling like Counseling and Physiotherapy, Child and
Adolescent Counseling, Family Counseling and so on. He practices Neuro Linguistic
Programming and has handled numerous cases of Drug de-addiction, Stress Relief, Phobia Cures
and Emotional Instability. Currently, he is the consultant counselor with Aditi Technologies in
Bangalore and is also a visiting faculty and volunteer counselor at Banjara Academy. He extends
his service as an independent counselor as well, where people consult him at home and he
motivates them to overcome their hurdles in life.
Azeem came up in life not only because of his sheer hard work and optimism, but his desire to
excel in everything he does. This is clear from the words of his employers who say that Azeem is
there with them not as a 'charity appointment' but because of a 'business decision ' and he has
done complete justice to this. His zest for learning and the zeal for sharing make him the unique
person he is. The next milestone he has set for himself is a doctorate in the field of
psychotherapy.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
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COVER FEATURE
MASTERY AWARD
Bhavana Botta, Chennai
Words fall short in describing Bhavana Botta, an extraordinarily strong willed young
entrepreneur from Chennai. Bhavana was born with athetoid cerebral palsy, as a result of which
she is unable to walk, write or communicate verbally. However, her enormous self-belief to
achieve her dreams and the unending support and encouragement from her family has made her
the successful person that she is today. Discarding all obstacles, she has lived life with a bright
smile. After completing her graduation from a mainstream college, she started her own venture
SAAHAAGIKA, one of the first boutiques in the city to sell only Ahimsa and Organic silks.
Bhavana went to mainstream educational institutions because of her capabilities in understanding
concepts. Her therapists stood by her and recommended this. She attended Lady Andal Venkata
Subba Rao Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Ethiraj College and holds a B. Com in
Corporate Secretaryship. All this… by using a unique communication method: 'eye-pointing'
chart and is the first person in Tamil Nadu, and possibly in India, to have written exams with this
form of communication. According to her mother Kalpana,“ She is definitely the first person in
India and possibly in the world- to have finished a college degree using the 'eye pointing'
system” . With this system Bhavana communicates and give her exams – using a chart of
alphabets in numbered columns, spelling out what she wants to say by pointing at the columns
with her eyes. This form of communication is closer to sign language. Her mother perseveringly
acts as an interpreter and explains what she says through this communication.
A fiercely independent person, Bhavana makes all the important decisions in her life and has
never compromised on her goals. She always wanted to be independent in life and pursue a
career that is both challenging and satisfying. For Bhavana, her business is a synonym for
independence and freedom. With determination, she chose to opt for a bank loan to finance her
business and she insisted that the bank account should be in her name and also that she herself
does all possible work from managing accounts to paying tax, herself. The concept of
Saahaagika is exclusive. She mainly sources her materials from Jharkhand and Kolkata and
recently, Auroville approached her to source their products as well.
The business woman in Bhavana now envisions more ambitious projects to start an 'adda' a café,
library and a boutique where people can hang out. Her determination to succeed and keeping up
a positive attitude in life will most certainly enable her to stride on towards further laurels.
COVER FEATURE
MASTERY AWARD
Riitesh Sinha, Karnal
It takes grit and determination to swim against the tide and emerge as the winner. Riitesh Sinha
has not only done this, he also inspires everyone think like him and aspire to be winners. Battling
attitude and stigma like most children with disabilities have to go through, Riitesh too, as a child,
with severe cerebral palsy faced rejections and dejections galore especially at school. It was only
in, what was called “The International Year of Handicapped” in 1981, that he was able to get in
edgeways into mainstream schooling and was admitted in St. Theresa's Convent School in Class
III. That did it. There was no looking back and ever since, Riitesh created a spectacular record of
securing a first class in all his exams, going on to do his Masters in Information Technology.
Encouraged by a supportive and persevering family who were immensely confident of Riitesh's
capabilities, he is today employed in Haryana Government service. To counter his dependence on
others for mobility, he developed and crafted the Trike himself as there was very little expertise
available in his hometown Karnal. The Trike enabled him to reach the places he wanted to go,
like his various classes, the NSS literacy campaign, etc.
Riitesh worked as a software programmer and a computer trainer at Datamix Computers in
Karnal for 10 years, dispelling all doubts in others about his ability to teach, and in the middle of
this, he managed to complete a 3-year Masters degree. His students remember him as a great
teacher and an amazing human being. Says his student Santosh Kumar, himself a polio victim, “I
learnt MS Office, Tally and Internet… but that's not all, I also acquired a lot of confidence in
facing up to the world. He is an excellent teacher and an excellent guy and I'm proud to be his
student and a good friend as well!”
That's not all… Riitesh has more passions to prod him on. Like learning Mudra for health,
Astrology, Numerology and Yoga… He has formulated new methods of writing through 'Mudras'
which seems to help in speedy cures of body ailments. Says Riitesh:“To propagate yogic 'mudras'
for the benefit of people with Cerebral Palsy and also reach out to more people , I turned to
networking sites and blogs. He has his own blog and has created a community in Orkut for
people with Cerebral Palsy.
Move on, Riitesh… we are with you!
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
37
SPOTLIGHT
ART OF THE MATTER
Exploring the power of creative arts in rehabilitation
- SEENA RAVEENDRAN
Pamparapam…pamparapam… a drum therapy session is in progress at the World Centre for
Creative Learning Foundation (WCCLF), a non-profit organisation based in Pune, that works in
the field of developmental disabilities, mental health and neuro-physiological rehabilitation. A
group of 8 people thump the drums gingerly, some experiencing the sharp thwack of skin against
wood for the first time, others overjoyed at the rhythmic outcome of their initial attempts with a
drum. For most of them, a new possibility is born.
SPOTLIGHT
Arts-Based Therapy (ABT) is all about exploring possibilities in the most unlikely places. Just
like the drumming session at WCCLF, more and more rehab centres for people with
developmental disabilities, mental illness, neuro-physiological problems have begun to discover
the benefits of arts-based workshops like theatre, music and craft. Here, the person is encouraged
to express himself/herself through a medium best suited to his/her particular problem. They do
not “learn” the art form, but merely use it as a medium of expression. “We don't believe that life's
rhythm is ever really lost, it just needs to be rediscovered, and these various forms of art
practiced in rehab centres help individuals to revive themselves and their sense of well-being”,
says Meena Mutha, who heads Manav Foundation, a Bombay-based rehabilitation centre.
Each rehab centre has its own approach to therapies, based on the context of rehabilitation. By
taking into account each person's requirement, art therapists use multiple art forms. “Any therapy
has a theory behind. It is not just a tool. Music affects people emotionally and it improves gait. It
is proved that children with autism respond to music and rhythm fast, because rhythmic
stimulation makes motor movement smoother. Whereas, in drumming, physical movements,
motor skills, auditory comprehension and pattern recognition matters. There is a higher
possibility of muscular coordination problems to disappear. But, we can't expect a dramatic
change in anyone. It is a slow process”, says Zubin Balasara, a practitioner with WCCLF.
The power of drumming and theatre
In drumming, the power of rhythm places a larger role. Rhythm itself is flow, by definition.
Adding more insight to drum circles, a relatively new form of music therapy, Zubin says,
“Drumming is very instinctive and it has responses at various levels. At the physiological level,
people have reported a feeling of being energised, fewer tremors in hand movement and better
gait (in
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
39
SPOTLIGHT
those with Parkinson's). It works as a form of meditation, as well as it has the power to transport
you into a trance”. The most powerful healing, as he says effects from the experience that comes
from drum circles or many drums. The increased number of drums creates a synergistic effect.
And again, what about drama? “In Mumbai, it has been a popular and important tool for groups
working with children, adolescents, addicts and people with physical disabilities, and now is
being co-opted by mental health professionals as well”, says Meena. Psycho drama (enacting a
personal situation and projecting one's feelings) is another technique that works well. “It gives
the client the 'distance' to recognise that he has a problem, try to find a solution or make sure he
doesn't repeat undesirable behavior”, adds Meena.
“Drama therapy can enable a person to tell his story. We design dramatic experiences based on
stories, which moves on from telling stories, to making them up and enacting them. Dramatising
provides an active way to get rid of negative energy and issues”, says Aanand Chabukswar of
WCCLF. For those who find it difficult to talk, a story circle is a safe space to listen or to act out.
He adds that children with intellectual difficulties and speech difficulties are given voice
exercises as an initial step, to understand how well their body and mind are integrated. In the
next phase, improvisation is done depending on the nature of the group and their response levels.
Santhosh, who runs Mariasadanam, a psychosocial rehabilitation centre, the only rehab centre in
Kerala, which incorporates the drama and music therapy in psychiatric care, says, “Since most of
our inmates are people with schizophrenia, it is very important to maintain their mood levels. We
use these therapies to tranquil their minds”. They have a professional music and drama troupe,
which has completed almost 200 performances across the state. As Santhosh says, it is not the
number that counts. It is the fresh thoughts of further performances in the pipeline that move
their life forward, in a more successful manner!
In this way an art therapist's role is not to change or cure. He can be a catalyst to bring the inner
conflict and unresolved issues to the fore in the subtlest way possible.
SUOLIFICIO CHENNAI AD
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
41
CLOSE UP
COME, LET’S MEET…
-
DR.SUDHA KAUL
Dr. Sudha Kaul needs no introduction to indias disability sector. As the Chairperson of the
Drafting Committee for drafting a new rights-based disability law for the country, she has
emerged as a celebrated leader, carrying forward her duties with elan and finesse. She is also
the founder, trustee and vice chairperson of the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy, IICP (formerly
Spastics Society of Eastern India), Kolkata. Dr. Kaul holds a Ph.D. degree in Augmentative and
Alternative Communication from Manchester Metropolitan University and has authored several
books on AAC and presented papers at several national and international conferences. We bring
out some lesser-known facets of her otherwise, well-known personality with a few flippant
questions. Come… let’s meet… Dr. Sudha Kaul!
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning and the last thing before
going to bed at night?
Thank God for little blessings and go for a walk!
See TV/Read book.
What is your normal work day like?
I am now a lady of leisure since I have retired! No more 'work' days that are tied to any schedule.
Have the luxury of working at my own pace in whatever I wish to do on any given day. Learning
to 'adjust' to 'free time!!!”
What makes you happy?
My son Arjun's smile… a contented family and a vibrant IICP.
What keeps you busy?
Used to be fulltime IICP work. Now AAC work and IICP matters at a policy level.
Who is your idol, and why?
My Father…a wise, erudite generous and sensitive man who taught me to appreciate the hidden
abilities in every human being.
What is your idea of beauty?
A sensitive heart.
If your fairy godmother came to you saying that she would grant you just one wish, what
would you wish for?
A peaceful and safe life for my near and dear ones.
What is the craziest thing you have done or would like to do?
Go dancing all night!!!
What do you look for in life?
Peace and happiness.
Describe yourself in 5 words
Idealistic/naive/sensitive/calm/ stubborn (?)
Do you believe in God?
Absolutely!
CLOSE UP
If you were to invent a gadget, what would it
be?
A super-duper, affordable communication
device.
What do you dream of?
An 'inclusive' sensitive, sharing world.
In a grade of one to five, in which order
would you rate the following: Love, money,
recognition, position, power?
Love/ money/recog/position /power…Actually
I don't agree with the last 3 categories!
If you believe in rebirth, what would you
like to be born as?
A human being.
If you could go anywhere in the world for
the next one hour, where would you go?
China.
What brings a smile to your face?
A child's smile.
What frightens you?
Aggression and war.
What are the moments you cherish in a day?
Time with my son.
Name one thing that not many people know
about you.
Wouldn't you like to know???!!!
What do you hold most precious in life?
My family.
If you could go on a week-long vacation with
a celebrity (living or dead), who would you
choose and where would you go?
Gregory Peck in the Bahamas!
What's the book or a movie that you've
enjoyed lately? Why?
'Chillar party’…Children's power!!!!
What are the qualities that impress you
most in a person?
Honesty and integrity.
What is your favorite dish?
Methi Chaman (Kashmiri dish!).
What saddens you?
Poor, destitute, hungry children.
All of us dislike doing some things in life.
Tell us about some activity/chore that you
dislike doing. Housework!
What gladdens you?
ALL children in schools.
What is 'family' time for you?
Sitting together in the evening.
Are you a dreamer or a doer?
A bit of both.
What more would you like to achieve?
Miles to go…so the list is endless!
What do you think are the qualities that a
leader should have?
Sharing /caring/understanding/integrity.
How would you like to be remembered?
Caring professional and human being.
Your recipe for success?
Hard work and team spirit.
If your personality were a dish, what would
it be?
Scrumptious desserts!
Your message for others?
Lets work together for a better world.
If a movie is made on your life, who would
you ant to play the lead role?
God forbid!!!
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
43
AWARENESS
REDEFINING LEARNING DISABILITY
A positive reinforcement can help children with learning disabilities emerge with a strong sense
of self-worth and confidence. PREETI TABITHA LOUIS takes a psychologist's perspective.
Learning disability is best described as a disorder in which many of the requirements for the
comprehension of spoken or written language are seemingly imperfect. Conditions such as
perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental
aphasia are included here as well. However it does not include learning problems that occur as a
result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, or
environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.
There are several misconceptions about learning disability. For teachers, it means that the child is
lazy, inattentive in class, not motivated to learn or that parents are spending inadequate time for
academic work. Parents tend to look at it as the school's responsibility. They coax teachers to
give individual attention, take remedial classes after school hours, provide tutorials, give extra
home work or work sheets or even burden the child with numerous tuitions. Although, these may
not be new to us it is high time to renew our thinking and think fresh on these disabilities.
A child with a learning disability may find every day activities very difficult to cope with. He
may be slow in copying from the board, doing his homework, reading or spelling words in class
and may therefore anger teachers and parents. Most times, he is singled out in the class, made to
feel unwanted as his incapability is what is always being discussed. The child feels lost in the
classroom and misunderstood at home. He feels
AWARENESS
that he is unable to keep up with the learning pace. He feels uncomfortable, threatened and
insecure. Some children may be fearful of attending school and may refuse to go to school.
These can affect physiologically too. Children may not sleep soundly, may wet their beds and
may withdraw socially. Also, as their differences become more noticed, other children begin
picking on them, bullying them and this hurts their self esteem all the more. Parents are unable to
understand their children because of their own pain in seeing that their child is struggling. They
too, naturally dislike being told that their child needs help.
The term “learning disability” itself has caused a lot of fear and anxiety for many parents. It
means an unending and traumatic journey of having to provide help for their needy child. And
here, the role of a psychologist becomes very important. Listening to them would be the best way
to make them trust any psychologist or a therapist. The psychologist needs to win their trust and
confidence before beginning to help the child.
Any psychologist or therapist will have to assess the skills of the child after a primary diagnosis
is made by the Pediatrician. The child's strengths and weaknesses have to be identified. For this,
it is important that parents too work as co-therapists. It is important to enable parents to see their
children as what they are and not as what they want them to be. Most parents want to find out
their child's weaknesses in order to begin working on these endlessly. This can be an
overburdening exercise indeed. In assisting a child, psychologists/therapists have the
responsibility of enabling parents to re-discover their children, not as children with needs but as
children with capabilities. Parents too will be happy and interested in exploring these areas.
Discovering one's child's talents, skills in painting, music, dance and drama can be a totally
different experience for both parents and for the child. This is when the child begins to see his
capabilities and feels appreciated.
Sibling comparison is yet another problem that needs to be carefully considered. These often
cause feelings of rejection and loneliness, and even tend to be traumatic. Parents must
understand that every child is different and must accept that their child has needs that can be
overcome only if they provide continued support and assistance. Parents must encourage their
child to set small, realistic and achievable goals and continue to work on these. The pleasure in
seeing that the child is able to achieve is the only factor that will build self confidence. Quality
time needs to be spent with children more so, when there are siblings in the family. Giving time
equally for children will also enable resolve conflicts and strengthen sibling relationships.
A child with learning problems will also find socialising a difficult experience. You may agree
with me when I say that these children find conversations difficult to follow and they
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
45
AWARENESS
also shy away from groups of people. Having been made aware that they are “different”, they do
not recognise social cues and therefore appear as very dependent children. They find large
gatherings uncomfortable and older children usually avoid them. Befriending children in the
neighborhood, inviting classmates' home and doing academic work together can reduce some of
these difficulties. Through all these, the child develops a sense of belonging and feels accepted.
Thanks to the advancements in science and technology, today there are various assistive
techniques available. Rather than doing monotonous worksheets, the child can do the same on a
computer. Animated software for science, English and arithmetic can be used to make learning a
less cumbersome experience. Writing essays during tests could be replaced by multiple choice
answers. Plain paper could be used instead of ruled sheets as these allow more space and
organisation in handwriting. Highlighters can be used while reading that not only increase
attention but would also enhance vocabulary and reading comprehension. Experience based
learning with the help of pictures and objects can help the child understand concepts in
arithmetic. Listening to the phonetics of words through a tape or a computer can enhance
speaking and listening skills.
The school should be willing and ready to accommodate changes. Schools will have to structure
their curriculum so that certain subjects can be made optional and the evaluation procedures too
can be modified to suit the needs of the children. Child developmental centres are present all
over the country and getting help is not too far. These centres have trained professionals who can
cater to the child's needs. Every program is tailored to suit the needs of the child and parents
have access to information and they too can be actively involved in planning intervention
programs. A small difference can go a long way in changing many lives and providing these
opportunities can fulfill many dreams.
To me, a child with learning disability is one who has not understood his potential and who has
not discovered himself. He cannot do this by himself unless parents are willing to look beyond
what they see. Parents need to be taught to work with the child at every stage of life – to
overcome obstacles, to set realistic goals and to achieve these. In doing so, they enable the child
to rebuild his broken sand castles. Every child has the right to dream and it is our responsibility
to make the dream a reality.
BOOK REVIEW
Title: From street to hope
Authors: Neela Dabir, Naina Athale
Publisher: SAGE INDIA
- GIRIJA KUMARABABU
Multi-level insights into the slippery terrain
of lives of street children.
The book “From Street to Hope” gives valuable insight into the lives and challenges of “street
children” – the most vulnerable group of children to be found in any highly urbanised city in the
world today. The street children are purely an urban phenomenon. They are visible on the streets
of all modern metropolitan cities – they are noticed with pity and disdain and sometimes with
horror. Yet, they are not 'visible', as their needs are seldom addressed by the State and they slip
out of many schemes proposed by the State for the welfare of marginalised. There is no globally
accepted definition for street children. They represent a unique world of complexities – physical,
social and emotional. The book, as the authors claim it to be, is “an attempt to gain some multilevel insights into the slippery terrain of street children's life”.
The book includes the findings of the cross cultural, research on street children's organisations
that was published by urban initiatives, University of Southern California, in 2005.
The authors, Ms. Neela Dabir and Ms. Naina Athale are both from Tata Institute of Social Work,
Mumbai, an institution that has earned a place for itself through its remarkable and path-breaking
contribution to the development of street children in the city of Mumbai.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part gives a comprehensive detail about the issue of
street children and the second part deals with the findings of the research study.
After an elaborate discussion about the difficulties involved in defining “street children” the
authors indicate the paradigm shift in the understanding of the concept of street child. The need
to move to a rights-based participatory approach of working with them is emphasised.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
47
BOOK REVIEW
The description of the background of the three cities, viz, Los Angeles, Nairobi and Mumbai is very informative and
gives a vivid picture of the lives of street children in these three metropolises in the world.
Family violence, neglect, physical and psychological abuse has been given as the primary cause in all the regions for
the emergence of the phenomenon of street children. War, unrest, and social revolutions have had their impact on the
lives of children, wrecking the fabric of family life and driving children on to the streets.
Street children are victims of violence and abuse, by the family, the society and the very institutions that have been
established to protect them. The link between child poverty and the denial of basic rights to Survival, Development
and Protection as enshrined in the CRC (Civil Rights Commission) is well brought out and is a gentle reminder to
State authorities and planners that an equitable distribution of resources and opportunities for livelihood is a
precursor for effectively addressing the problems of street children.
In the U.S., the Aid to families with dependent children has been the most important programme for children.This
system has now been replaced by the Adoption and Child Welfare Act of 1980 and the Child Support Enforcement
Amendment Act of 1984. In Kenya, there exists large “cash Transfer Programme for orphan and vulnerable
children”, which provides monthly financial assistance to orphan and very poor families and families affected by
HIV/AIDs.
In India, the Integrated Programme for street children has now become a part of the larger ICPS (Integrated Child
Protection Scheme).
The need to evolve different strategies for addressing the problems of delinquent children and children who have
engaged in criminal behavior from the other larger section of street children in dire need of welfare and protective
services is clearly indicated. In Kenya, a separate system for dealing with children charged with criminal acts is yet
to be evolved. In India, the Juvenile Justice Amendment Act of 2006 stipulates that the Government must constitute
a Child Welfare Committee and a Juvenile Justice Board in every district in India. This is yet to be established in
many states.
The Role of International Organisations like UNICEF and ILO has been reported in Chapter VI. It is to be noted
that UNICEF “is not playing any significant role in USA” and that U.S is still not a signatory to the UN Convention
on Child Rights.
In Kenya and India, UNICEF has been an active partner in developing and implementing innovative strategies for
child protection, especially for street children.
As far as ILO is concerned, the authors are of the opinion that all the work situations of street children should be
considered as Worst Forms of Child Labour. Both Kenya and India have been partners in the ILO-IPECL
Programmes.
This research takes a look at the role of Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) in responding to the problem of street
children and their effectiveness. The central theme is that the street children benefit from the religious and cultural
practices offered by FBOs.
It is a pioneering study throwing light on the theological motivations for working with street children. Faith is a
very personal knowledge and triggers the development of social skills and more importantly the self-image. The
positive results of the study clearly indicate that children gain enormously and experience a change in their attitude.
It emerges very clearly that children require an adult, a capable, constant adult figure, to whom they can get
emotionally attached, thereby fulfilling their intrinsic need of belonging. In non religious NGOs, covered by the
study, the organisers have been found to have a profound impact on the children. The role of FBOs needs to be
studied further in the present social climate. It is true that they have the largest presence, ready-made human
resource that can be deployed by the organisation. However, care needs to be taken not to tread on others or incite
religious acrimony.
The book is well researched and impeccably written. The information is not too subjective or prejudiced, which has
enriched the presentation of facts. The book is of great interest to all those working with the street children.
BOOK REVIEW
The Sense of an Ending
- PARESH PALICHA
Title: The Sense of an Ending
Author: Julian Barnes
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
W hen you finish reading some books, they leave you depressed as if you went to drop a dear
friend to the railway station and you still feel that the train left before you could say a proper
goodbye. It is the same feeling that you get, when you finish reading The Sense of an Ending by
Julian Barnes that won the prestigious Booker Prize this year.
I'm not the right person to discuss the literary merits or demerits of this deceptively thin book
(about 150 pages only), as I'm not an avid reader (I feel lucky if I complete 5 books in a year), or
comment on whether it can be called a novel or just a novella. Seeing the size of the book I
promised myself to finish reading it in a single sitting of about 6 to 7 hours. But it took me some
15 to 20 hours over a weekend, with couple of meals and toilet breaks. I even had a couple of
false starts when I stopped reading after the first 15 pages (I'd feared that the jinx of leaving the
book incomplete with the bookmark intact had returned), before the lucky weekend.
This book deals mainly with memory. It shows how we mix up imagination to make our own
history, as the years go by, in order to make it comfortable for us to live with. In the bargain, how
devastating it can be when the reality of the past confronts us breaking up the comfort of our
imagined history.
The reason I say it is deceptively thin is because it isn't simple as its size may make you believe
and if you are the kind of reader who likes to go over a passage a few times just to savour its feel
or beauty, you may fail in the race against time. Here is one example that appears (about the
passage of time) in the first page itself:
Is there anything more plausible than a second hand? And yet it takes only the smallest pleasure
or pain to teach us time's malleability. Some emotions speed it up, others slow it down;
occasionally, it seems to go missing – until the eventual point when it really does go missing,
never to return.
There are such nuggets of wisdom virtually on every page, that make you stop and ponder for a
while.
When I finished reading it, it just left me wishing that it had been written a few years earlier. So,
I could have avoided making a few of the mistakes that I have, and have remained with me as
hurtful memories.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
49
INSIGHT
CIRCLE OF SUPPORT
WALKING HAND-IN HAND
- VAISHNAVI VENKATESH
During my college days, Tuesdays and Saturdays were special days of the week for me. A
pleasant break from the routine of college life - two hours on each of these days was set aside for
some unadulterated fun. From finger painting to waltzing across the lawns and having
impromptu singing competitions, Tuesdays and Saturdays became responsible for changing the
way I perceived small pleasures in life. The initiative that brought about this change - Circle of
Support.
Circle of Support is a relatively new concept in our society. Although it has been around since
the 1980’s in the United States and Canada, few initiatives have been seen in India. A Circle of
Support is basically a community group which consists of two to three members and a 'focus
person'. The program is aimed at supporting and promoting the social participation of the focus
person. Since this initiative was linked to an exchange program in my university, I had the
opportunity to be a part of two circles of support groups, one in India and the other in Germany.
INSIGHT
My first Circle of Support was with an Indian focus person. She was a fifteen-year old girl with
autism spectrum disorder. Due to the severity of her condition, she was unable to converse, but
usually let us know what was on her mind through gestures and facial expressions. Initially, I
was uncomfortable with the notion of spending time with a girl who did not communicate very
much. I used to worry about how time would pass because I was prejudiced into believing that
time always flies when there is good conversation. Sure enough, the first few meetings were a
little rocky. There were times when she liked to sit on the swings for the entire duration of the
meeting, and times she refused to come out of the classroom, so we had to spend the entire
meeting sitting with her, coaxing her to come out.
But then, a rocky beginning always paves the way for a smooth journey. A couple of weeks later,
she began to recognise us, wanting to spend time with us. In fact, her teachers told us that she
would get antsy as the time inched slowly towards 2 pm, because she expected us! Together, we
explored a lot of activities. We tried singing, racing one another in a huge playground, going to
the shopping mall and picking out our favourite flavour of ice cream, dancing to peppy music,
craft-making and so many other activities that I had never thought of before! The meetings
seemed to grow shorter and shorter as time began to fly. We began to understand her gestures,
her communication, her wishes, simply by letting her be. My initial belief that conversations
cemented most social interactions was completely refuted; and I couldn't have been happier.
After a period of eleven months, my studies were coming to an end, and so was my stay in the
city. I knew that the Circle of Support would disintegrate eventually, but I never expected it to
make such a huge impact on me. Circle of Support, especially when the focus person has an
autism spectrum disorder (which are mostly characterised by poor social and communication
skills), are usually changed periodically, in order to prevent the members from becoming too
dependent on each other. So it was a bittersweet moment when I had to bid farewell to my focus
person during our final meeting. Although we had been preparing her for this meeting, I still felt
she might have expected us the following week. From the initial meetings that consisted of long
silences to the final meetings peppered with laughter, we had all travelled a very powerful
journey together, one that I will always cherish.
My master's program ended soon after, and I packed my bags to embark on an exchange program
to Germany, where I would be the member of another Circle of Support. With all my memories
and lessons from the previous COS group, I was all charged up to meet a new focus person and
make a new friend. However, much to my surprise, I had to unlearn everything, because the new
circle of support group was completely different from my experience in India. This time around,
our focus person was a twenty three year old man working in the government. He had a less
severe form of autistic spectrum disorder, and was able to talk in both German and English. He
was very shy and found it awkward to interact with girls.
So just like before, the first few meetings were fairly sketchy, as we tried to get to know one
another in the group. We soon began to discover mutual interests and ambitions. Conversations,
this time, became the crux of every meeting. We went to cafes, parks, even to a funfair and tried
out every
INSIGHT
scary ride the fair had to offer! Since the exchange program was only three months long, our
meetings were a few in number. But not once did I ever feel like I was a 'member' along with two
others, and we were with a 'focus person'. We were a group of friends spending time, doing what
we liked best, and enjoying the company of one another. Time proved to be a whirlwind again,
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
51
and our meetings drew to a close.
Though these experiences have been very distinct from one another, they were yet, so alike.
Being a Circle of Support member gave me the scope to be a good peer and a good friend.
'Treatment' of the focus person was never an agenda of the meetings and that probably helped us
all in becoming friends more easily. We were equals. I could see the change in my attitude being
reflected in the eyes of the focus persons. They both became a little less anxious about meeting
new people, and that made the entire experience more than worth it.
Today, my friend (I don't like to address them as focus persons anymore) in India has a new
Circle of Support group. From what I hear, she enjoys these meetings just as much. I'm still in
touch with my friend from Germany, who regularly updates me about his work life, love-life and
his new group. A simple concept like a Circle of Support has made a radical change to the social
behavior of my two friends. For me, Social Inclusion became a word that is synonymous with a
Circle of Support, because without trying very hard to 'include' the person into society, we gained
friends.
LARSEN & TOUBRO AD
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
53
FIRST PERSON
UNDERSTANDING SIBLING ISSUES
A first person account
- PREETHA CHARI SRINIVAS
I am the youngest member of a traditional, middle-class joint family based in Chennai. When I
was 7 months old, I was diagnosed with a hearing disability. This came as a complete shock to
my parents and siblings, and very quickly changed my family's priorities in life.
My elder siblings had to adjust to the fact, that a large portion of our family time, attention and
psychological support was devoted solely to me. My mother, who was not fluent with the
English language before my diagnosis, had to learn the language quickly as the special school I
was enrolled into at the age of 1 year taught me only English. The constant medical attention and
special schooling that I needed from a very young age imposed a significant financial burden on
my parents and impacted my siblings as well. My parents placed strong emphasis on treating me
and my siblings as equals. They made sure I did not have any special advantages over my
siblings when it came to how I was treated in our day-to-day lives. This played a very vital role
in developing my confidence and self-esteem in interacting with the outside world.
As it is normally the case with children with disabilities, my disability limited my chances in
interacting with other children outside my family, and I had a tough time trying to make new
friends. Hence, the interaction between me and my siblings were of great importance to me,
since they were my best friends all through my childhood. My elder sister made it a point to
include me in
FIRST PERSON
every conversation she was involved with, and if it came in any language other than English, she
patiently translated the conversation, word by word or in a condensed form for me. I am sure it
probably created guilt amongst my siblings, but they never mentioned anything about it, to date.
Sadly, when I was growing up, the general awareness on how to interact with disabled children
was pretty poor. My mother tried her very best to stay away from traditional family gatherings or
interactions with the elders, to avoid any unwarranted comments being made about me. As a
result, my siblings too missed out on attending many of these family gatherings. They somehow
had the maturity to understand the reasons for my mother's decision to keep me “shielded” from
snide comments and remarks about my disability. While it was a debatable decision, I am
thankful to my siblings for understanding the reasons behind my mother's decision.
My father made sure that each of us excelled in the education front, as well as in our extracurricular activities. Although I could have had training in classical arts like my elder sister, I
did not want to compete with her in the same field. My father then realised that my hyper
personality needed another outlet – thus, he encouraged me to pursue my deep interest in the
field of sports, resulting in a long career in athletics and tennis. My stint as an athlete helped me
to develop my confidence and self-esteem and it also taught to embrace my wins and losses
sportively. My brother made sure that my competitive bent was honed to perfection. He kept me
on my toes at all times and celebrated my every win and pushed me hard to do better when I was
on the losing side.
My siblings chose to pursue careers in the fields of research in hearing impairment. Driven by
the burning desire to find a solution to the challenge of hearing losses, my sister pursued her
doctorate in bio-medical engineering. Her long-term career was with a leading manufacturer of
digital hearing aids, and through her, I was able to get access to some of the latest hearing-aid
models that were not even available in the market! My sister continues to be a significant source
of help and assistance to me, and I can always count on her as my biggest supporter. My brother
joined the medical field and is now an ENT surgeon. He has been pushing me to go in for
cochlear implants, as he believes it could potentially better my hearing abilities. He has
channelised his passion for hearing loss towards solving hearing related-issues for countless
patients in the United States and India. My father continues to help towards the betterment of the
hearing society at large, by helping disadvantaged parents of hearing-impaired children. He also
continues to work with my former alma-mater, Bala Vidyalaya – The School for Young Deaf
Children once known as Little WoodFord School.
My relationship with my siblings in my formative years were more positive than negative, since
there was a higher level of empathy and maturity on their part and they took great pride in my
achievements. However, they were constantly reminded not to speak about my disability in front
of me, or to use sign language or “actions” as we termed them, in my family. Greater emphasis
was placed on oral communication. My siblings found a way to cope with my disability, as did
my parents. I do not remember my siblings feeling confused or angry about the extra time or
attention my parents had to devote to me. Nor did they mimic my physical or behavioural
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
55
actions during my childhood years. And yes, my siblings were very protective and supportive of
me, in whatever I did with my life.
I would like to underline the importance of a supportive family like mine. There is a great need
for awareness and counseling to help siblings of hearing impaired children to be able to cope
with the issues/pitfalls that can crop up.
PERSONALITY
SKY IS THE LIMIT
Akash has come a long way from being defined by his arm alone, to being defined by his
abilities, writes his wife, SHWETA GOKARN.
My first encounter with Akash was on an unusually chilly morning in June, at the BMCC college
campus, Pune. It was just past 7pm and everyone was rushing towards their classrooms.
Suddenly, I could hear a galloping horse in a distance. Around me, all the students began to look
in the direction of the sound. From the gate entered a boy with a charming smile, confidently
handling the horse…with just one arm! A one-arm wonder, he seemed to me.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
57
PERSONALITY
Akash was seven months old when his present parents met him. They saw him in an ashram that
was meant for girls only, but his sweet smile and innocent face won them over completely. They
adopted him legally, and realised later that if they hadn't done so, he would have been sent to a
remand home. They also learned that when Akash was barely a day old, he was found in a
garbage bin. Due to severe pneumonia and negligence of doctors, he lost his left arm to gangrene
soon after.
Akash's sister recollects her first memories of him. “As a child, I remember him trying to crawl
but in vain, because his right arm alone could not support his weight. In his childhood, he must
have fallen umpteen times…but with every fall, he has worked harder and harder. Today, I see
my brother play cricket, badminton, ride a bicycle…and a motorcycle too!”
Initially, only his family had faith in his abilities. In fact, he was denied admission in school
because the authorities believed he would never be able to compete with other children at sports.
This became ironic, when a couple of years later, Akash won the “Pride of Pune” title, from
among over a thousand children, for his excellent swimming and horse riding abilities! He has
also bagged several intercollegiate awards for dancing.
Today, Akash does everything independently. From buttoning his shirt, to operating the computer
- he rarely needs assistance. It has been an arduous journey, though. As a child, he faced
struggles while writing and holding papers in place. But what used to affect him even more were
the stares and uncomfortable questions people asked him in buses, trains…nearly everywhere.
He has come a long way from being defined by his arm alone, to being defined by his abilities.
I go back to that chilly morning when I saw him enter the college on a horse. My first thought
was, why a horse? His father then told me that Akash was refused a two-wheeler driving license,
hence he took up horse-riding without telling any family member about it! After he mastered it,
he mentioned it at home and told them, “They can't ask me for a license when I'm riding a horse,
right?”. Of course, it was his horse riding instructor who allowed him to ride the horse to college.
A unique solution to gain independence, it would seem.
Today, I see Akash and feel proud of his achievements. From writing alphabets painstakingly to
completing his MBA, he has come a long way. What strikes me most about him however, is his
personality. At his workplace, he is known for his helpful nature and is always sought after for
advice and guidance. He currently works in a landscape development company, and also
PERSONALITY
participates in several guidance sessions and talk shows. One of the topics he discusses is
'Parenting of Adopted Children'.
Another striking aspect of his personality is his compassion for animals. His love for animals has
seen him rescue more than fifty parrots from their illegal sellers. In fact, he rescued a parrot
fledgling that had fallen from a tree and nursed it back to health at home. The parrot stayed with
him for fifteen years, because he couldn't fly.
From saving baby squirrels to leading horse rallies for cancer patients - there are few things
Akash hasn't dabbled in. He now aspires to become an entrepreneur and start businesses that
provide employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. He is also exploring the concept
of Pet Therapy and its benefits for children with Autism.
I write about him, not to showcase his abilities, but use him as an example for other people to
emulate. There truly is nothing that cannot be achieved, if there is will power and perseverance.
That unusually chilly morning in June was special to me. I met Akash, who inspired me beyond
everything else…and in him, I gained a best friend and a life partner.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
59
INTERNATIONAL SCENE
INCLUSIVE SILVER SCREEN
From acting to direction, inclusion is a priority in every step of film-making for Purple Fields
Production. VAISHNAVI VENKATESH explores the organisation and their unique modus
operandi.
While interacting with film makers all over the world for AbilityFest 2011, we stumbled upon an
organisation that works exclusively in the field of cinema and disability. Using the medium of
cinema, the Purple Fields Productions has been working for nearly a decade, in educating and
raising awareness about disability in various developing countries. Elspeth Waldie, the brainchild
of Purple Fields, says that although the organisation was formally established in 2004, the seeds
had been sown almost five years earlier, in 1999. While working at the Centre for the
Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh, Waldie interacted with the members and
the founder Valerie Taylor.
Together, they concluded that although rehabilitation for persons with disabilities was actively
done, problems arose the moment they stepped out of the hospital or school and into the
community. Fear, prejudice and superstitions surrounded them, undoing nearly all the positive
effects of rehabilitation. It was then that Valerie Taylor came up with the idea of using cinema as
a means of raising awareness. By making a Bollywood-styled movie, where the heroine had a
disability, the makers hoped to connect with the audience, give them a means of identifying with
the protagonist, help them see beyond their disability and encourage his/her ability. More
importantly, they wanted the audience to understand that their attitudes towards a person with
disability could affect her well being. Sure enough, the film 'Bihongo' was made in 2000 with
renowned cast and crew from both Bangladesh and India. The movie was screened at theatres, on
television, even in paddy fields and playgrounds, therefore reaching a wide and varied audience
base. In fact, nearly 3000 people watched the screening at a paddy field, making it one of the
biggest and roomiest theatres in a natural surrounding. The movie was continually screened at
various community gatherings, followed by discussions on issues related to disabilities. While
attitudes began to change, it was quickly assessed that the trend could be sustained only if more
INTERNATIONAL SCENE
movies were made in this manner. However, having a celebrity cast and crew for each movie not
only set the group back financially, but also took years to materialise. Hence, Purple Fields
Productions was born with a volunteer crew, digital technology and real life people with
disabilities.
To date, Purple Fields Productions has brought out several inspiring and motivating films that
have had and impact in the audience globally. Every film has been made with a purpose to
address one issue of disability, educate the public in a medium that is well loved and use the
topic to change mindsets and attitudes about disabilities.
Purple Fields Productions has also been involved in raising awareness about HIV and
disabilities. When Purple Fields realised the impact of cinema and the ripples it could create,
they collaborated with an African NGO called Temwa and shot an HIV and AIDS awareness film
that encouraged people to go for testing, medication and counseling. “We were fortunate to meet
three incredibly brave people who were willing to face the camera and state that they had HIV.
They dispelled myths about the test being painful and dangerous, encouraged people to get tested
and take medication that would help them lead normal lives,” says Waldie, as she recollects the
initiative. The movies were taken to audience by boats in remote areas and trucks to ensure a
higher viewership. Sure enough, hundreds of people have stepped forward to get tested and many
lives have been saved due to the awareness created. This project has spurred a series of similar
initiatives in Africa today.
When it comes to accessible cinema, Purple Fields has really impacted the audience who were
previously less exposed to mainstream entertainment. How ever Purple Fields sets an example to
society by being an inclusive organisation, consisting of people with and without disabilities.
Elspeth Waldie finds inclusion to be an absolute essential. “My one concern after making Radio
Bhai was that I did not feel it was right that I had written the script. It should not have been my
voice but that of disabled people themselves. We therefore set up the Wheelchair Users' Film
Group at CRP and trained a number of disabled people in filmmaking so that in future they can
make their own disability advocacy films.”, she says. Members of this group have since, made
various films on issues such as employment and education for persons with disabilities.
Today, the impact of accessible cinema is far reaching. Using a viewer friendly medium, movies
have begun to stimulate debates, raise awareness, transform lives and connect sensitised people
globally. From humble beginnings, Purple Fields Productions is a much loved organisation that
has tapped the potential of films as a tool of change. From Ministries of Health in African
countries, to ordinary film viewers, their movies have reached a varied audience. The positive
feedback that they have received thus far, has spurred them to aim for higher goals.
“We are convinced of the value of film. We aim to train more people from marginalised groups
in film-making, give them a voice and a platform to communicate their message”, says Elspeth
Waldie when asked about her vision for the future of Purple Fields Production. Furthermore, the
group intends to increase the use of drama, because it stimulates discussion and connects better
with the audience. Another initiative is to make many more disability-related films in Africa,
mostly because their voice has been enveloped by fear and superstition. Finally, they would like
to make more movies in sign language in order to disseminate basic but crucial, information such
as AIDS awareness and complete this circle of accessibility.
Accessible movies have the distinction of providing enlightenment through entertainment. It is
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
61
always a delight to know that an inclusive movie can be enjoyed by everyone; but it is an even
bigger delight to know that the movie-making process has been inclusive as well. What better
way to promote accessibility than by ensuring that the film-makers are inclusive? After all,
cinema is all about the passion for life!
OUTLOOK
A SPORTIVE SUPPORT
While sports has gained immense popularity, sports for persons with disabilities is lagging
behind. B S MANJUNATH examines the existing system and suggests changes.
There is a surprisingly low level of participation by developing countries like India in
International Disability Sports. According to noted economics professor and scholar Wladimir
Andreff, this can be attributed to 'lack of sports opportunities and financial support.' Certainly,
because of poor allocation of funds in this area, India, along with many other developing
countries, is not able to support and promote sports for the disabled.
At the international level, there are many committees for disability sports. The 'International
Paralympic Committee (IPC)' and the 'Special Olympics International' are two notable names.
There are also various other agencies working at multiple levels. On the Indian scene, the
Paralympic Committee of India needs urgent revamping, as it is currently under a state of
suspension due to allegations of corruption.
Committees however, need to be supported by strong laws that enable accessibility, and this
includes the field of disability sports. In this regard, things are taking a positive turn today. When
'The Rights of Persons with Disabilities' bill 2011 is implemented, accessibility will become
mandatory in all buildings and venues of public programmes and services. The government
owned public buildings will be given three years to bring about the necessary changes and other
public buildings too will have to be made accessible within five years. This includes educational
institutions as well.
Furthermore, the draft of the Persons with Disabilities Bill (2011) clearly states that students with
disabilities have equal right to participate in recreational sports and activities. Hence, the higher
educational institutions need to ensure the
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
63
OUTLOOK
protection of these rights and provide equal opportunities for students to choose any recreational
and sports activities of their choice.
Nevertheless, the implementation of such facilities will require the support and commitment
from various sectors. The need-of-the-hour is 'strong men of steel', or dedicated individuals who
give voice to this movement and take it forward to create a platform for all persons with
disabilities, and talented sports persons need to be given the opportunity to be a part of national
level sporting bodies, who will, in turn, also help in mentoring budding talents.
The next logical step would be to assess the existing infrastructure and understand how it could
be used to promote sports for disabled persons. Trained personnel can take this forward by
evaluating the various schemes and policies that are already in place.
Thirdly, a field survey can be conducted to understand how many organisations (nongovernmental and private) are already working in this area. On including their suggestions,
requirements and facilities, sports bodies can organise camps, workshops and competitions at
various levels.
Sponsorship is the next major hurdle. Speaking to corporate companies can result in good
sponsor-backed event planning. From national level sporting events to setting up training
institutes, corporate companies can provide the vital technical and logistical support required for
these.
Early training can provide a strong base for sports aspirants. Therefore, the next point to ponder
is to see how infrastructure can be modified to promote sports for the disabled in integrated
education centres at an early stage.
Also, to promote a more transparent culture within sports for the disabled, a database of events
and prominent sports persons can be put in place. Finally, a proper coordination amongst various
stakeholders will greatly help in encouraging the efforts of achievers in sports for the disabled.
All these are suggestions that can help the unsung heroes like Sagarika Hazra (Gold medalist in
aquatics) and Namita Ramesh Jadav (silver medalist in 200 mts race) - both of who were
achievers at the last Olympics - become role models for thousands of aspirants across the
country. The debate however remain: whether India, as a country, is prepared to take forward this
dream of showcasing its sporting talent at international levels in a consistent manner. Let us cross
our fingers and hope for the best!
GLOBE TROTTING
TIME WARP IN JORDON
From meals to monuments to mysteries, Jordan fills the heart and soul of travellers, writes
KALPANA SUNDER
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
65
GLOBE TROTTING
Amman the capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, and features in the
Old Testament! It used to be Philadelphia, one of the cities of the Decapolis, or ten cities from
which Rome administered its Arabian provinces. Its Arabian name 'al hamama, al bayda' that
means white pigeon appeals to me as a poetic name for this white city! For more than a
thousand years, after a devastating earthquake in the year 749 AD, it lay uninhabited. Today,
Amman is a modern Arabian city sprawled over hills with broad boulevards, winding roads and
apartment blocks in stunning, locally mined white limestone. Five star hotels dot the boulevards
of the city, and frenetic building activity is in evidence wherever we go. In 1200 BC, Amman
was 'Rabbath ammon' mentioned in the Old Testament.
Like Rome, Amman was originally built on seven hills but our guide, Salem, tells us that it now
spreads over nineteen hills! It has been the city of many conquerors ranging from Pompey to
Herod and Saladin. The country's bustling capital and home to about two million people is often
overlooked by tourists going to either Petra or the Dead Sea. Amman's prosperity is largely due
to foreign investment in tourism and technology and we are surprised to learn that it actually
imports oil! There are big cutouts of the dashing blue-eyed King Abdullah II and his glamorous
wife everywhere. Amman has always been a cosmopolitan city, a melting-pot of cultures and
nationalities with an influx of immigrants and refugees from Iraq and other Middle Eastern
countries.
At first glance, the white limestone blocks, the curving intersections, and circles look a little
confusing. In the heart of the ancient city is the Jabal Al Qala, the ancient citadel. The ruined
terraces offer a panoramic view of the city. You can see the remains of a Roman temple dedicated
to Hercules, a Byzantine church and an Ummatad palace here. The citadel museum houses
among other exhibits the Dead Sea Scrolls found near the Dead Sea by a Bedouin shepherd.
Amman's 6000 seater Roman theatre, a deep bowl carved into a hill, faces modern street cafes. It
was completed in the second century AD by Marcus Aurelius and has excellent acoustics. If you
are a car freak, you must visit the Royal Automobile Museum where the late king's collection of
cars ranging from Ferraris to an armored Rolls Royce is on display.
We have a Jordanian meal at the Tawaheen Al Hawa, a popular restaurant, where we eat on huge
brass tables set under cavernous Bedouin tents. There are large groups, loud conversation and a
country fair-like ambience. An old woman makes traditional bread like our roomali rotis. The
Jordanian way of eating is to bring out a variety of mezze or appetisers first as a
GLOBE TROTTING
cold course and then a hot course usually when the meat appears. Jordanian cuisine draws on the
cooking of Bedouins, Palestinians, Syrians, Lebanese and Egyptians. Many of the preparations
are garnished with a healthy dose of olive oil, made locally. There is an excellent spread of a
refreshing lime mint drink, tabboulleh, creamy hummus, baba ghanoush made of smoked
aubergine, small filo pastries of spinach and cheese topped off with strong Turkish coffee and
gigantic wheels of water-melon! Optional: A hubble -bubble or hookah at the end with apple or
strawberry flavoured tobacco.
We walk through the old downtown or Souq to soak up the local culture. This is really a
browser's paradise with a display of red and white checked keffiyas (the head scarves), tacky
beaded belly dancers outfits, and exquisite sand art in bottles of different shapes ranging from a
desert landscape to even a Che Guevara! As the lights come on the city looks like it was lifted
straight out of the Arabian nights with minarets, sweet shops and an air of gaiety and merrymaking.
It’s an hour's drive from Amman, through dusty roads, rugged rolling hills, desert shrubs and flat
roofed white limestone homes to Jerash. It used to be called Gerasa, about two thousand years
ago and was part of a confederation of ten cities of the Roman Empire called the Decapolis.
Jerash was buried under the sand and rubble for centuries (till it was discovered by a German
traveller in 1806) and that probably accounts for how well-preserved, it looks today. We walk
into the Oval Plaza or the Forum, the centre of life in ancient times ringed by a host of pillars.
This leads to the Colonnaded Street that runs the length of the city for more than a mile and was
the city's main thoroughfare (known as the Cardo). This
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
67
GLOBE TROTTING
was the place where the people gossiped, walked, socialised and did their shopping. We see the
marks of the chariots deeply etched on the cobblestones from centuries of use. There were the
towering columns with gorgeous carvings and come to the Nymphaeum, an ornate monument to
the water nymphs where virgins bathed for the entertainment of soldiers and merchants. It's a two
storey construction Corinthian pillars and marble slabs which used to have large pools with water
flowing out of carved lion's heads fed by pipes over two kilometers.
We walk past several churches which were built when Christianity took root in the Holy Roman
Empire and they stand alongside the temples dedicated to Artemis and Zeus. The famous
Fountain Court in the centre of a cathedral's atrium is where a festival dedicated to the God of
Wine was held every year, to commemorate Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine. Jordanian
soldiers with chiseled physiques, wearing the traditional red and white checked headdresses are
playing bagpipes to the audience in the ancient South Theatre. This theatre has amazing
acoustics-someone speaking from the centre of the stage can be heard throughout the auditorium.
The afternoon sun throws mysterious shadows around the columns of the Artemis temple. Eleven
columns of this temple still stand, despite several devastating earthquakes.
Jordan is the country where prophets walked and is studded with Biblical sites. We drive to
Madaba called the 'City of mosaics,' one of the destinations in the Holy Land, with the main
attraction, a contemporary Greek Orthodox Church built over the remains of a 6th century
Byzantine mosaic map. This map shows the location of Jerusalem and many other holy sites and
has helped archeologists to identify many modern day places. Close to Madaba is Mount Nebo,
the place where Moses is supposed to have seen the Holy Land. Our high point: a wonderful
panorama of the Jordan valley, rolling hills, far off Jerusalem and the shimmering waters of the
Dead Sea.
Back in Amman, I spend my last evening on Citadel Hill, listening to the sunset prayer calls from
the hundreds of
GLOBE TROTTING
minarets. And I indulge my sweet tooth with knafeh- deep fried goat's cheese covered with crust
of sugar and sprinkled with pistachios. Despite being squeezed between hotspots of the world
like Saudi Arabia and Israel, Jordan is one of the safest countries to visit. Besides the variety of
sights there is to see in this fascinating country, the Middle Eastern allure of Jordan is what one
remembers for a long time to come!
(The author is a Japanese language specialist and travel writer based in Chennai)
FACT FILE FOR AMMAN
How to get there: Royal Jordanian flies to Amman from Delhi and Mumbai. Economy fares are
around Rs 13,000 (return).
Where to stay:
Amman: Stay at the contemporary Hotel Landmark Amman in the business district of Abdali
which has doubles starting from Rs 5600 per night. Contact the hotel on (+962 6) 560 7100 or
visit http://www.landmarkamman.com
Getting Around: Car hire is the best way to see Jordan and recommended.
Currency: Jordanian Dinar (1 JD is roughly equal to Rs 64)
Best time to visit: Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) Jordan can be very
hot, so sunglasses and a hat is a must.
What to shop for: Bedouin silver jewellery, hookahs with apple and strawberry flavoured
tobacco, Bedouin musical instruments, rugs.
Note: Jordan was the first nation in the Middle East to enact disability-specific legislation and
introduce building codes aimed at accessibility.
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69
PRACTICALITIES
MATH COUNTS!
If mathematics is interesting for some, it is a nightmare for many. Dr. T.D. KRISHNAMACHARI
scouts on the creative ways of learning math.
Why does mathematics have to be so boring and hard sometimes? We get this question all the
time. Mathematics is interesting, and once you have figured it out, it is enthralling and is the
easiest thing in the world, and more fun than video games. So, the real questions are: Why don't
you find mathematics interesting? Is there anything you can do about it?
There are lots of ways to go about this. One, is to find some relation between mathematics and
something you're already interested in. Another, is to start off with trying math-related puzzles.
Yet another way, is to realise that you have been able to learn to form connections to things that
you already know.
The best way to understand anything that you are told in a mathematics class is to arrive at the
solution from something that you understand intuitively. That way, each new pattern or formula
isn't a new or isolated fact to be memorised, but just a new way of looking at things you already
know. It is unfortunate that most teachers do not seem to have a gift for making mathematics
come alive or sound fascinating.
The word “mathematics” comes from the Greek word “mathema” which means 'what one learns,
what one gets to know'. Mathematics is used throughout the world as an essential tool in many
fields, including natural science, engineering, medicine and the social sciences. The evolution of
mathematics might be seen as an ever-increasing scene of abstractions. The first
PRACTICALITIES
abstraction was probably that of numbers. In addition to recognising how to count physical
objects, pre-historic people also learnt how to count abstract quantities like time – days, seasons,
years, etc. Elementary arithmetic – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division naturally
followed.
The earliest uses of Mathematics were in trading, land measurements and the recording of time.
More complex mathematics did not appear until around 3000 B.C. The systematic study of
mathematics in it's own right began with the ancient Greeks between 600 B.C and 300 B.C.
Mathematics has since been greatly extended and there has been a fruitful interaction between
mathematics and science, to the benefit of both fields.
In this context, it will be worthwhile to recollect the history of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a leading
figure amongst the mathematicians of the 20th century. He was a luminary and a genius,
although he was self-taught. He created monumental works of profound value, containing many
challenges for posterity. In the firmament of mathematics, he rose like a meteor and dazzled the
contemporary mathematical community. Learning about great mathematicians like Ramanujam
will certainly help in developing and sustaining an interest in the subject.
Another point in favour of mathematics is that it can be applied to real-world problems, making
its use very relevant to everyone.
One of the things that must be remembered is that mathematics is largely a game. It’s a game that
works in accordance to a set of rules that we make up and the kind of consequences that follow,
from these rules. Obviously, no single approach can work for everyone. It would be easier to
embrace it if it were presented as a game where you make up your own questions and answer the
questions that are interesting to you, rather than a collection of techniques to be memorised.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
71
FLIPSIDE
GIZMANIA
- SNEHA PRABHU
Waiter at South Indian eatery: One sambar-vada, one paper plain dosa, one coffee by-two.
Confirm? *Tap-tap at an iPod Touch*
*Sync*
Head cook in kitchen: *Beep beep of his ipod Touch* Ah order for table 2. Coming right up!
Welcome to the age of technology. Okay, it's a little unfair to call any age that… every age is
always more technologically advanced than its previous one. But the scene above is for real. At a
popular sit-down fast food restaurant in Bangalore, waiters punch in orders from a menu on their
iPods. They sync with the iPods in the kitchen. Ten minutes later, your order emerges - much
faster than if the waiter had to walk to the kitchen and yell out his orders, half of which would be
garbled in the din of the kitchen.
Gone are the days when possession of a scientific calculator made you the ultimate tech geek.
Those bulky cell-phones with pull-out antennae have been lost to oblivion. It's perfectly alright
to wear your chappals around your computer… heck, you can lie in a sandpit and type away on
your laptop, and… does anyone really need a landline phone anymore?
FLIPSIDE
This is the age where milkmen flaunt music phones, illiterate maids know how to operate high-end washing
machines, and kids in kindergarten need laptops to do their projects. Children are born these days equipped
with all the technology know-how that allows them to yank their parents' gizmos and operate them with ease.
So much so, that the parents, who up until then thought their engineering degrees made them the ultimate
gadget gurus, are left open-mouthed, and they're helpless as the tot breaks child locks faster than they can
make them.
My company did this really awesome thing last month: they decided to share the year's profits by giving
everyone an equal allowance to spend on things that would make us more productive. This was to thank us for
how productive we'd been all year, and aimed at gearing us up for further productivity in the coming year. I'm
stressing on the word 'productive' because this came to be known as the productivity allowance and was
probably the single greatest distraction that caused the aforesaid productivity to slump to an all-time low. For
the next two weeks, we forgot we had work to do - all we did was talk about what wonderful new gadgets we'd
buy. Each of us spouted technical specifications like the salesmen at electronics stores. We each had a very
generous sum that came to us like an unexpected windfall, with very clear guidelines on how to spend it. Our
finance guys flatly refused to let people use the money to pay off loans, buy big fancy cameras or purchase
furniture. Some people chose to spend it on series of technical books, some enrolled for language classes or
signed up for online technical classes, but nearly everyone splurged on electronics. I think the guys at Apple
and Samsung must've been shell-shocked to see a spike in sales well before Christmas. Everyone now
possesses a high-end cell phone and an iPad or a tablet - things we'd probably not have bought with our own
money for the next ten years.
While I'm enjoying discovering the wonderful world of online apps on my super-large cell phone and rereading Wuthering Heights on my iPad, I can't help but wonder if my life was much simpler before the unproductivity allowance came about. I could whip out my dilapidated cell phone and tap-tap text messages in
my sleep and not care if it crashed to the ground while I dozed. I loved the excitement of buying new books at
the bookstore and sniffing in deeply the wonderful smell of paper fresh off the press. I didn't carry work
around with me like I do now - my work laptop syncs with my phone and my iPad, so I'm basically always
surrounded by work stuff - there's no getting away. I can report every minor event in my mundane life on
social networks on the go. In fact, I don't have to even raise a finger - tweets go out based on my location, and
I'm immediately bombarded by comments from friends around the globe, equally hooked to their devices. Do I
really want everyone to know where I am and what I'm doing, literally all the time?
It's lovely being in touch and having the ability to see a friend in another country on the net as often as I like. I
like having newsfeed on the go and never missing a friend's birthday. But having the best of devices can be
really stressful, and that's the last thing we need. What's worse - the expensive gadgets we take so much pride
in get outdated faster than fashion in clothes. What's cool today is relegated to near-extinction tomorrow.
Technology is a wondrous world and there's plenty to learn and appreciate, but it robs us of some smaller, more
important joys. I doubt if my kids will ever play a board game. They're probably never going to see a pack of
cards or the video games of yore. We will not have large, fancy bookshelves in our study to drown ourselves in
when we feel blue. Calculators, diaries and watches are redundant. Cassettes, video tapes and CDs belong in
museums. And we'll only be telling our grandchildren about those large things that we loved poring over,
called maps.
So yes, technology has taken over our lives and thoughts. It has encouraged innovation and instilled creativity
and well-roundedness. We must learn to live with the side-effects that it brings, and progress in thought. We
cannot put an end to the pace or direction that it is advancing in. As John Tudor said, technology makes it
possible for people to gain control over everything, except over technology.
Success & ABILITY JAN – MAR 2012
73
ABILITY
FOUNDATION
Looking Beyond Disabilities & Breaking Barriers Together
INFORMATION. MEDIA.
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e-mail : ability@abilityfoundation.org website : www.abilityfoundation.org
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