Success & ABILITY
India’s Cross-disability Magazine
October-December 2011
Rs. 30
LIGHTS!
CAMERA!
ACCESS!
ABILITYFEST 2011
GRUNDFOS AD
Editor: Jayshree Raveendran
Deputy Editor: Janaki Pillai
Associate Editors: Seena Raveendran, Vaishnavi Venkatesh
Assistant Editors: Padmini Natarajan
Preetha Chari Srinivas
Senior Designers: RG Kishore Kumar
ILLUSTRATION:Prabhakar
Correspondents:
India:
Bangalore:
Gayatri Kiran Ph: 09844525045
Ali Khwaja Ph: 080 233302000
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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,
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e-mail: magazine@abilityfoundation.org
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without the prior written permission of Ability
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make any changes or corrections without changing the
Contents
4 Stanzas Poignant thoughts highlighted in
verse.
7 Cover Feature AbilityFest 2011… Lingering
sights and scenes.
18 Breaking Barriers Bertha Gyndykes Dkhar
from Meghalaya: a paradigm in positive
attitude.
21 The International Scene An all-inclusive
amusement park in Texas, an example to be
emulated.
25 Awareness Bare facts about Tourette's
syndrome.
29 Wellness:An eye-opener on the benefits of
naturopathy.
31 Mindset The nuances of eating disorders
and their implications.
34 Caring Concerns BarrierBreak Technologies
forging ahead with accessibility and assistive
technologies.
37 People & Places Aishwarya Nair's vivid
account of her mesmerising trip to Italy.
40 Health An insight on good dental health
from tots to teens.
44 Spotlight Play therapy – an immensely
beneficial pathway to children's difficulties.
47 Ponderings A spectator's glimpse of
Cambodia.
50 Flipside Unravelling the world of feisty
chicks and the get-rich- quick generation.
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.
THE SAVERA – FONDUE AD
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Friends,
We are in the last quarter of yet another year which is going to whizz past before we even realise it...
bringing in its wake, another year with its own quota of promises, surprises triumphs and
disappointments.
Time to retrospect and introspect, perhaps? However, I do believe that we can say with conviction that
we have moved on in the right direction and can now look back with quiet satisfaction and look forward
with eager anticipation for better times to come.
I am delighted to say that audio description of mainstream cinema, has caught the attention of several
discerning, sensitive film makers... this is something that really caused ripples at AbilityFest : India
International Disability Film Festival, this year... our fourth and biggest edition to date.
Making a statement, as it were, on the importance of accessible cinema... Disabled people's rights to the
full freedom to enjoy what we want and when we want, without any compromise, and at the same time,
enhance the cinema viewing experience for others as well. The venue of our Fest was the beautiful,
state-of-art and much sought after multiplex in Chennai, Sathyam Cinemas... made fully accessible with
ramps for wheelchair users, with every film captioned, enabling hearing impaired viewers to enjoy the
beauty of dialogues... and several films audio described to expand the movie watching experience to all
visually impaired persons in the hall. For me... watching the latest Tamil blockbuster “Deiva Thirumagal”
with captions and, simultaneously enjoying the delight of the visual impaired persons watching it with
the Audio Description... was really “double the treat in every sweet”! The pages that follow in this issue
of “Success & ABILITY”, tell you all about this.
I think we can certainly look back with pride, with all the wisdom won, the knowledge gained, the
mindsets changed... with every step we've taken and milestones crossed in the disability sector.
'Inclusion'- a serious and much needed provision, has become the buzzword today and has settled in
every sphere of life, more than ever before. In tune with this, you'll find in this issue, a wide variety of
addressing all people, rather than just disabled people. Here then, is a kaleidoscope of write-ups
involving people, places, events, medicine, et al. A time to be serious, as well as a time to have fun.
Adieu, until we meet again... in 2012... with renewed hope and anticipation.
Jayashree Raveendran
j.raveendran@abilityfoundation.org
STANZAS
POEMS
-
JEFFREY M KELLEN
The Wrong Impression
if you ask me,
I'll tell you that I have lots of friends,
oh yes i do!
they love to laugh and joke with me,
oh yes they do,
i flap my arms, i wriggle my fingers,
oh yes i do,
and they laugh right along,
oh yes they do!
i hear loud noises and i scream and shout,
oh yes i do,
and my friends they laugh and joke with me,
oh yes they do!
the lights at school, they flicker and are bright, and cause me to bang my head,
oh yes i do!
and my friends they laugh and
joke with me,
oh yes they do!
my grandma, she put a wooly sweater on my one time (silly grandma, she didn't know), and it
made me
itch terribly so,
i hollered and fussed and cried,
oh yes i did,
but my friends,
they just laughed and joked with me,
oh yes they did,
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
4
STANZAS
i tried looking at letters and numbers once, all jumbled up they were,
and I did things that weren't so nice,
oh yes I did!
but my friends, they just laughed and joked with me,
oh yes they did!
so you see, I have lots of friends,
lots of them, everywhere i go,
school, park, or mall,
they all like to laugh and joke with me,
and my friends,
you know, they wouldn't laugh and joke with me,
if they weren't my real friends…
Would they?
Along Came Autism
Perfect world, serene life,
Clipping along, keeping in stride,
And along came autism.
Jumbled mess, confusing emotions,
No chance to hug,
no chance to talk,
And along came autism.
Jealous thoughts, fruits of envy,
Shattered dreams,
hopeless nights,
And along came autism.
Tantrums galore, feelings of discord,
No chance of recourse,
nowhere to plead my case,
And along came autism.
Visions untold, sights unseen,
Kaleidoscope world, tilt-a-whirl fantasies,
Daytime dreaming, nighttime creations,
And along came autism.
New perspectives, unique takes on life,
Fresh attitudes, proper contexts,
Art from afar, music that is anew,
And along came autism.
Enriched lives, embellished souls,
Blessed parents, blissful families,
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
5
Wondrous spirits, auspicious lives,
And along came autism.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
6
STANZAS
Collecting Life
-
SRIVIDYA SURYANARAYANAN
Longing on the shores of eternal life
Gathering remorse and cheers alike
Singing new songs representing life
Hardly aware of my growing mirth
At the comedy of life being enacted
On the divergent stage of reality
Casting long and lone shadows of past
On sorrow-filled eyes that keep staring
Straight into the depth of my empty soul
Glancing off-beat movement of sound
Of casual conversation grips winding mind's
Vacant space as conquered fertile grounds
When happiness peeps at every window
That remains open in the house of
human soul
White light pours like a stream
inside the being
While the legless dust particles
climbs and floats
Aiming to reach for the sun's
burning zenith
Clearly making way for
new understanding.
With…
-
SHRITHI MALAIKA NARAYAN
"With no sight I can see the colors of life,
With both eyes I can see the sorrow of dying.
With no ear I can hear the sound of music,
With both ears I can hear the sound of death.
With no hand I enjoy the sense of working,
With both hands I can feel the joy of killing.”
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
7
COVER FEATURE
INDIA INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY FILM FESTIVAL
ABILITYFEST 2011
-
VAISHNAVI VENKATESH
The darkness of the hall envelops you. The air is thick with anticipation. The atmosphere electric
with excitement. The smell of popcorn wafts towards you. You hear the soft fizz of the cola can.
The screen suddenly lights up and you sit back and allow yourself to be transported into a
different world - the magical world of cinema.
The magic of cinema is infectious. I can still recollect the excitement with which I saw my first movie in a
theatre, The Lion King. I could feel the same child-like excitement coming back fifteen years later, on
every single day of AbilityFest 2011.
Film festivals in India have always been associated with a select section of the public which looks beyond
just entertainment in movies. But to me, a film festival is for those who love cinema, or cinemaniacs, as
I'd like to call them. cinemaniacs thrive on watching back-to-back movies for days in a row. They delve
into the magical world of the protagonist, share their emotions, fight their struggles and triumph with
them. This year, at AbilityFest 2011, I watched audiences being converted to cinemaniacs. With the
close of each screening, I watched these cinemaniacs emerge from the theatres, eager to discuss the
movies, wiping off that last tear off after a particularly touching ending, beaming from ear to ear, as they
recollected the best bits of the movie. These people were however more than mere cinemaniacs.
AbilityFest 2011 can be undoubtedly credited for having produced sensitised cinemaniacs. By turning an
average film-goer into an advocate for accessible cinema, AbilityFest 2011 helped me understand the
true power of the reel screen.
The audience in AbilityFest 2011 painted a bright mosaic of varied backgrounds. As Shantha Gabriel, a
film enthusiast and a certified cinemaniac said, “The audience was a good mix of young school children
from mainstream and special schools, some
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challenged by physical disabilities, young adults, senior citizens, film buffs, students from film technical
institutes, those working with NGOs, the corporate world that was eager to be seen supporting
initiatives under the banner of corporate social responsibility... a good number of men and women...in
short, a fairly good representation of that section of society that has no pretence about itself nor any
false sophistication, and does not appear at a 'do' to be seen.”
Truer words haven't been stated, because the diversity of the audience astounded me. During a
particular screening, I happened to be standing outside the theatre when a group of boys got out.
Knowing that the movie had just ended, I raced over to ask them what they thought of it, but before I
could talk to them, I noticed that they were all gesturing to each other. It took me a second to realise
that they were communicating in sign language! A group of schoolchildren who got out after them were
talking about the movie, mirroring the same expressions, but with speech. Watching this contrast made
me understand the true importance of something like captions and subtitles, that most of us take for
granted, unless we watch a foreign film.
The audio description too, played a huge role in turning the audience into cinemaniacs. Small, seemingly
inconsequential scenes were brought to life by the vibrancy of a narrator, who described the scenes of
the Tamil blockbuster Deiva Thirumagal so eloquently. I had the opportunity to interact with a group of
visually impaired people, or the 'men of the moment'. They expressed utter delight about being
empowered enough to be able to 'watch' the movie without the help of friends who doubled up as
narrators. With adjectives ranging from 'super' to 'wonderful' and 'brilliant', I couldn't help but wonder
what an ardent fanbase the film-makers might have lost out due to inaccessible cinema. In fact, the
director of -Deiva Thirumagal, A.L.Vijay,
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
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COVER FEATURE
who also inaugurated AbilityFest 2011 and released the fest book, watched the movie and agreed that
the audio description truly transformed the experience.
Director Vijay's sensitivity in making available his movie for audio description and being there as well, on
the day of the inaugural, to present his film was really appreciated.
The films, of course, played a huge role in this conversion to cinemania. Films that had a strong message
with the powerful storyline touched a chord with many a cinemaniac. Role models were fashioned out
of protagonists and dialogues quoted in conversations. From Temple Grandin, the story of a feisty young
girl with autism who takes the male-dominated world of animal husbandry by storm, to the Soloist, the
story of a unique friendship between a musically talented schizophrenic and a journalist, every film
carried a simple, but strong message - We are different, but no less.
Short films and documentaries were screened along with feature length films. From the charming
Australian film Anything You Can Do that dealt with the strong friendship of two boys, to a very unique
animated film called Fixing Luka about sibling rivalry and love…all short films injected a booster shot of
optimism and vibrancy into the screenings. The Silent National Anthem that was played before each
screening stuck a huge chord with the audience that some people came into every screening just to
watch the national anthem.
The entire fest was peppered with instances which reinforced the wonder of accessible cinema. From
facilitating the wheelchairs being rolled into the theatre for various screenings, to making sure that
every caption is correctly placed for maximum visibility, the technicality and logistics involved in making
the fest accessible mind-boggled me. But the enthusiasm and excitement that people showed before
and after every screening made every sleepless night worth it!
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The four day film extravaganza was delightfully wrapped up with the valedictory performance by A.R
Rahman's students from his K.M.Music Conservatory presented by the Maestro himself. The students
upheld their mentor's legacy and an electrifying performance ensued, as each of the “maestros-inmaking” took the audience into a parallel world of symphony.
The finale was also highlighted by the announcement of the winners of '60 Seconds to Fame!'
competition. The theme of this year was 'Breaking Barriers'. C Madhavan bagged the first place for his
movie See You!, which was moving in its stark simplicity and poignant quality of the brief interaction
between a girl who can see and a boy who cannot.
The title of the second best film was given to R.Rangasayee for The National Anthem in Hindi with Indian
Sign Language for its ability to transcend the barrier of language. The third place was given to Kiruthiga
for her movie Sand Castle, for its simple idea that underlined the access and acceptance of disability
from a child's perspective.
As Angshu Jajodia, a jury member of the panel for '60 Seconds to Fame!' addressed the audience
consisting of the winners and participants of the competition, “Telling a poignant story in sixty seconds
is a challenge and congratulations for being able to do that, but the fact that we're all here shows
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that we are sensitised towards the issue of disabilites, therefore we are all winners.”
So did we achieve what we set out to do? Absolutely. And more, I would say. The impact of the fest
went even further reaching than any of us had thought initially. Filmmakers whose films had been
screened, promoted AbilityFest 2011 proudly on their websites, urging people to participate. We formed
a unique bond with such like-minded filmmakers who are working globally to make accessible cinema.
One such instance was of Bence, the protagonist of the Hungarian film Bence – to meet a man with
Down Syndrome. When the producers of the film informed Bence that his movie would be screened in
India, he expressed his delight that his movie had reached audiences as far as India. He even sent his
best regards, along with a beautifully clicked photograph of the Hungarian sky (photography is Bence's
passion and the movie is based on this as well.) This knowledge that AbilityFest has so many strong
counterparts across the world, each working in their own way to promote accessible cinema, gives us
the strength and grit to make the forthcoming fests better and bigger.
Our own audience responded positively to the fest. “The movies really gave us a different perspective
from what we had imagined. Disability was always given negative and a pitiable connotation in society,
but it is actually about celebrating diversity”, said a member of the audience who became a regular that
week.
Even the participants of the '60 Seconds to Fame!' were very influenced by the fest. “Despite having
been shortlisted earlier and being a regular participant in the competition, this time, AbilityFest really
taught me what 'breaking barriers' should be all about. It changed my perspective of disability and
inclusion entirely”, said one of the finalists.
So from school children to amateur filmmakers, from corporate employees to the projection technicians
at Sathyam Cinemas (who watched every screening very religiously and took a lot of effort in making
sure things began on time and went on smoothly…kudos to them!), the fest has impacted a wide range
of audience. There was a bittersweet joy in telling people that they couldn't watch a movie because the
theatre was already house full! AbilityFest 2011 has indeed, unleashed a new generation of sensitised
cinemaniacs!
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COVER FEATURE
Have you HEARD the latest movie?
-
YASHASVINI RAJESHWAR
Picture this…
“A busy highway. Cars are moving at high speeds. It is late in the evening, and all that can be seen are
headlights glaring at one another. A milestone appears at the side of the road. Suddenly, a car stops near
this milestone. The door opens. A man steps out reluctantly, feeling lost. He waits, as if someone else
were to get down from the car. The car door shuts abruptly and before the man realises, it speeds away.
The man begins to run behind the car desperately. Traffic is coming at him from all directions, but he
doesn't notice. He cries out loud and keeps running behind the car. He stumbles and falls, watching as
the car disappears around a bend. He stares helplessly at the road ahead. He finally faints in exhaustion.
Cars continue to pass him as no one notices this man lying on the road”.
How familiar was this scene to you? If you have seen Deiva Thirumagal, the recent Tamil blockbuster,
this will remind you of the opening scene. However, if you haven't seen it, by just listening to this
description, you can visually recreate the scene in your mind. This is the power of audio description in
cinema. Audio description is but the verbal depiction of visual cinema, thereby ensuring that no stone is
left unturned to give the viewer maximum cinematic experience.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
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COVER FEATURE
Cinema has always been such an integral part of our culture. Bollywood is known around the world for
being a riot of colour, song, dance and (melo)drama. Over the last few years, we have also begun to
embrace international cinema with renewed fervor with film festivals catering to every reason and
season, gracing us with their presence, more and more often.
For us, going for a movie is almost an exercise of building social relationships and ties. Come Diwali,
Pongal, Id, Christmas, New Year…the festive seasons are largely writ with new releases for the movie
loving public. Film makers vie with one another, trying to secure the best release dates around these
festivals. After all, for us Indians, cinema itself is a celebration.
Then again, there are people who cannot be part of this cinematic celebration. A section of society
which loses out on many of the features that cinema offers – simply because these features are
inaccessible. Audio description offers full access to the joy of watching movies for the visually impaired
persons, which at other times, at best, is a half-way task. Sure, they enjoy it, experience it, and have the
time of their lives in cinema halls… but it's like eating half a meal… a feeling of dissatisfaction prevails.
Here is where audio description perfectly bridges the divide. Cinema, as we all know, is in essence, very
visual. People emote with facial expressions, love is expressed through scenic songs, and action takes
place with mind-boggling visual effects. Capturing the essence of this, on audio, helps to put the pieces
of the jigsaw puzzle in the right places.
When captions and subtitles were first introduced to cinema, it catered to the needs of not only people
who were not too conversant in a language to understand movies better, but in the bargain, aided a
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COVER FEATURE
large section of people who were hearing impaired. With the advent of audio description, this
accessibility became even more holistic.
The idea behind audio description is simple. Scenes that are purely visual are described. These
descriptions are inserted between dialogues so as not to interfere with the regular audio track of the
movie. Often, there are two ways in which the audio described track can be heard: either transmitted
along with the regular movie to ensure that everyone in the theatre is able to hear the audio
description; or transmitted using an FM transmitter that ensures that only those who tune their radios
to a particular frequency can hear it. The latter option is more viable in commercial theatres, where the
audience is a mixed crowd and the movie becomes accessible for all.
Globally, audio description is a well-known concept. Movies have been audio described in UK by the
Royal National Institute of Blind People. In fact, even Australia has now started releasing all its
Hollywood movies simultaneously with audio description. Audio description is a technique that can be
incorporated in film-making right at the outset, making it possible for a simultaneous release. In fact, the
Royal National Institute of Blind People, UK, regularly uses audio description for Bollywood films as well,
which are in high demand with the audiences there.
At AbilityFest, therefore, it has been a giant step towards totally accessible cinema and it is certainly a
very positive step that Indian film makers are slowly getting sensitised to. Even in the previous editions
of AbilityFest, audio described movies were a highlight. At AbilityFest 2007, when Liz Crow's Nectar was
screened with audio description, it was received well by the audience. Then during AbilityFest 2009,
Ability Foundation, in association with Saksham Trust and Aamir Khan Productions, screened Taare
Zameen Par, which caused a flutter amidst all who attended and turned out to be a revelation of sorts.
This became the first Indian movie to be screened with audio description… and that too, at a
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COVER FEATURE
mainstream level. Besides having given permission to allow his movie to be audio described, Aamir Khan
also took a step forward in the field of accessible cinema, to the extent that, last year, the DVD and blueray version of his movie Peepli [Live] was released with the options of audio description and captioning,
for the benefit of the visual as well as the hearing impaired. Aamir Khan himself noted that it was an
ironic situation where Indian cinema is a major source of entertainment, despite its unfriendly format
for persons with disabilities.
The movement had begun!
Then came AbilityFest 2011, when the first Tamil movie and a recent award winning, blockbuster at
that… Deiva Thirumagal with audio description, courtesy Saksham Trust, flagged off AbilityFest 2011
with a bang. Sensitisation of mainstream cinema on the issue of access for all, was a hit with the film
makers present. The director of the film, A.L.Vijay watched and “heard” his own movie with amazement
that evening and said that it was only now he realised how much value, audio description could add and
the enormous difference it could make, to a movie.
The visually impaired persons in the audience were enamoured. They loved it and felt empowered in
more ways than one… for the first time, enjoying a movie completely, without having to ask their
companions to explain the silent happenings. They came out of the theater beaming, after having
watched a movie in its entirety, and stressed on the importance and the wondrous difference that such
techniques made and were hopeful that, soon, such technology be used freely to make all cinema
accessible.
Although in every edition of AbilityFest: India International Disability Film Festival, commercially popular
movies linked to the theme of disability have been screened with audio description, we at Ability
Foundation, are well aware that these are just baby steps taken in this direction. We are determined to
work in this direction to the day when commercial 'masala' flicks should be made accessible. Access in
every sense of the word. Access for every person with disability, where she/he can go and buy a ticket
for any movie and watch it without having any negative experience or missing out on any aspect of the
movie.
We are however, optimistic… and within reason too. The trend is slowly, but surely beginning. Asserting
the right to accessible entertainment has now become as important as any other right. The
clapperboard has been sounded and marked the beginning. The time has now come to direct this
picture of accessible cinema and sustain it till the end-credits roll.
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a reel ADVENTURE
-
SHANTHA GABRIEL
“A satisfying canvas of films”, says Shantha Gabriel, as she reflects upon her favourite movies at
AbilityFest 2011.
The invitation from Ability Foundation to “Come, and be part of AbilityFest 2011... A Celebration on
Celluloid” could not have come to me at a better time. Being as I was, on the verge of retirement, I
marked in my diary this particular festival, which in past years I could never attend during the day. I was
determined not to miss out on the best this year. And today, days later... my mind still lingers and
reflects on every snippet and scene, both as each one unfolded on screen in the auditorium.
Until now, I had been very unfamiliar with the term ‘Autism’ (to the extent that I had to refer a
dictionary), but After Thomas took me right to the heart of the life of Kyle, the adorable and charming
little boy with autism and his parents Nicola and Rob. I found myself screaming with frustration when
Nic went through a highly stressful shopping spree for shoes with Kyle... anger and resentment
simmered within me, as with her, I shouted 'the show is over...', when passers-by stopped indifferently
to watch her coax Kyle out of his tantrum... I felt the tautness of the tension as Nic and Rob tried to save
their marriage; admired Rob when tired as he was, he had no option but to run in the garden with Kyle
until the latter was ready to join the family at the table... I could hug Kyle as he led Thomas, the golden
retriever to bed and tucked him up in the big soft quilt... I couldn't stop laughing when Kyle, ever so
cutely, with a mischievous gleam in his eye, pointed to his uncle at the Christmas table and said he 'looks
like a f***ing Christmas tree'....
I shared vicariously every human emotion played out on the screen through the very difficult routines of
a normal day for Nic, Rob and Kyle. The triumphs of the family was shared by everyone, as the whole
auditorium burst into applause.
Deiva Thirumagal, our very own Tamil movie, left me with a searching question as Krishna, the mentally
retarded father, who fights his way through the film for the custody of his darling daughter Nila,
succeeds in his attempt and goes to bed sharing joy and laughter with her, only to pick her up gently and
lovingly, pack her bag and take her to her aunt Swetha in whose care he leaves Nila. This reflected on
the deep impression made in his mind on much of what had been said in the court room on his
capabilities to give his daughter on all that she deserved. Can such sacrificial love and nobility of
thought be the hallmark of a
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mentally retarded father?
Temple Grandin, the true story of an autistic girl, whose clarion call for change and innovation often
went unheard in a world of 'normal' people where men are prejudiced against even the possibility that a
woman can develop a different slaughtering mechanism for cows, had the packed hall riveted. Every
time Temple stood up to defend her position, with each battle she faced and every situation she had to
confront, she had me hooked by her sheer grit against severe odds that are part of her life as an
autistic girl. The day I watched the film... the real applause at the theatre was much more heartfelt that
the reel one, when Temple walked in to address the gathering on her graduation day.
If feature films were of this strikingly high quality, the rest of the fare provided by AbilityFest was equally
remarkable. The programme for each day had been well thought out in -- structure and composition. It
was balanced with documentaries and feature films in every session... and some sessions starting with
the finalists of the entries submitted for the film competition ‘60 Seconds to Fame’. The impact of May I
Come In, Beautiful and many others stayed with me for long.
In keeping with its very purpose, AbilityFest feature films dealt with a wide range of issues: Down
syndrome through Praying with Lior, intellectual disability in The Mother, social inclusion and
independent living for people with disabilities in The Gillian Film, raising awareness on HIV and living a
life of dignity in The Voice of 650 Million Times One... to mention just a few. Similar issues were picked
up in other films as well and through each one of these, we travelled to different parts of the globe and
experienced the struggles, the achievements, the sorrows and joys of people everywhere ... slices of life
coloured differently, but all pointing to inclusion and normality, acceptance and dignity. A very satisfying
canvas of films that, through Ability Foundation's fine selection, enhanced awareness on a broad array
of challenges that make up this huge spread of disability.
How very subtly but surely, did Ability Foundation, bring home to us, the importance of integration and
mainstreaming disability when in its valedictory function, we were regaled with western classical music
played and sung by about 10 or so of the best students in A R Rahman's K M Music Conservatory, one of
who, was a visually impaired person. The music that flowed through their fingers as they graced the
ivory keys was scintillating.
For me, I had the unique opportunity of watching movies from all over the world which sensitised me to
disability. My awareness about disability was truly enhanced through the medium of cinema, an
excellent medium to celebrate diversity... the objectives of the Fest were truly met.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
18
BREAKING BARRIERS
LIFE’S GOOD
-
SEENA RAVEENDRAN
Living with Retinitis Pigmentosa was not easy for Bertha Gynykes Dkhar. But it was never the
end of her world…A trail through her inspiring life.
A student once asked Bertha what she saw in the darkness of blindness. “A rainbow”, she said. That's
how Bertha sees everything in her “mind's eye”. At the age of eighteen, Bertha Gyndykes Dkhar was
diagnosed with Retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative disorder that would eventually steal her sight.
There was no way of either preventing or curing the difficulty. This turned out to be more than a turning
point in the life of this Meghalaya native.
As a headmistress of Jyoti Sroat School, which has an inclusive environment run by the Bethany Society,
Bertha has come up a long way through her perseverance in the past that carried her through the ups
and downs, the scrapes and bruises, the
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
19
BREAKING BARRIERS
sadness and anger, of going blind… “My struggles began early in life. It all started with acute myopia in
my left eye. As my vision started deteriorating, I had to wear thick glasses which limited my freedom as
a kid”, Bertha reminisces.
Not much was thought of the condition till some years later when her eyesight started to worsen
drastically. Her parents consulted many doctors, but no practical advice was given. It was at the age of
30, when she was doing her graduation that Bertha lost her vision completely. They met the doctor
again but were told that it was too late to do anything and that she would be blind for the rest of her
life. “My family had been a constant source of emotional, social and psychological stability. But they
were shocked to hear that I would be ripped off my eyesight. The thoughts of my future upset them.
Being one of the well-off families in Shillong, it was also difficult for them to avoid all social gatherings,
including marriage functions of even close relatives. I tried to keep all emotions to myself since I didn't
want my parents to be more disheartened”, recollects Bertha.
“I had to depend on others for everything, once darkness took over. It became impossible for me to
read and I had to rely on my classmates for all the class work. I hated to do that. I had to drop my job at
a psychiatric clinic as a counselor. I didn't know Braille and life was a mess”. I thought it was the end of
my world. I packed my bags to go to a far-off place out of sheer anger and deep disappointment, she
says.
According to Bertha, it was the city of Chennai that witnessed the defining period of her life. “It was
after the prayers that I attended in the Christian faith center called “Jesus Calls” in Chennai under
Brother Dinakaran that I discovered something new to embrace. Prayers instilled in me the strength and
insight to focus on what mattered the most in life – my family and my future and not the loss of sight”.
Her urge to continue studies was rekindled and with fresh thoughts, Bertha came back to Shillong. She
completed her Masters degree in social work and began working as a teacher in Jyoti Sroat School. The
school had an inclusive environment for children with vision impairment. So how did she manage?
“Children and mischief are synonymous”, laughs Bertha. “However, they were more understanding since
they knew their teacher couldn't run around to catch them. Recognising and responding to the various
needs of the students was the main challenge. Quality time was spent on learning the different styles
and rates of learning of each student. Since the school already had a practical teaching framework
relevant to the sighted and the blind, my task was only to apply it effectively”.
This teaching style, according to Bertha had many peculiarities. “It's a unique system of teaching where
all the text books come in Braille. Also, the books and other reading materials come in large–print
editions. For the better understanding of kids with visual impairment we describe the visual aspects of
the lessons with vivid detail along with the details written on the board. We provide hands-on activities
that promote learning through a sense of touch. There is also individualised planning of teaching and
one-on-one training in case of special needs”.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
20
As a passionate student who had to break off her studies midway, Bertha realised the importance of an
enabling environment for a child with vision impairment to achieve his goals. “If I had been born blind, I
would have never reached
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
21
BREAKING BARRIERS
this far. The scenario in Meghalaya was pathetic. Twenty five years before, inclusive education was
unthinkable. A positive and encouraging environment is very essential for a person with a disability to
come forward. For that, educational institutions need to play a good role by integrating themselves.
Children who are out of a sheltered or special school will have difficulties in adjusting with mainstream
society. Inclusive education plays a crucial role in instilling the sense of confidence in children to help
cope with realities in the world, observes Bertha.
On being asked what her dream work scenario would be, Bertha describes a classroom with the
freedom for creativity, independence, personal responsibility and teachers as facilitators, not mere
tutors.
As a further step to her initiatives, Bertha invented the Braille code in Khasi, one of the major tribal
languages of Meghalaya. “The idea was put forward by one of our former headmistresses, who felt that
children should read in their mother tongue. When the government also backed the initiative, it was a
success”.
People in Meghalaya know Bertha not only as an educationist but also as a disability activist. “Now it is
my dream to work towards the goal of educating children with the knowledge of their rights as citizens
so that they can give their best to society. Of late, there has been a considerable change in the
awareness of people towards the disability sector in Meghalaya. Be it any segment, employment
opportunities have increased. We now see a blind man working like any one else in IT companies, thanks
to the advances of technology”. So what are her views on the factors that hinder the progress? “The
limitation lies in the whole system. Attitude of people matter a lot. Though changes are being brought
out, total awareness hasn't happened yet. Also, the geographic limitation of Meghalaya makes it difficult
for people to come together. Lack of proper funding and financial aid also add to the woes. The absence
of involvement from the corporate sector and poor entrepreneurship make it difficult for the sector to
grow”, says Bertha.
Her philosophy: “I believe that extraordinary results do not come with ordinary efforts. With any
disability or setback, one needs to put additional efforts to cover those extra miles. Be the best I am and
do the best I can, is my motto”, says Bertha.
She taught herself to smile when she wanted to cry. As a kid Bertha loved to watch the sunset. It
shattered her when she realised that those sunsets and the beautiful sceneries and the sight of the
people she loved would fade from her eyes one day. Still she walked alone – to give light to others.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
22
THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
AMUSEMENT UNLEASHED
Marked as the “world's first ultra-accessible family fun park,” Morgan's Wonderland features rides
and games that are accessible to kids using wheelchairs as well as other disabilities.
W here everyone can play - the tagline of this Texas-based amusement park sums up what this leisure
centre is all about. Morgan's Wonderland is a one-of-its kind inclusive park and is the first ultra
accessible family fun park in the world.
Gordon Hartman, the owner of this unique theme park, drew inspiration from his own daughter,
Morgan, after whom the park is named. Morgan is a child with special needs. While Hartman was on a
family trip a few years ago, he saw that his daughter Morgan wanted to play with three kids tossing a
ball in a pool but could not interact. The kids too, just as unsure how to interact with Morgan, stopped
playing.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
23
THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
The idea of the theme park sparked from that particular incident. Hartman thought it would be
wonderful to create an inclusive place for people with disabilities, an environment that would facilitate
inclusion and understanding. He quickly learned that, millions of children and adults with cognitive and
physical disabilities, generally do not have access to facilities to assist them in enjoying outdoor
activities. Thus, Morgan's Wonderland began in April 2010, with a vision and a desire to re-imagine the
possibilities of what an inclusive park could really be.
Everything about this park, which is about twenty five acres, is special. You can feel it right from the
entrance, where, as guests arrive, they are given special wristbands which identifies them as a family or
a group. These wristbands provide security through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.
Several location station monitors are located in key areas throughout the park. Hence, if a member of a
family or a group member gets separated, any other member of their group can see where they are by
simply scanning his or her own bracelet. These wristbands guard against the possibility of a child leaving
the park either with a stranger or even alone.
Another interesting aspect that you will find at the entrance, is a map, which is unique unlike the maps
in other theme parks. This map, in the lobby entrance, presents an illustration of the popularity of the
park in purple which has been visited by people from 49 US states and 16 countries. At this point the
visitors are greeted by disabled adults wearing a broad smile on their faces.
The park has about twenty attractions amongst which the most popular is the Sensory Village. Inside this
village, are a group of themed spaces that wrap around an indoor street scape. The Paramount Theater
offers interactive videos while the Saddle-Up Stable holds two Equicizer Horses. The Fix-It Shop, which is
a mechanics shop, allows the guests to create a tool sounding symphony, design a custom car and even
go for a simulated test drive through San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country. Next door, is The
Village Market, a grocery store which is full of colourful groceries. A KMWL7 TV station allows the guests
to do the weather forecast and see themselves on TV! The Sensory Village has a touch-sensitive floor,
giving the illusion of walking across a pond as the water ripples and colours burst with every step. A
projector turns colourful when someone steps in front of it and you see butterflies chasing a shadow.
The Water Works play area is yet another popular spot. It is an interactive space, with an array of waterrelated
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
24
THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
equipments such as squirting pipes, spinning water wheels and special dams that control water flow.
The Sensory Village and the Water Works area is specially designed with many sensory activities
involving lights, sound and tactile features.
The carousel is worth mentioning, as this too is one of a kind. The carousel, 36 feet in diameter, allows
children and adults with disabilities to experience the fun of a merry-go-round. The park worked closely
with the ride's engineers to create adaptive animals that serve as special seats for wheelchair users.
Unique benches allow a disabled guest to be safe and secure by sitting next to a friend or caregiver.
Guests in wheelchairs can enjoy the experience with custom-made chariots that go up and down just
like the carousel's other creatures.
Even the little details like accessible swings and sand diggers have been taken care of. The Sand Circle
has accessible diggers and a raised sand table in the middle. The park has more than 30 traditional and
adaptive swings, including wheelchair swings that include a ramp and a lock-in mechanism.
The park strives to be inclusive in all ways. Ramps are provided everywhere and Braille signages are put
up everywhere. What more? The entry to the park is free for the disabled people with only the
caregivers charged a nominal fee. Maybe this is the reason why the park has won many accolades
including “Favorite Place on Google” awarded by Google in 2010 and the “Universal Accessibility Design
Award” presented by the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago, in the same year.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
25
LARSEN & TOUBRO AD
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
26
AWARENESS
TOURETTE’S SYNDROME
A Relatively less known but easily recognizable disorder
-
VAISHNAVI VENKATESH
AbilityFEST 2011 kicked offndrome. Her determination to be included in the class activities finally pays
off, and she succeeds in making her classmates aw with a short film called Flying Anne. This Dutch movie
is based on the life of Anne, a twelve year old girl with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, and how she
deals with it. Given the chance, Anne would shed all inhibitions and just 'fly'. She'd love to be known for
what she is, and not what she has. She'd love to be the centre of attention because of her personality,
and not because of her disorder. She realises however, that in order to be treated normally by her
classmates, she should educate them about Tourette’s Syare of her disorder.
Tourette’s Syndrome is relatively less known, but very visual in nature. It is easily recognisable, mostly
due to the obvious involuntary movements of muscles that are often jerky and sudden. These
movements are known as tics, and Tourette’s Syndrome is one aspect of tic disorders. Multiple motor
tics characterise Tourette’s Syndrome. The tics can range from sudden eye-blinking, kicking, thrusting
the arm forward, spinning, clearing the throat, coughing, etc. Sometimes, these tics can be phonic in
nature, where sounds are produced involuntarily. One of the phonic tics shown in popular media is a
condition called
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
27
AWARENESS
Coprolalia, in which people swear, or utter socially inappropriate words in public involuntarily. The
prevalence of Tourette’s Syndrome is less than 10% in the world, and occurs more commonly in boys
than in girls.
Tourette’s Syndrome was named for Georges Gilles de la Tourette, a French physician and neurologist,
who described the disorder in 1885. Although the causes of Tourette’s Syndrome have remained largely
ambiguous, there is reasonable evidence to prove that it is genetic in nature, and somewhat hereditary.
Due to the vast variety of symptoms (involving motor and phonic tics), the disorder is often seen as a
spectrum, varying from mild to severe. The mild cases of Tourette’s Syndrome often go undiagnosed, as
they are barely noticeable.
It is a disorder that can be diagnosed in childhood, as a child begins to enter a social environment.
Parents can sometimes confuse these tics to be a habit the children have picked up, so it is important to
understand if the child can 'control' the movement, or produce it at will. In fact, the frequency of the tics
vary throughout the lifespan. Some tics may be mild, such as eye-blinking, and rarely observed. Other
tics, such as head banging, is somewhat rare, but harmful for the child.
It is important to remember that Tourette’s Syndrome does not affect the intelligence or lifespan of an
individual, unless it is diagnosed with any other disorder that affects cognitive functioning. Barring the
tics, persons with Tourette’s Syndrome can live a healthy life and pursue all their ambitions. What
Tourette’s Syndrome does affect, is self-esteem. People with this condition often become very conscious
of their tics, which lowers their self-confidence. Furthermore, children with Tourette’s Syndrome are
often made fun of, which can lead to their becoming recluses and inhibited personalities.
Awareness about Tourette’s Syndrome can go a long way in promoting the self-confidence of people
with this condition. Knowing, for example, that the person is not voluntarily causing the movements can
change our perception of the person entirely.
The treatment of Tourette’s Syndrome goes beyond medication. Severe forms of the disorder can be
controlled with anti-psychotic medication. In some cases, depression could be a comorbid (when two or
more psychological disorders occur at the same time) condition, where treatment of depression is
pursued. Behavioural therapy is given to some patients as well, who respond well to controlling the
movement. In some cases, relaxation techniques work very well in managing the disorder. An important
aspect of the treatment includes educating the parents, peers and society at large. As with any other
disability, awareness and education becomes an automatic step towards inclusion of such people into
the society.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
28
Inform.
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Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
30
WELLNESS
ALL ABOUT BEING NATURAL
-
LAKSHMI KRISHNAN
Naturopathy derives its name from the course of action that is in unison with nature. Which is
why naturopathy is referred to as the art of drugless healing.
Since the early ages, developments in medicine have aimed at relieving pain and curing sickness in
mankind. Broadly, there are three major schools of medicine viz - Allopathy, Homeopathy and Ayurveda.
There are also others like Unani, Siddha Vaidya, etc. Subsumed in most, if not all, of these branches, is a
belief that nature in itself aids in the healing process and regeneration of damaged parts of the human
body. This core support mechanism led to the development of naturopathy. The origins of naturopathy
could be traced to the Vedic times when the rishis emphasised the dietary discipline of ahara (eating)
and pathya (fasting). There is also a belief that naturopathy evolved out of ayurvedic practice.
Naturopathy is a system of medicine aimed at diagnosing and treating virtually any human ailment. It is
very simple, and more importantly, inexpensive that people often do not believe in it. Human nature
often considers ineffective that which is freely available or seems simple and easy. This is akin to not
paying heed to good advice if it is free and gratuitous and unquestioningly paying large sums of money
to consultants only to get very similar advice!
Unlike other forms of medicine that interfere with the human system, naturopathy works on the
principle that a proper environment is key to the body setting itself right and eliminate the root cause of
the ailment. Naturopathy derives its name from the course of action that is in unison with nature. Even
practitioners in western nations have considered treatment such as spinal bath, sitz baths, color
treatment and solarium to assist the body in symptomatic relief and aiding the body to rid itself of
toxins. This is why naturopathy is also referred to as the art of drugless healing.
As its name indicates, naturopathy works on the principle of harmony among the five elements of
nature
–
fire,
water,
air,
earth
and
sky.
It
follows
the
well-accepted
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
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WELLNESS
principle of homeostasis, which says that whenever an imbalance occurs, nature tries to restore balance
on its own volition with very little help and that too in the form of a catalyst. Most ailments are caused
by accumulation of toxins and waste materials. Alteration of diet and temporary changes to life-style are
sufficient for the body to flush out the toxins and rejuvenate itself.
The accumulation of waste materials in our organs becomes a breeding ground for germs leading to
toxins. Once this waste is eliminated, the toxins also cannot stay in the system much like the way in
which mud does not stick to smooth surfaces. By removing the toxins, the body gets the chance to purify
itself. All these, just by diet regulation, rest and a few yoga exercises! Sounds too good to believe – but it
is true.
There are quite a few myths about naturopathy. For one, many believe that naturopaths make the
patients starve. This is wholly untrue. To start with, patients are advised to go easy on food; much like
the saying “langanam parama aushadam” meaning, fasting is the best medicine. Here, one must
understand that there is a lot of difference between fasting and starvation. Fasting involves abstinence
from intake of food for a specific period, say a day, whereas starvation, on the other hand, is a
deprivation of nutrition caused essentially by external factors such as poverty, famine, etc. Under the
healing process in naturopathy, patients are advised to fast under the supervision of a doctor, followed
by liquid diet and then on to natural foods such as fruits before returning to the usual dietary habits.
Another misconception is that nature cure requires food to be eaten raw. This again is not true,
particularly in India, where use of chemicals is common for preserving food. Hence the naturopaths
advise some amount of cooking. What is advised against is the overcooking of food that robs vegetables
and pulses of their vitamins and minerals. Yet another wrong notion is that the prescription by
naturopaths is untested. It is true that unlike Allopathy where the medical schools are governed by a
national body, institutions that impart naturopathy skills are left to their own course regulations and
curricula. This does cause considerable variation among practicing naturopaths.
Most ailments can be addressed using the naturopathy route. For instance, nature cure approach
advises that minimising animal proteins particularly in the afternoons and evenings, have beneficial
effects on lung-related diseases. Again, spondylosis can be treated by learning proper postures, basic
yoga postures and manipulation by qualified personnel. Similarly, naturopathy has inexpensive and
gentle treatments for most stomach-related ailments, diabetic conditions, and obesity. It also offers
permanent cure for thyroid imbalances. Of course the benefits of kapalabhati and pranayamas need no
explanation.
It must also be definitely emphasised that naturopathy cannot cure every ailment. If one has a fracture,
the concerned bone has to be set in a plaster, heart attacks need immediate medication, and illnesses
such as typhoid and pneumonia have to be treated with medicines. However, naturopathy techniques
can be applied in conjunction with other forms of medicine. That way, we avoid excessive medication often fraught with unpleasant outcomes – and save considerable expenses as well.
Naturopathy is a holistic addressing of ailments, is inexpensive and has no side effects. This is
particularly useful both to the urban population which has unfortunately got into “popping-the-pill”
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
32
habit, as also to the rural areas where medicines are hard to come by.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
33
MINDSET
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
-
VAISHNAVI VENKATESH
Neeti is nineteen and has a problem. Everybody around her thinks she is very thin, but she doesn't feel
thin at all. In fact, she states that she eats thrice a day, does most of her assigned chores, and attends
college. She also tells me rather ruefully that she may need to lose some weight, because she's getting
very lazy these days. This statement triggers alarms in my head immediately, as I sit in the psychiatric
unit of a government hospital, waiting to talk to her. Neeti has just completed a physical examination
and weighs 35kgs, startlingly below the appropriate weight for someone her age. She looks skinny,
almost as if she could be blown away with a whisper of air, and still admits that she needs to lose weight.
For a country that is known for its numerous delicious cuisines, and a healthy appreciation of good food,
the rates of eating disorders amidst the young population is rising rather alarmingly. It is ironic, really,
given that a significant section of the population is starving due to the lack of availability of food, and
eating disorders are pervading those sections fortunate enough to be able to eat.
A decade ago, eating disorders was a concept that was unheard of, almost negligent, in India. Most
people associated it with the 'Wild West' and dismissed it as a warped concept of losing weight.
However, today in India, there has been a marked
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
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MINDSET
increase in cases being reported, alerting mental health professionals all over to sit up and take notice.
But with the influence of mass media where being skinny is lauded upon, people are beginning to
believe that 'Thin is in' almost everywhere.
There are two main types of eating disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa, which is characterised by an intense fear of weight gain, causing the person to starve
unnecessarily and/or exercise excessively. The person has a 'distorted self-concept' (like Neeti, in the
introduction), where they believe that they still need to lose a few kilos, despite having a ridiculously
low weight.
Bulimia, which is characterised by alternating cycles of overeating (binging) and feeling a sense of
excessive guilt, causing the person to vomit all the eaten food (purging).
Both disorders underlie a common theme - the loss of control.
Eating disorders are often seen in people who perceive a loss of control in their lives. Simply put, food is
the one aspect of life that a person can control, be it the intake, the frequency or the type. When
everything else in life seems to be spinning out of control, they resort to using food as a pawn in finding
some sense of order in their lives. Of course, the causes of eating disorders range from childhood eating
habits to negative self image.
Today, there are very few full blown cases of eating disorders prevalent in India. However, there are
many persons showing early signs of eating disorders, and these have to be taken very seriously. Proper
intervention given at a timely stage can help in a full recovery. It is important to remember that eating
disorders do not exist in a vacuum. Apart from significant weight loss, persons having eating disorders
also suffer from skin and hair problems, anaemia and bone problems, leading to further complications in
health.
Therapy for eating disorders depends upon the severity. They range from cognitive behavioural
therapies where the individual is taught to alter his/her thought concepts about 'weight', to medication,
where antidepressants may be given to alter the mood of the individual. Counselling is a very useful tool
for early detection and prevention of eating disorders. Today, in schools, counsellors are trained to pick
up the early signs and intervene, because research has shown that children as young as thirteen begin to
show symptoms of eating disorders.
Dieticians and nutritionists believe that eating disorders can be both shaped, and curbed by parents.
Leading by example, parents who maintain healthy diets can influence their children to a large extent.
According to Dr.Dharini Krishnan, Consultant Dietician, Chennai, a lifestyle change plays a major role in
the therapy of persons with eating disorders. “They tend to feel guilty while eating. Teaching them to
take in small meals with low calorie content is the key to ease the guilt.” This will not only improve their
nutrition intake, but also give them the confidence of eating small portions without worrying about
weight. “Of course, eating disorders has a deeper psychological basis, and therefore that must be
addressed most importantly.” says Dr. Krishnan.
With the introduction of the new version of Beetle, Volkswagen presented an idea that charmed
everyone - a skinny model enters a restaurant and eats like there is no tomorrow, because 'Curves are
Back!'. It is important to alert the vulnerable sections of society that fasting is a concept well received
only in the context of patriotism and social change. Punishing the body for the deeds of the mind can
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
35
only lead to a long life of medication, therapy and further lowering of self esteem. After all, as the old
Spanish saying goes, 'The belly rules the mind'.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
36
SUOLIFICIO CHENNAI AD
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
37
CARING CONCERNS
TRACKING TECHNOLOGY
-
SEENA RAVEENDRAN
It is activity time at BarrierBreak Technologies. They decide to play the game of Housie. The company
has employees with various disabilities. The challenge is how to frame the game so as to include
everyone! They handle the fun amazingly by making appropriate alterations to suit all. As with any other
activity there, they ensure that everyone participates.
It is an all-inclusive environment in the Mumbai-based BarrierBreak Technologies, a company that
designs accessible websites and manufactures assistive technology products. “We dream of an inclusive
society where there is equal access opportunities for employment, education and social life”, says Shilpi
Kapoor, the Managing Director of BarrierBreak.
In 1995, when working as a systems engineer for an American technology giant, Shilpi was surprised
when she realised that the person she had been reporting to in US was paralysed neck down and used a
sip-and-puff device that allowed him to move the mouse cursor by puffing air into a tube. Shilpi
understood the void in the field of assistive technology in India. “He worked very efficiently with the
help of the device that I would never have come to know had he not told me himself. And when he did, I
recognised just how good the facilities in other countries were for disabled people in their workplace, as
against the facilities here. This was a shift in my life”, says Kapoor. She quit her job and started a
computer training centre in Mumbai for 16 people with low vision. She then began Net Systems
Informatics in 2001, a knowledge management firm, where she hired people with disabilities. A few
years later, she set up BarrierBreak Technologies. The idea, as Shilpi says, was to assert the importance
of technology in the lives of people with disabilities.
BarrierBreak works with a single goal – to bring disabled people to the mainstream and make them selfreliant through adaptive technology. “In India, very few organisations hire people with disabilities. The
stumbling block of this is mainly the lack of availability of assistive technology. It was not as easy to do
this. Since BarrierBreak has people with all kinds of disabilities, initially it was difficult to instill in them
an understanding of professionalism, but since they had amazing levels of comprehension, a basic
training helped to boost their innate talents”, Shilpi adds.
They also specialise in developing websites that are accessible to all. “From shopping to news to voting,
everything is moving online. A user who cannot drive to the store has a lot to gain from an online
shopping service; one who cannot read the printed
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
38
CARING CONCERNS
newspaper will find great value in online editions. All this is possible only if the websites are accessible.
Also, they have a wide range of other assistive products for people with hearing, vision, mobility and
learning impairment. To mention a few, there is an adaptive keyboard, four times bigger than normal
ones, designed for people with low vision and learning disabilities; there is a virtual keyboard for people
with impaired mobility, that allows them to point and click for any of the Windows applications. There is
also a literacy software for people with learning disabilities and Braille displayers and translators for
those with vision-impairment.
Ironically though, most of the clientele of BarrierBreak initially were foreign companies. “Today, though
the scenario is changing, as increased knowledge about accessibility has come in our country”, views
Shilpi.
TETE-A-TETE WITH SHILPI KAPOOR
BarrierBreak mainly concentrates on web accessibility. What influenced you most within the field?
For me, web accessibility is not a set of checklists or dos-and-don'ts. It is somewhat closer to a
methodology and more accurately, a mindset. It is more about inclusion and embracing diversity. We
know that web as a medium is very adaptable allowing everyone to access information in the way that
best suits his/her interest. No matter who your audience is or what they can't do; ultimately every one
should use your site.
What is the role of technology in enhancing the lives of disabled persons?
Technology has always played and will continue to play, an important role in increasing the everyday
needs of individuals with disabilities. It can act as a great enabler and facilitate them. However, I think a
lot depends on the way one adopts and implements technology – be it in the workplace or in
educational institutions.
Why, in your opinion, is accessibility often relegated as an afterthought?
This is because, today, a typical web developer doesn't place web accessibility at the forefront of his
thoughts. These days he performs the combined role of a programmer, graphic artist, animator, and
systems integrator in varying amounts. With several other issues competing for his time, chances are
rare that he is unaware of the issue of web accessibility. Web accessibility is a process that flows from
the mindset. It should be a second nature to ensure accessibility for a wider audience.
Does your company have any specific policy for hiring disabled people?
No. We don't have any special policies for them. It will be good if they have basic computer knowledge.
What are your future plans to help empower qualified aspirants with disabilities?
BarrierBreak works in multiple fields across different areas. We work with the government to help them
understand the technology-based needs of the people with disabilities. Techshare India, which is India's
only Accessibility and Assistive Technology Conference and exhibition, is one of our attempts to create
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
39
awareness on accessibility and assistive technology. It is held every two years and we are looking
forward to the next exhibition which is scheduled for February 6 & 7, 2012.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
40
ABILITY
FOUNDATION
Looking Beyond Disabilities & Breaking Barriers Together
INFORMATION. MEDIA.
EMPLOYMENT. EMPOWERMENT.
New no. 4, Old no. 23, 3rd Cross Street, Radhakrishnan Nagar,
Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600041. Tel/Fax : 91 44 2452 0016 / 2440 1303
e-mail : ability@abilityfoundation.org website : www.abilityfoundation.org
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
41
PEOPLE & PLACES
LA DOLCE VITA
A dream travel in Italy
-
AISHWARYA NAIR
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
42
PEOPLE & PLACES
The Summer of 2011 will be memorable for us in more ways than one. Five of us – all girls – set off for
an academic jaunt, but landed up having an Italian Avventura that was just out of the world. True, we
spent most of our Italian rendezvous flitting in and out of trains and stations, but everything was worth
the effort!
The beautiful architecture, the rich history… and the famed gallantry of Italian men, were the essence of
Italia. We started off in Milano, the fashion capital of the world. The first time we stepped into the
Milano Centrale railway station, we were in awe – not just of the grand façade, but of the lilting accent
in which they made train announcements! We pranced through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele Li Milan,
with its splendid high-end fashion brand outlets, the Duomo (also called the Milan Cathedral, which had
taken a jaw dropping five centuries to complete construction), the Piazza del Duomo and all its life and
energy… and of course… the McDonalds (that refuge of the ever-so-hungry travellers). The Piazza was a
sight to behold. The gothic façade of the Duomo on one side, the magnificent and glamorous galleria on
the other, and the Royal Palace surrounding it, the essence of Milan could be narrowed down to just the
Piazza del Duomo.
There was hardly a street in central Milan where we did not see a tram crossing in front of us at
intersections, hardly a street without a maze of intertwined wires above. Bright orange trams curve and
clang, passing one another on parallel tracks or back up behind one another. A marvellous sight, indeed.
Our first tram ride in Milan evoked sense of a bygone era with its shapely wooden benches, brass
handrails and tiny light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
Our next destination was Venice – the dream city of all true blue romantics. Sure, we were disillusioned
by the vision very quickly, thanks to the hoards of tourists (not very unlike us!) blocking all our views,
but the charm of the city wasn't entirely lost on us. We spent an entire day just floating on water, on a
boat, of course. Watching the sun set over this endless expanse of water as the city lit up at twilight, was
an unmatched experience. We spent the night in Venice on a Campsite that made all our Harry
Potteresque fantasies come true! Right off the pages of the Quidditch World Cup, we meandered
through a maze of tents to find our home for the night!
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
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PEOPLE & PLACES
We then proceeded to Tuscany, famed for its scenic beauty and delectable cuisine. Little did we realize
that we would chance upon a Punjabi Dhaba and gorge on authentic parathas and dal makhani instead!
Florence, situated in the heart of the Tuscan land, was Italy redefined. From lilting Italian names like
Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo Medici, Palazzo Pitti and Fiesole (which are places, and not just phrases) to
the silvery Arno river that winds through the heart of Florence, everything was captivating. Deeply
rooted in science (Florence housed inventions from the likes of Galelio and Da Vinci) and arts (the famed
David of Michelangelo is found here), time seemed to slow down as we took in every tidbit of Italian life.
The final, and most awaited stop of our Italian fantasy was Rome. Rome was simply majestic. Each
monument made us feel small and inconsequential! No wonder it wasn't built in a day! The imposing
grandeur of the city was both humbling and awe-inspiring. From the gigantic façade of St.Peter's Square
at the Vatican City, to The Pantheon, Piazza di Spagna, Column of Marcus, Piazza del Popolo, Trevi
Fountain and The Colosseum, every monument held forth a story – a legend that completely astounded
us. Feeling somewhat like Robert Langdon in Angels and Demons, we set off on an exploration of Rome,
and found a city that was amazingly similar to Delhi, for its rich history and culture. Ahem, of course, it
didn't stop us from sparing more than just a glance at the very good looking Swiss Guards in St.Peter's
Basilica, Vatican City!
It took five days to cover five beautiful Italian cities by us five girls. We fell in love with the intoxicating
splendour of Italy, and would jump at the opportunity of revisiting each second of that beautiful week!
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
44
HEALTH
CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH
The oral care needs of children are in constant change. Dr. Ponnudurai Arangannal
recommends the right ways to teeth care with each change: from baby teeth to braces.
0 to 2years
When does the first tooth come in?
The first tooth usually comes in around six months of age. Most often it's the lower front tooth. The
front eight teeth (four on top and four on the bottom) usually appear around nine months of age.
Is my child's fever caused by teething?
No. It has been thought as a cause for fever, rashes, diarrhea and many other things. The child may
become irritable, suffering from increased drooling and sometimes facial rashes. If your child has high
temperature, it is unlikely to be associated with teething. The remedy for this problem is to bite on
chilled teething rings. Topical medicine can be applied on sore gums after consulting a dentist.
When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth?
The simple answer is that your baby's teeth should be cleaned as soon as they first appear. Also, the
gums should be brushed at the same time and later the tongue needs to be brushed regularly.
What is the best way to clean a baby's teeth?
The most popular technique nowadays for cleaning a young baby's teeth is to use a clean, small gauze
pad. Alternatively, a clean, dry wash cloth can be used. The teeth and gums are firmly wiped to remove
food debris and liquids. Once your child has back teeth, a small, soft toothbrush can be used to clean the
grooves on the chewing surface of the back teeth (molars). Until the back teeth arrive, a tooth brush is
not needed. However, if you choose to use a toothbrush earlier than this, use one specially designed for
babies that have soft bristles and a short handle. Healthy baby teeth are the foundation for good adult
teeth.
Why do some children get tooth decay before they are 2 years?
About one in ten children get tooth decay before they are 2 years old. The most common cause is
feeding a baby at night with a bottle of milk or sweetened liquid. The milk or liquid clings to the teeth all
night. Tooth decay begins! In rare cases babies who are breast-fed throughout the night over a long time
are also at risk. Parents should be alert to avoid the above mentioned causes.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
45
HEALTH
2 to 5 years
Are all teeth present by the age of 2 years?
The likely answer is no. Baby teeth begin to appear in the mouth around six months of age. By age of
two, 16 teeth are present in the mouth and the last of the four molars are beginning to appear. But the
molars do not fully develop until around 30 months of age in most children.
How often do you recommend cleaning teeth?
Brushing should be done at least twice daily - morning and at bedtime. Additional brushing after sweet
and snacks are also beneficial. One of the most important points for parents to remember is to start a
regular tooth cleaning routine early in life. Remember that not only the teeth need to be cleaned daily
but also the gum and tongue. Use the same tooth brush to gently clean the gums and the tongue.
What type of tooth brush do you recommend?
There are many brands and types available. Rather than sticking to a certain brand, look for a brush with
a short and bulky handle as it is easier for the young child to handle. To prevent any harm, the bristles
should be soft.
Why do baby teeth need to be filled at times?
There are number of reasons as to why baby teeth may need to be filled. This happens when a cavity
forms as a result of tooth decay. A filling is placed in the cavity to cover the hole in the teeth, until the
baby teeth fall out normally. The main reason is to prevent pain, discomfort, dental abscesses or facial
infection. Teeth left to decay can lead to unnecessary and serious health problems. A third reason is to
reduce the bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay. Bacteria grow in areas of decay and can cause
decay to spread to other teeth and even to adult teeth when they develop. By filling the holes in
decayed teeth, we can take away the likelihood of germs multiplying.
Why does my child breathe through lips and mouth?
There are a number of reasons for breathing through the mouth including having difficulties in breathing
through the nose due to such causes as allergies, large adenoids or tonsils. Some children have a short
upper lip and this prevents the mouth from closing fully at night. Orthodontic treatment may be needed
to straighten the teeth so that the lips can close comfortably over the teeth. If your child breathes
through his/her mouth you can apply a light coating of Vaseline over the gums and lips at night to help
keep the mouth moist.
Why doesn't my child's upper and lower tooth come together?
When the upper teeth do not close together, it is called as Open Bite. An open bite can be seen in
children 2 to 5 years as well as in older children. There are several reasons why open bite occurs. One of
the most common causes is a habit such as finger sucking or thumb sucking. Once the habit is eliminated
very often the teeth move into a better position without further treatment. Consult a dental
professional if you are unable to erase the open bite habit of your child.
Does it matter that my child had a baby tooth removed?
Yes. Generally it is not good to remove baby-teeth before they fall out naturally.
It usually is not a problem for the front teeth, but if back teeth fall out too early, this can lead to
problems later. Baby teeth are of a specific size and occupy a certain amount of space in the jaw. If a
baby tooth is removed, the nearby teeth may drift into empty space. This means that there may be not
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
46
enough space for the adult tooth that comes in later. This can cause the adult teeth to be crowded or
out
of
position
and
may
affect
how
the
teeth
bite
together.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
47
HEALTH
6 to 9 years
If my child has bad baby teeth, will he/she have bad adult teeth?
We can not always say that bad baby-teeth will, as a matter of course, lead to bad adult teeth. However,
it does take a lifestyle change to make the difference. A proper diet, daily care of the mouth and regular
dental visits are important.
My child is still sucking his/her thumbs. What can I do?
If your child is still sucking his/her thumb or finger at the age of 6, it is time to do something!
Experts think that at the age of six, when adult teeth start to come in is the proper age to treat the
habit. This is, because the thumb or finger sucking can push the new adult teeth out of their proper
position. Finger or thumb sucking can cause the adult teeth to protrude. It can also be associated with
poor speech, social stresses and other habits.
The habit can be treated under psychological care and/or with mouth appliances. Correcting the habit is
not easy. You will need expert dental intervention.
When will my child start getting adult teeth?
The arrival of the first adult (permanent) teeth occurs at or around 6 months of age. With the exception
of wisdom teeth, the last of the permanent teeth come in around twelve years of age.
Tooth eruption (arrival of teeth in the mouth) varies. Girls tend to get teeth earlier then boys. Tooth
eruption also varies between racial groups.
Why does my child have two rows of teeth?
The appearance of two rows of teeth is due to the adult teeth coming in behind baby teeth, before the
baby teeth have fallen out. The most common area for this to happen is the lower front teeth. This
appearance of two rows of teeth occurs in about 30 percent of children.
Most of the time the baby tooth or teeth may need to be removed, but in many cases the baby teeth fall
out a few weeks after the adult teeth appear. You should consult a dental professional if the baby teeth
do not fall out within a few weeks.
10+ years
When will my child need braces?
Commonly, orthodontic treatment with braces begins after ten years of age when many permanent
teeth have developed and facial development is nearly complete. However, children vary in their
development and therefore the fitting of the braces vary accordingly. Also, the type of orthodontic
treatment needed will determine when the treatment should begin. Orthodontics may be undertaken
early when there are both baby and adult teeth in the mouth. Sometimes this early treatment is all that
is required or it may be only the first part of a more lengthy series of treatments.
How does my child clean the mouth when wearing braces?
It may take more time and effort for your child to keep the mouth clean and healthy while wearing
braces.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
48
HEALTH
For home care, during the use of braces, we recommend: (1) A special brush (small end tufted) to clean
around the wires and brackets of the braces in addition to using a standard brush for cleaning the teeth,
gums and tongue. (2) Special dental floss threaders to make flossing possible while wearing braces. (3)
Daily fluoride mouth rinse as children wearing brace are more prone to tooth decay.
Be alert to good hygiene and diet while wearing braces! Nothing more is disappointing to children,
parents and dental professional than being laden with gum problems or tooth decay when braces are
removed.
Why are my child's gums red around the lower teeth?
For several reasons, the gums around the lower teeth may sometimes become red and bleed easily
when brushed. The most common cause is the lack of cleanliness. The gums and teeth need to be
cleaned thoroughly at least twice daily. If the teeth are tight together or overlap, they may be more
difficult to clean. Dental floss can be especially important in order to remove plaque that a brush cannot
reach. Hormonal changes during puberty can cause pubertal gingivitis. Gums become red and bleed
when brushed, even though the mouth appears well cleaned. This is a passing phase, where the gums
will eventually return to their pink color and stop bleeding.
When do wisdom teeth come in?
Wisdom teeth may form as early as sixteen years of age but usually come in several years later. Often
wisdom teeth never come in. These problems are often due to inadequate space in the back of the
mouth for the teeth to erupt. If there is not enough space, the wisdom teeth can only partially come in.
The gums around the wisdom teeth tend to become infected, causing pain and swelling. Under these
conditions, wisdom teeth need to be removed. If wisdom teeth need to be removed, they sooner done,
the better, as surgery is then easier.
Is facial jewelry harmful in any way?
The current trend for young people to have piercings and facial jewelry can cause damage to teeth or
soft tissue (gums, lip, and tongue) of the mouth. Tongue studs, for example, have contributed to
breakage of back teeth. Lip rings can get caught in clothing or elsewhere and tear the lip. Studs can
cause damage to the gums. Whenever these items are put in the mouth, they need to be done under
the cleanest possible conditions to avoid hepatitis, HIV and other infections. The jewellery needs to be
kept clean at all times to prevent infection.
Is it okay that my teenager uses mouthwash regularly?
Many teens start to use mouthwash regularly when they become more interested in their personal
hygiene. A mouthwash should not be used as a substitute for thorough daily brushing and flossing including brushing the tongue. Bacteria trapped on the tongue can contribute to a stale mouth odour.
For regular mouthwash users, one with fluoride or a proven anti-plaque ingredient is advised to help
protect their teeth.
Dr. Ponnudurai Arangannal is currently the Professor and HOD of Dept of Pedodontics at Sree Balaji
Dental College, Bharath University, Chennai, as well as an active clinical practitioner.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
49
SPOTLIGHT
Play On…
Play therapy can do wonders on children with many difficulties, observes Gayathri Kiran
Play has been called the child's natural medium of self-expression. Play therapy utilises the child's play
and its symbolic meaning as a medium for understanding the child's feelings and thought processes and
is also a means of communicating with the child. Play situations are said to give the child not just the
safe and secure environment for catharsis but also communicate to the child, a positive acceptance of
himself as she/he is. This in turn, helps the child develop a good sense of self and self-worth.
A major help is rendered by play therapy situations as they can engender in the child, a sense of control
over their own life, which in many cases, for disturbed children, is almost impossible to achieve in real
life. The principle behind this is that once the child gains acceptance from the therapist and thereby
develops self-esteem in a situation, s/he can slowly start generalising these feelings to the traumatising
environment outside the therapy room as well. The combination of developing communication skills,
self-regard and a feeling of control over the situations/events that surround them, lead to therapeutic
gains for the child.
Central to this is the concept that children are better able to communicate their thoughts and feelings
through play more naturally, than through any other medium.
Typically play therapists work alone with a child with a few sessions that include parents/ teachers/caretakers. However, much of the therapeutic intervention is undertaken by the children themselves, even
though some adult counselling may become a part of the entire process.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
50
SPOTLIGHT
The other side-benefits could include improved verbal expression, enhanced ability for self-observation,
improved impulse control, more adaptive ways of coping with anxiety and frustration, as well as an
improved capacity to trust and to relate to others.
Most of the play therapy principles and practices have been influenced by the extensive works of
Virginia Axline. In fact it was with her major influence, that the scope of using play as a means of
effective therapy for children gained attention.
Let us look at how she explains the working principles of play therapy for children. Axline says that play
is a child's natural medium of self-expression. She links our personality to patterns seen through a
kaleidoscope - constantly changing and reorganising themselves into a new pattern every moment. They
are ever changing but “Maintaining an inherent beauty and balance, and a rhythm and harmo ny
in design.”
There are also a set of assumptions that underlie the effectiveness of play therapy - that there is a
powerful force within each individual which constantly strives for self-realisation; and that growth is a
spiralling process of change dynamic and relative. Play therapy, especially non-directive play, assumes
that an individual has, within themselves, the ability to solve his/her own problems, and that his/her
growth impulse makes mature behavior more satisfying than an immature one .
Thus, play therapy gives the child that open space and permissiveness to be he/she and to find healing
solutions for oneself. According to Axline, there are eight basic principles that the play therapist must
follow.
The therapist must:








Develop a warm and friendly relationship with the child;
Accept the child as she or he is;
Establish a feeling of permission in the relationship so that the child feels free to express his or
her feelings completely.
Be alert to recognise the feelings the child is expressing and reflect these feelings back in such a
manner that the child gains insight into his/her behaviour.
Maintain a deep respect for the child's ability to solve problems and give the child the
opportunity to do so, as well as uphold the responsibility to make choices and institute change
in the child.
Not attempt to direct the child's actions or conversations in any manner. The child leads the
way, the therapist follows.
Not hurry the therapy along. This is a gradual process and must be recognised as such, by the
therapist.
Establish only those limitations that are necessary to anchor the therapy to the world of reality
and to make the child aware of his/her responsibility in the relationship.
To a large extent, it is apparent from Axline's writings, that a cost-intensive infrastructure is not really
mandatory for successful play therapy. The success of a therapy depends more on the atmosphere
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
51
created by the therapist than on the equipment. In fact, many successful play therapists can, and have,
conducted
play
therapy
in
rooms
other
than
places
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
52
SPOTLIGHT
designated as Play Therapy Rooms. They may be corners of classroom, areas of playground, nursery
rooms, hospital rooms, etc.
Though most therapists believe that there is a certain set of mandatory play equipment required for
successful play therapy, Axline lists out some basic materials needed for this such as a doll family, few
pieces of furniture, nursing bottles, doctors sets, paper and colouring materials, clay, toy gun,
telephone, puppets, etc which can be ported around easily in a suitcase.
The toys and materials for play therapy can be expanded based on the luxury of a room to include
building blocks, small materials from a kitchen set, housekeeping materials, bobo dolls, air-filled
hammers , musical instruments, story books, hand puppets, rag dolls, miniature clothing etc. These, if
space allows, can be expanded to include a sand box/pit, a small raised platform to act as a stage and
some access to water.
Lastly, the success of a therapy depends not wholly on the material, but also on the atmosphere and
attitude of the therapist. It may prove fruitful to invest in time and patience to develop the skills of play
therapy, as the success rate of this is very high with children and works for a range of difficulties they
face.
Play therapy has been known to work with a number of difficulties – aggressive children, withdrawn
children, children with post-traumatic stress, emotional problems, abused children, behaviour problems,
learning problems, speech difficulties, to state a few.
In India, though play therapy is not very common, its application and usage is now on the increase. Most
such programs are, however, center-based and many of them housed in the child and adolescent
psychiatry units of large hospitals like AIIMS, NIMHANS, etc. There are also several such initiatives being
taken in the area in most of the larger towns. Two such interesting programs using play therapy are
CHUGRAD in Pune and Docteur Clown India at Bangalore.
CHUGRAD has been successfully running a play therapy programme at a Pune hospital since 2006.
Specially trained therapists prepare children for medical procedures by using play models of machines
and instruments used by the doctors. They also provide support to parents by liaising with schools to
help the children continue their academic activities even during hospitalisation. Play therapy has also
been used in orphanages, in regular schools to help children with behavioural problems, and with
autistic children.
Docteur Clown India, started by Severine Blanchet, has been working with various hospitals in Bangalore
since 2006. Therapeutic clowning has been practiced in the West for over twenty years and has proved
itself beneficial to the process of healing. The clowns need to be extremely sensitive to their
environment since their job is not just about barging in and raising a few laughs. They are not therapists,
but rather, use laughter, relaxation and imagination to enter a child's world. Language is no barrier,
though skill matters when it comes to making children and families feel comfortable and less nervous of
the medical treatments.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
53
There is hope among educationists today that this therapy will become more prevalent in India and
children
can
play
their
way
to
complete
physical
and
mental
health!
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
54
PONDERINGS
Certainly not India
A philosophical take on Phnom Penh by Hari Adarsh Sripathi
History has not been kind to it, quite treating it as an illegitimate offspring of France and China. While
Vietnam won a glorious war, Laos volunteered into monasteries and Thailand made itself available on
world shelves, Cambodia was clearly the neighborhood's sorrow. When I landed, I expected a struggling
nation; its psyche devastated, its limbs torn asunder by its landmines, a country on crutches, being
helped to walk again by the United Nations.
I was quite right about the United Nations, which has played an important role in reshaping Cambodia's
destiny making it safe for a tourist. The Pochentong Airport at Phnom Penh was quite posh dotted with
Starbucks and McDonald's, the parking lot was brimming with Land Cruisers. A peaceful traffic jam
ensued as I made my exit, my Toyota Corolla inching its way through a scrupulously tidy road.
On the footpaths, shabbily dressed men sat drinking coffee, a few women in shorts ran around carrying
screaming babies. A series of hastily parked tuk-tuks completed the scene with the drivers indulging in a
gossip while warming up to cups of tea. This marketplace, of butchers, vegetable vendors and the
occasionally air-conditioned supermarket ran for a few kilometers, reminding me of India. The central
part of the city, majestically decorated, seemed a pastiche of Lutyens, New Delhi. Immense boulevards
were flanked by massive government buildings, most of them built to dazzle and inspire awe. The Prime
Minister's
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
55
PONDERINGS
house occupied the pride of place, right at the city centre, perhaps engineered by a highly qualified
western architect. The Grand Palace of Phnom Penh gleamed in its golden attire, as if it was being
repainted every day. It probably was.
Inside the Grand Palace, lies a tribute to the Buddha, lavish in scales unimaginable to such a poor
country. A series of cottage pagodas populate a lush garden, with innumerable sidewalks where tourists
and Cambodians alike loiter free from the beggars outside. Serene music is heard in the air as you walk
into the Silver Pagoda that looks inside like a rich medieval emperor's sanctum. In this meditative
atmosphere, I reflected that Cambodia had quite left its past behind. While the main roads were left to
the local government and embassies, many posh bylanes were quite the privilege of the United Nations
and other developmental organisations. Tina Mahler, a German girl I met on the flight, told me her
government sent scores of undergraduates every year to aid senior Cambodian government officials on
public policy. While no doubt, this was an excellent line on a teenage resume, I was not too sure what
Cambodia gained from adolescent advice.
The answer came that evening, as the sun sank into the Mekong, while I sat at the riverside Foreign
Correspondents Club, which during the war years had captured Cambodia's past for posterity. Today, it
is a retirement area for aged Cambodians and older tourists, who came to discuss politics and bemoan
the meddling Americans. Joseph, my Indian friend who worked in the United Nations, told me that the
Cambodians were cousins to the South Indians. The Mekong saw yearly Snake Boat races, at a much
more lavish scale than Kerala. They celebrated their New Year, quite similar to Vishu. To my queries on
whether Cambodia was the mythical Kamboja, Joseph shook his head and suggested that it was
probably the other way around. In some aeon, Indians had ostensibly conquered that land and named it
after Kamboja.
Cambodia looked happy, as far as I could see. Not so much, warned Joseph again. It really was a country
where people believed in an immutable fate. They accepted what was given to them without raising an
eyebrow. It was in this emotionless lack of attachment that citizens lined up to work for the Khmer
Rouge as a preordained tryst with destiny. Most of them, in the 1970s taught their children that death
was best for them. When I looked around, I noticed for once, that an entire age group was missing from
the streets.
Adolescent advice suddenly did not seem too inappropriate. Half the country was still in childhood, their
parents having, at best, reached their late thirties. On the other extreme were old people, most with
disabilities, the few who had survived the last thirty years. The rest, had either been responsible for the
crimes and got away, or had been bred outside and had returned when normalcy prevailed. It was
perhaps for this very reason, that Cambodia does not seem very interested in pursuing its war criminals.
During those terrible years, too many people had sinned.
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
56
On a narrow lane that could pass off in India as a busy market road, lies a decrepit school. Outside, the
stench
of
seafood
mix
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
57
PONDERINGS
with the aroma of flowers, a legless landmine victim salutes you asking for a dollar and a few street
children hawk souvenirs, guessing Delhi as my country's capital and astounding me with some Tamil
words. They pursue you relentlessly until you are forced to oblige one. And then you are smothered.
'Well, it happens in India too.' I said to myself as I stepped into the school.
The school could easily have found itself a respectable clientele in India. It had a large overgrown
playground, large spacious classrooms with narrow corridors and narrower staircases where you could
imagine rambunctious little ones skating and skidding, screaming their lungs out in their best years.
Then your heart sank as you realised that the Khmer Rouge had it turned into the largest torture camp
of their regime.
As you walked through the corridors, you feel those corridors have seen true extremities of life. The
joyous laughter of children seems eerily drowned by the moans of the hundred of victims who were
kept in conditions that were last heard of during the Nazi holocaust. With each level, new stories are
told. A woman had smashed her head desperately against the wall; a man had dared to ask for more
food in his last breath, a series of three-feet cubicles, wooden ones for the fortunate, brick ones for
those with 'special' needs. A barbed wire encloses the corridors to prevent the suicidal ones from
liberating themselves.
Those who survived Tuol Sleng, were transported to Choeung Ek, an airy Chinese Orchard 20 km from
Phnom Penh. Thirty years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, I took the drive, not in a prison van but a
Toyota Corolla. From outside, it seemed like a war memorial set in an expansive lawn. Footpaths
meandered their way around golf-like dug-outs, into which children jumped in and out in glee, roosters
pecked their way and dogs had their afternoon siesta.
It is inside that watchtower that the sturdiest of human hearts can crumble as row upon row of
carelessly strewn human skulls glare at you. Some are replete, most having been damaged while their
owners were still alive. All these skulls belonged to sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends and
sweethearts. Each skull once held a dream, once had desires, had cried, smiled and had known human
emotions. Rather instinctively, as if in prayer, my camera went back into its pouch to give these souls a
dignity in death. Outside, the assault on the emotions continues as the golf-like depressions which could
handle seven or eight people at best, are revealed to have been mass graves of hundreds. A harmless
looking tree once had babies smashed against it by parents who had been coerced to do so, another
tree had heard the screams of men and women as they got vivisected, a branch was used as a gallows
among other things, that are hard to put in words.
That evening, I took a flight to Siem Reap to see the Angkor Wat. Much of the time, I could neither eat
nor sleep, haunted by my experience, and given to pondering about the baseness of human nature. The
megalomania of Pol Pot and the willingness of those under him to betray their dearest ones, not out of
greed but out of faith. And then in a trance, an Indian life came back to me, with its myriad
Success & ABILITY OCT – DEC 2011
58
relationships, smiles, dejections, backbiting and loyalty. Above all, the trust in god: unshakeable, but still
discriminating.
I
thought
to
myself,
'This
is
not
India’.
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FLIPSIDE
SLICKHITS
“I didn't mean to fall in love with you, but I did”, Chelsea, Nothing But Trouble.
-
SNEHA PRABHU
The Internet is a wondrous world that has brought writing to a whole new level. Just about anybody is
allowed to have a blog, and writing is no longer a hobby that only students of literature or well-read,
opinionated folk can boast of. People have much more to read than they did before. Facebook has apps
that allow you to show off what you've recently read - be they movie reviews, thought-provoking essays
or nice large tomes. The advent of FlipKart and other online stores, not to mention snazzy, wellpublicised bookstores, have brought a vast array of books to our attention, of all genres and for all age
groups.
The sophisticated, modern Indian girl claims to be an ardent reader of serious fiction. She's bound to tell
you that she loved the latest Khaled Hosseini, that Paulo Coehlo shared some soul-stirring thoughts, and
that she couldn't put down The Secret of the Nagas. She quotes from Jhumpa Lahiri and insists that
Georgette Heyer's work could make a great movie. All that is very well,
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FLIPSIDE
but there's something she won't tell you unless you're one of her BFFs. There's one part of every girl
that absolutely loves chick lit. And I mean every girl. It's not something they'd admit to their parents or
colleagues. Oh no! No one likes admitting that they indulge in such frivolity.
Sure, some call this genre trashy. It doesn't transform your soul and help you make a resolve to be a
better person. It teaches you nothing about lands far away or people in conditions we didn't know
existed. There's something just so darned tantalizing about these books. When you see close-ups of
Gerard Butler and Hillary Swank splashed across P.S. I Love You, your fingers itch to pick it up. A highheeled red shoe that ends in a pitchfork beckons to you and gets you hooked to the The Devil Wears
Prada series. What teenage girl can resist the allure of the shopping bags, presents, bows and flowers
that decorate the popular Sophie Kinsella works?
All right, so I'm not learning anything from this sort of fiction, but is it so bad that I'm not? Books are
written for entertainment only, don't you think? Would I really want to come back from a hard day at
school, college or work and pick up something as heavy and mind-reeling as A Beautiful Mind that is
bound to make me feel like the smallest, most petty person in the world? No thank you. I'd much rather
follow Mia Thermopolis into Genovia, where all is bright and pretty, and where I'd have a wardrobe full
of countless pretty dresses and racks of pretty shoes, and loyal girlfriends to giggle with (Read: Princess
Diaries). Those sound like much happier thoughts to fall asleep with.
If you think all chick lit is rife with stereotypes and pretty much all end happily ever after, you're not
wrong. But those are the attributes that make them both endearing and familiar. Let's take a look at
what makes up pretty much every girly book:





The protagonist - A young girl who is confused about what to do with her life, has the best
girlfriends ever who she can call at 3 am and pour her heart out to, sees some hazy artsy dreams
and is looking for someone who will sweep her off her feet. In one word - you - now or a few
years ago.
The man - Tall and handsome, has the air of having been around the world, is either so
charming that he can sweep your grandmother off her feet or so bad that your parents warn
you about him.
The other person - The man's arm candy who's always in the way or the much more eligible man
that your parents would approve of.
The twists and turns, the winks and flirtations, the promises and heart-stopping moments where
violins should play of their own accord.
The inevitable happy ending, where the girl gets the boy and we assume nothing goes wrong in
their lives ever again.
Chick lit always takes you to a happy place - my friend who delves into a Mills and Boon when she gets
onto a plane to overcome fear of crashing is conclusive proof. They have this wonderful way of creating
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61
images of a dreamy life that seems just slightly out of reach. At the same time, some parts of the
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FLIPSIDE
book are so close to your life, that you can't help but stayed glued to the book till you find out what
happens next.
There is chick lit for all ages. Pre-teens start out with the Baby-Sitters Club series - a seemingly endless
collection of books, a subset of which focuses on each member of this cool club and takes us through
the trials and tribulations of middle school, our first crush and a nascent sense of fashion. They graduate
into the Shopaholic series, where a young journalist reels under the pressures of saving and the latest
Versace sale . Eventually, they move on to young adult romances, a world created by Cecelia Ahern (P.S.
I Love You) and Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones' Diary), amongst others.
Indian chick lit has come of age, with the mind-blowingly awesome book by Anuja Chauhan called The
Zoya Factor. I cannot think of another book that I've read as many times over. She so magically
combines standard chick lit elements with one completely different, surprisingly interesting theme cricket! Zoya is your average middle-class working girl who is catapulted into a world full of the who's
who of cricket and brings her close to her on-again-off-again hero of dreams, the captain of the Indian
cricket team - a tall, dark, brooding star rumoured to have a line of supermodel girlfriends, who is mean
with the same ease as he is romantic. Chauhan captures the reader's interest from the start and slowly
reels her in, through a mad jumble of cricket matches, close dances, fireworks and whispered sweetnothings. Swati Kaushal and Anita Jain follow suit and created some best-selling works. (Chetan Bhagat
writes chick lit in my opinion, but that's a whole other debate)
So the next time you feel low and want something light and fun to read, grab some coffee, get into your
beanbag and read a nice frivolous chick lit from end to end. I guarantee your blues will run away, leaving
you in a soft misty cloud of happy dreams!
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