Couldn't help recollect the day I had jumped into the upper lake while doing an OB during peak summer, trying to tell the world, that it was the only way to beat the heat. I had fixed my moment of glory that day. Before jumping into the lake had placed young divers there so that I could be pulled out the moment I splashed myself into the water. My heart sank before taking the plunge and I was pulled out even before I could realize how cold the water was that day. Ira managed to swim across the lake without any help but then who is challenged. She or the person who pushed her into water. And for what? She did not even have any idea about the glory that she was being bestowed with.
The Eureka moment was presented for the second time by Santosh, a class eleven 'physically challenged' student from Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh. He is afflicted with polio and can not walk without the help of crutches. But he bicycles to school about 15 km every day. Turning his crutch upside down he rests it on the pedal and pushes it with his hand while his second hand is on the bar. The co-ordination between his left leg and right hand is a treat to watch. Again a short story titled "cycle ki swari' that was part of our syllabus in school flashed across my mind. The author in the story explained, how his repeated attempts to ride a bicycle failed just because he had that nasty fall in the beginning. And he was not physically challenged.
Ira was pushed into water, her parents basked in glory after she successfully swam across and Santosh manages to reach school on time, on his own, every day. But still both of them are called 'challenged'. Also both have one thing in common. They flash a smile the moment someone looks at them with pity.
Both Ira and Santosh can be inspirations for those who are not as challenged as they are but why do they have to be separated from the rest. Does Ira's feat become less important if she was absolutely healthy? I have not heard of any other seven-year-old who swam across the upper Lake in Bhopal. Also who rides a bicycle with one foot can not be physically challenged.
Both of them are mentally and physically advantaged for what they can do despite the odds.
So if someone visually impaired can walk, someone who can't speak can communicate and some one who can't walk can ride a bicycle they certainly should not be separated from those who are not challenged. At least when we address them in writing or when we speak of them.
About the AuthorHemender Sharma A chance reporter, reporting for CNN-IBN from Bhopal. Has reported for the Sun Magazine, Delhi MidDay, Hindustan Times, Asian Age and Sahara Samay in ...Read Morefirst published:November 22, 2006, 14:36 ISTlast updated:November 22, 2006, 14:36 IST
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];_taboola.push({mode: 'thumbnails-mid-article',container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',target_type: 'mix'});
let eventFire = false;
window.addEventListener('scroll', () => {
if (window.taboolaInt && !eventFire) {
setTimeout(() => {
ga('send', 'event', 'Mid Article Thumbnails', 'PV');
ga('set', 'dimension22', "Taboola Yes");
}, 4000);
eventFire = true;
}
});
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];_taboola.push({mode: 'thumbnails-a', container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' });Latest News
The realisation came when my colleague Manoj Sharma came gushing with excitement to office one day. He had finished doing a story on Ira who swam across the upper lake in Bhopal. It was a world record of sorts. Ira is a seven-year-old 'mentally challenged' girl and she had to be pushed into water, literally. Not heard of a 'mentally challenged' girl swim such a distance before, hence the record.
Couldn't help recollect the day I had jumped into the upper lake while doing an OB during peak summer, trying to tell the world, that it was the only way to beat the heat. I had fixed my moment of glory that day. Before jumping into the lake had placed young divers there so that I could be pulled out the moment I splashed myself into the water. My heart sank before taking the plunge and I was pulled out even before I could realize how cold the water was that day. Ira managed to swim across the lake without any help but then who is challenged. She or the person who pushed her into water. And for what? She did not even have any idea about the glory that she was being bestowed with.
The Eureka moment was presented for the second time by Santosh, a class eleven 'physically challenged' student from Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh. He is afflicted with polio and can not walk without the help of crutches. But he bicycles to school about 15 km every day. Turning his crutch upside down he rests it on the pedal and pushes it with his hand while his second hand is on the bar. The co-ordination between his left leg and right hand is a treat to watch. Again a short story titled "cycle ki swari' that was part of our syllabus in school flashed across my mind. The author in the story explained, how his repeated attempts to ride a bicycle failed just because he had that nasty fall in the beginning. And he was not physically challenged.
Ira was pushed into water, her parents basked in glory after she successfully swam across and Santosh manages to reach school on time, on his own, every day. But still both of them are called 'challenged'. Also both have one thing in common. They flash a smile the moment someone looks at them with pity.
Both Ira and Santosh can be inspirations for those who are not as challenged as they are but why do they have to be separated from the rest. Does Ira's feat become less important if she was absolutely healthy? I have not heard of any other seven-year-old who swam across the upper Lake in Bhopal. Also who rides a bicycle with one foot can not be physically challenged.
Both of them are mentally and physically advantaged for what they can do despite the odds.
So if someone visually impaired can walk, someone who can't speak can communicate and some one who can't walk can ride a bicycle they certainly should not be separated from those who are not challenged. At least when we address them in writing or when we speak of them.
Comments
0 comment