Triumph Over Adversity

• As a student of Master’s of Social Work, my first internship was with The Poona Blind School. A school established by Dr. Machawe in the year 1949. This school has hostel facilities and it educates visually impaired boys till they finish their schooling. Sharayu Deshpande was my co-intern. We had to go every Tuesdays and Fridays. In the first few weeks I took out time to observe the methods of the school. The social worker was of great help in orienting us. After seeing movies like ‘Black’, nobody could blame me for having a romantic picture of the children who were visually impaired. I remember the endless sermons I have delivered on the Blind Bartimaeus from the bible and how Jesus had compassion on him. So here I was in close quarters pretending to be good but very unconsciously maintaining a distance with these children. Being kind to myself I was naive about it and so did not know how to react to the touches and gestures. Sharayu was my teacher in this respect. She is fabulously spontaneous and whenever she interacted with the children she spoke of mundane things, cracked jokes, made them very comfortable with her loud laughter and teased them at will about sleeping in the class or liking a girl in the school. This was revelation for me. I was always sermonising and trying to correct them and trying hard to inspire them. I made friends with boys from 7th to 10th standard. I started speaking to them of how I was as a student, how low on confidence I was and how much I hated maths and how madly I loved history. This broke the ice between us. Some said they loved maths and I gestured with folded hands ‘Aap Mahan Ho’. (You are great). Slowly a bond was being built over the weeks. The social worker told me that the children lack ambition and they need guidance in studies. So in the break I spoke to some boys of the 9th standard. I asked them what they wanted to become. Some said doctors, some said musicians but none knew how to get there. Basava, a handsome boy studying in 8th standard said “I don’t know what to do after school. It’s all blank”. I thought that I cannot preach to them. It will be futile.
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• Divyanshu, a friend of mine is visually impaired. He lost his sight when he was 18 years due to glaucoma. His life was plunged into darkness. But he is a true fighter. At the time of my internship, he was doing his M. A. in Psychology from Pune University. I called him to ask if he could come and talk to the boys about career as he was the right person. He was enthused and agreed immediately. On a Friday in January 2004(I forget the date) I arranged a very informal session for 16 boys of the hostel from class 8-10. I did not give any expectation to the boys. Divyanshu came at about 3 p.m. I greeted him and we gathered at the garden of the school. We all sat down in a circle. He just broke the ice by asking “Kasakaay Mitrano?” (How are you friends?) That opening statement set the tone for the session. After cracking some jokes he came to the point. “I know you may be feeling why we should study? What is the point? What can we do? Let me tell you stop saying such things.” The boys were intently listening. “I am studying Psychology from Pune University. You know when I first applied for Psychology at B.A. level, the department said that visually impaired students cannot opt for psychology as it has practicals. I laughed. I said I am going to do it and I challenged the department saying if you do not give me seat I will see you in court. Seeing my determination and constant visit to the department they finally relented. But the drama started all over again when I applied for M.A. I had to keep visiting the offices. Again the legal threat is what granted me a seat. Remember I had marks and the aptitude but my disability was used to deny me my right. My friends let me tell you many will discourage you, tell you to choose a profession that suits you. But I tell you, never stop dreaming. Work very hard. Life is not easy.” I was also learning and what he said after this really shook me out of my seat. “You are blind. But that is not a disability.They can take your eyes away, they can take your ears away, they can take your hands and legs away, but nobody, I say nobody, nobody can take your attitude away from you. You may be blind but you have vision. My friends I pray you overcome the disability of ‘I cannot do it’ attitude. Aim for the sky. We can overcome all barriers.”
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• All the boys came and hugged me and said “Sir we will do big things. What a great guy is Divyanshu dada. If he can do it, we can too.” I escorted Divyanshu to the auto rickshaw. I expressed my gratitude. He said “Merin, thank you for this opportunity. You know I do not think being blind is a disability. The people who only see us as blind are actually disabled. They are blind. They cannot see our ability, our struggles. I know parents who take their children to Blind schools to show them the blind children, so that they realise how lucky they are. I feel such people are disabled. People who are not sensitive are disabled. These children deserve respect. I hope these boys will do great things in life”. I just smiled. We bid good bye.
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• P. S. The last when I met Divyanshu he was working as a H.R. manager at Tata Motors.