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Mind your language!
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Delhi is not a friendly city for people with special needs. Nor are Delhiites. GIRISH SHRIVASTAVA tells us simple ways to make it a better world for all of us... .
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Photo: Sandeep Saxena.
Time to give people with special abilities their due.
MAHABEER YADAV and Suneeta Mishra, two students with visual disabilities were studying in the North Campus, till recently. However, having been constantly `teased' and `tormented' by their batchmates, they left the Campus in great anguish and finally decided to give up their plans for higher education. Though more intelligent and enterprising than many of their classmates, they were being dubbed as `andha', `andhi' and `surdas', etc. by their `friends' and classmates. Some of their mates say that the duo is contemplating putting a full stop to a life.
They are not the only ones suffering from persecution and discrimination in everyday life at the hands of people who nurture a sick mind in an otherwise healthy body. Last year, Zafar Khan, an English Honours student of Zakir Husain College who used to take the help of crutches for moving about, attempted suicide as his classmates along with some senior students ridiculed him.
These human beings with congenital or acquired impairment are treated with callousness by many students. Such atrocity of the `blessed' few towards their `deprived' mates is increasing day by day on various college campuses.
People with disabilities are a part of our society, living lives that are often more productive than many `normal' people. They overcome their handicap with dedication and a single-minded determination. Unfortunately, it is often glossed over by those used to being offered everything on a platter. Some tend to stigmatise them as `defective' and consider them a `burden'. Some are sympathetic and compassionate towards them - an attitude that masks a certain condescension.
The disabled person is often viewed as a sufferer with poor health, less intelligence, unable to work or marry, or even to lead a normal life.
People use several improper words to describe a handicapped person which reveals our attitude towards them. Frances Srong, a disabled lady, speaks for the rights and dignity of the disabled in the US. She writes: "Words convey powerful images which shape our thinking and, therefore, our attitudes''. Well, then, it is time to mind our language.
Certain words often prove painful to the handicapped. It is important to convey positive images of life to them so that they can also live with some hope.
Some words which we often use to describe them are: deaf and dumb, which is as bad as it sounds. Instead we can say `hearing impairment' or `unable to hear or speak'.
Victim is an oft-used word, even by the more aware among us. There are, however, better ways to describe them. For instance, we can say a person who has polio or muscular dystrophy. No one likes to be called a `victim' throughout his or her life.
Similarly, a person `uses wheelchair or crutches' is a better way of describing. Similarly, blind as a bat is derogatory. We can describe them as `visually disabled' or a man `without vision'.
There are many other expressions like lame, limb, crippled and deranged, etc. Through these words only a negative image is conveyed and the person feels inferior. Just a little subtlety and small thoughtful gestures go a long way in making this world a more humane place for our fellow citizens. For instance the Saraswati Puri Enabling Centre where both children with special needs as well as others learn to live and interact with each other - by doing things together. Therein lies a lesson for all of us.
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