Two for a Prague symphony

PRAGUE. CZECHOSLOVAKIA. They are not part of the everyday vocabulary of 11 year old kids. But Prague is constantly on Gnanaprasanna's lips these days: ``I want to see Prague. I want to paint there''.

That seems to be her single point agenda these days. In fact, it has been ever since that letter reached Vidya Sagar, where G.P. as she is called by her friends studies in March this year. The letter from Amar Jyothi Rehabilitation and Research Centre told Poonam Natarajan, the director of Vidya Sagar that one of her students had been selected to participate in the 5th International Abilympics to be held in Prague between 12th and 19th of August.

That's when she began the chant ``Prague.. Prague''. It was her picture of a `dreamland' that won GP her trip abroad. At the qualifying rounds in Delhi, GP, who has cerebral palsy, along with four of her mates from Vidya Sagar participated in the art competition. ``I work with crayons'', she says, talking about her crayon colour village scene entry for the competition.

Taking up the offer, GP and Meenakshi Vishwanathan, vice principal of the Centre for Special education, Vidya Sagar will be leaving for Delhi in preparation for the Prague experience. However, with no government funding, it is likely to be a major strain to make the trip and back. GP's parents too want to accompany their daughter on her flight to fame. A lakh and more has been determined as the basic minimum per person for the trip and the school is looking for sponsors. GP however is not bothered about all these technical hassles, she is looking not much farther than her `first flight' and predictably, Prague. ``I will go to Prague''.

For Fahmeeda Khadri, its not so much the flight that matters. She's been there and seen most of it. Fahmeeda who is the other participant in the Abilympics at Prague from Chennai has already been to a couple of global get-togethers for the disabled.

The first was in 1997 when she was about 16 years old, she represented Opportunity School at a global meeting and the second was the Special Olympics in July 1999 in the U.S. Fahmeeda also brought home a silver medal.

Apart from the athletics, 19 year old Fahmeeda did not let Down's Syndrome keep her from having fun. ``She loves to dance and is pretty good at it'', her mother says. This time however, it is a poster that she is going to design at Prague, apart from participating in the cultural display to be put up by the Indian contingent.

By Ramya Kannan

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