|
Metro Plus
A different vision
|
The response of the participants at a recent personality development camp, organised for the visually-challenged, revealed that with adequate support from society they too can realise their abilities.
|
IT IS evening. Brinda is addressing a small gathering in the premises of the Youth Hostel, Indiranagar. "We have positive and negative emotions," she says, "and the negative emotions are dangerous, harmful to health and happiness."
Explaining the causes of negative emotions, she continues, "Anger, jealousy and hatred are the worst enemies of human beings. If you add a `d' to `anger' it becomes `danger', you see." There is applause from the students. Expressing anger outwardly is harmful to the person who does so and to the others around him. Suppressing it is worse as it will lead to depression," says Brinda. "Emotions control thoughts, which create habits leading to behaviour. To evolve, therefore, we must learn to control our emotions." Immediately, there is a remark, "It is easy to say, but difficult to practise."
But Brinda continues, "It is no use brooding over the past or something that cannot be changed. The past is past, the future a mystery, and the present is a present we have in our hands."
As the talk and the conversation continue, it is obvious that the listeners here are unique. Their attention is complete. They participate whole-heartedly, crack jokes and enjoy themselves. They are very receptive. This has been their reaction to every speaker at the three-day personality development camp organised by the Women's Guild of the Adyar Exnora - the first of its kind ever for the visually-challenged. "Sight through sound" is the name of the project they started two years ago, the main objective being to help such students at the university with academics.
"We have an audio library, which has 1,500 cassettes, a recorder and the necessary stationery. We read for them, as very few books are available in Braille and we also go as scribes when they appear for their examinations," says Padma Narasimhan, one of the trustees. The Darshini Trust has five members and 65 volunteers, with plans to expand further.
Padma looks tired after the day's work. "They are staying here. We are trying to provide good food as well," says Sowmya, another member of Darshini. "In these two years we realised that these students have a lot of potential, unexplored so far. That is why we decided to conduct this camp, `Vision I', with a focus on what they need - motivation, confidence and self-esteem, which our society does not provide easily. We are planning to hold more such camps in future. We want to help them overcome their problems which are unique, so that they can get accepted by society."
Their feelings are justifiable, considering that most of them are graduates, and some post-graduates with MPhils doing their PhD.
"We had no difficulty in getting speakers. They were only too happy to help. A well-wisher, Murali, provides us with a hall twice a week. There is a Punjabi dhaba, which sends snacks for our students. After all, they come tired after their classes. People help you if your project is good and has good beneficiaries. We feel they are blessed - as one of the speakers said, `They are not distracted by sight' like us." Sowmya expresses a sense of satisfaction with her work in Darshini.
Meanwhile, Brinda has been distributing sweets. "Wait till I ask you to eat," she says and there is an immediate response. "Unity." "Yes. Harmony is the essence of life. Throw away what is not required and enjoy the rest." Her speech ends. There are many more queries, but it is time for the next session - mimicry.
The workshiop had 12 main sessions, including a violin recital by the eminent artiste M. Chandrashekaran. "It was superb," remarks Manoharan, a participant. "I enjoyed his `Mahaganapathim' by Dikshithar. This is s tremendous workshop. Mr. Rajashekar spoke on concentration; Mr. Ramakrishnan on routine in daily life - he gave importance to victory and defeat, and how to achieve our goals; Venky (M.S. Venkateswaran) spoke on how to enjoy life. Alamelu Ramakrishnan told us about computers; Prof. Seshadri was superb - he spoke about Ravana and Sooran; Kausalya Sivakumar sang `Siddharpaadalkal' - she explained the inner meanings beautifully'; Bhaskaran entertained us with the bulbul tara... ' "It is an Arabian instrument," Mohanraj joins in. "I feel Prof. Seshadri is a Navarasa nayakan. Now I like Ravana better than Rama." Mohanraj has finished his thesis on feminism and is soon to become a teacher in a Corporation school.
Most of the students come from difficult backgrounds. They need assistance in many ways. Even an empty cassette or half-an-hour's time from anyone would be welcome. "Darshini has been an eye-opener to all of us here. Even Mrs. Ramanathan, who conducted the workshop on communication skills, was surprised. She divided them into groups and gave them simple topics for discussion. They had so much to say," muses Padma. "There is a studious one, Sundaram, who kept studying even in during the camp. He said, "When we came here, we felt we were disabled. Now we realise we are differently able."
(The Trust can be contacted at 4422068/4413191/4913003/4421270)
GEETA VARMA
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
|
