Events

Handicapped students perform during Navratri celebrations

Class VII student, Reena Panchal, was excited this Navratri. Her group made it to the final round of Sharadotsva ’06, a cultural event organized by the Karnavati Club. Nothing unusual, considering many associations organize garba competitions this time of the year.

But, what makes it different is that she is a partially visually impaired student of Andh Kanya Gruh, centre for blind girls, the only city-based institution to have made it to the final at the state level competition.

Of the 120 entries received in raas, garba and folk dance categories, the physically challenged category received 25 entries. “This is the second time that we are organizing such an event. Our objective is to revive the traditional flavor, which is facing erosion.

We want to motivate these talented people and offer them platform to showcase their potential,” says Girish Dani, honorary secretary of Karnavati Club and a member of the organizing committee.

The performances have taken the organizers by surprise. “Their synchronization is unbelievable and many groups have performed much better than those in other categories,” says Saurabh Brahmbhatt, a member of the organizing committee.

The competition is quite high especially since there are high stakes. Winners were to be presented with cash awards of Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 50,000, apart from the consolation prizes.

However, for the participants and their instructors, the competitive spirit eggs them on. Standing atop a human pyramid was a scary thought for fourteen-year-old Bhavan Pachal of the Andh Kanya Gruh. “When my teachers first told me about it, I was aghast, but thanks to them, I could manage to execute the step flawlessly.”

Having come this far, the teachers are setting their sights on the finals. “It has taken us two months to train these children. Our focus will be on perfecting our act and winning the first prize,” say teachers, Kundan Rawat and Dipika Parmar, of the Andh Kanya Gruh.

The competition has boosted the morale of the physically disabled people and many are happy at having participated, even if they didn’t make to the finals. “We won the consolation prize at the event. Another group from our school also performed at the World Gujarati Conference in New Jersey.

Platforms like these give us exposure and the opportunity to prove our mettle,” says Sejal Bhuva, a student of Manthan Apang Kanya Seva Sankul, a centre for physically disabled girls.

The final round was held on October 7, where groups from Bhavangar, Palanpur and Kutch, were pitted against each other. Bollywood star and acclaimed dancer, Asha Parekh, was the chief judge at the event.

Source: Their disability no handicap for good show. The Times of India, Daily, Ahmedabad, 28 September 2006.

Top

Visually impaired students win hearts with their dance

Disability was relegated to the background at the music and dance show organized by the National Federation of the Blind. Performers lent a professional touch to each item presented at the show.

“The visually impaired are known to be good at music but today you will see them dance beautifully,” said S. Dakshninamurthy, vice-president of the south zone of the federation.

The programme began with a crisp rendition of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s ‘Vande Mataram’. Singers were at equal ease with today’s hits as also with the popular number of yesteryears.

Students of the Bangalore based Ramana Maharishi Academy began their show with a ‘candle dance’. The different formations they made, exhibiting coordination, had the audience reciprocation with thunderous applause. Presenting a Kuchupudi piece, a student balanced a brass pot on his head.

Source: No dearth of talent despite disability. The Hindu, Daily, Chennai, 10 October 2006.

Top

Film Festival with a focus on mentally challenged

Tamana Welfare Association, (an NGO for the mentally challenged, autistic and multiply disabled) and Brotherhood are jointly organizing their first Film Festival ‘We Care’ on issues concerning the persons with autisms, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities from December 3-6, 2006 at the India International Centre, in New Delhi.

In countries where the film and cultural festivals are held regularly, they have proven effective and popular. However, in India a few public activities have been used by members of the disability movement to break down barriers and misconceptions about persons with disabilities.

Dr. Shayama Chona, chairperson Tamana Welfare Society said that the aim of the film festival is to focus on issues concerning the mentally challenged and create awareness about the disabilities and the disabled people, and make the masses aware about the different activities, which can help them to make their future bright.

Govind Nihlani, eminent film director said, “Several seminars and documentaries have been made on this but we need a large-scale event to spread the awareness.” “The main motto is that the films should reach to the maximum number of viewers”, he added.

The platform will have entries from all over the India in two categories. The first category is up to one minute and the second category is up to five minutes.

Source: Film fest with a mission. Political & Business, Daily, New Delhi, 29 September 2006.

Top

Beyond Limits 2006

Putting down one’s imagination on the canvass or paper is always a difficult thing and doing the same thing with a disability is even tougher. Providing a platform to 19 such artists from across the country, Family of Disabled (FOD) organized an exhibition, ‘Beyond Limits 2006’ to showcase their 68 works of art.

Dr. Ashok Walia, finance and Urban Development Minister Delhi Government, inaugurated the exhibition and seen amongst the gathering were Brijesh Kumar, former secretary, Minister of Communications and IT and Vishesh Gupta, Vice President- Marketing, Business Development and Corporate Communications, Alcatel South Asia.

According to the Founder-Coordinator of FOD, Rajinder Johar, “It is the artists’ innate desire that their works get displayed and appreciated. When these artists are disabled, such opportunities become very limited. For those who can’t communicate vocally, find expression in their art. As far as art is concerned, disability can’t become their limitation; their art is truly ‘Beyond Limits’.”

The exhibition was held at the Arpana Art Gallery was truly a unique platform for the trained as well as self-taught artists living in oblivion, to display their skills.

Source: Truly, they have no limits. Delhi Mid Day, (Mon-Sat.), New Delhi, 26 September 2006.

Top