With a Will to Do

S. Ramakrishnan

S. Ramakrishnan of Ayikudy, India, a quadriplegic man who runs one of that nation's largest centers for the disabled has been chosen as one of the 18 finalists of “CNN Heroes: An All–Star Tribute,” which celebrates ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things.

Ramakrishnan is paralysed from the neck down. He can only sit up for four hours a day. For the rest of the time he lies on a bed unable to move. Even basic needs like wiping his nose have to be carried out by a nurse who rarely leaves his side.

Day to day living is a huge challenge for him, yet he has transformed the lives of thousands of disabled people in the towns and villages of Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.

In 1975 Ramakrishnan was a promising engineering student. While travelling to an interview for naval officer selection, he met with an accident that changed his life for ever. As he lay paralysed in a hospital bed despairing for his future, his doctor talked about the work he might do to help other disabled people. When he returned home, Ramakrishnan decided to do just that.

The Amar Seva Sangam (named after the doctor) was established in 1981 but it was ten years later, when Ramakrishnan met chartered accountant Sankara Raman, that the project really took off. They put together a financial proposal and with Raman's contacts attracted both national and international funding to build a centre for the disabled on a 30–acre site on the edge of Ramakrishnan's village, Ayikudy.

The institution amar seva sangam has received numerous awards from the state and central governments and various NGOs. The most noteworthy award came in 2002 –– the ‘Best Institution in the service of the disabled and uplift of rural poor’ –– which was given by President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Source: CNN TV Channel has selected Mr.S.Ramakrishnan…Information accessed at: www.amarseva.org

Top

Ambika Kameshwar

Her effervescence is infectious. Ambika Kameshwar is one of those people who completely bowl you over with their charm. Her eyes dance as she speaks, and the earnestness in her voice is unmistakable. Dancer, performer and artist, she maybe, but her name has now become synonymous with her work with special children.

“There were always a little bitty voice in me that said that there has to be more to dance and music than just performance. Little did I know that the story behind this voice would start revealing itself later.”

Ms. Kameshwar was 18 when a chance meeting with her father's friend in Bangalore led her to teach dance to visually impaired students of the Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind.

“As I began to train them, I saw how they felt the mudhras, the movements and the stances with their hands. They would hold me and I would feel a sort of connect. They were not just learning to dance or sing, it was as if they were learning to be themselves.”

The ‘ah–ha’ moment
This was Ms. Kameshwar's ‘ah–ha’ moment. Her strong faith, lead her to believe that the she had found her calling. In 1985, following her marriage, Ms. Kameshwar moved to Chennai. Thus began what she calls the “next phase of her journey.”

“I volunteered with the Spastic Society; it was my first experience with children who had multiple disabilities. It was here that I began to realise that dance and theatre can be used for more than just joy. It could also help to structure a child's development. For example, mobility can come through dance, vocalisation through music, and social skills through theatre.”

Ms. Kameshwar relates the story of how her daughter refused to learn the parts of a flower for a biology test the next day. Instead of forcing her to her textbooks, the two of them set out to make a little drama out of it. Suddenly learning was fun for them both. “It is the same with theatre for special students, it helps them learn, grow, exercise and have fun without the pressures put by some of the older methods of training.”

Along with the fun she was having with the children, Ms. Kameshwar also studied the theories behind special education as well as the use of dance, music and theatre as a tool for development. Through these consultations and thought processes came about her innovation called Theatre for Holistic Development. With it also came about the idea to bring together a few like-minded people to enhance the social role they could play. Thus began RASA (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya), an organization that would use this tool for the development of children with disabilities.

But, Ms. Kameshwar, who holds a Ph. D in Natya Abinaya, has not stopped dreaming. Her next big project is the creation of a theatre troupe completely made up of special students, but it would be on par with any other professional theatre troupe.

“The identity of the troupe will not be their disabilities, but the quality of their performance. That is why I call it the 4Es: explore, experience, express and enjoy.”

So why this special connected with special children, one may wonder, ”There was no emotional chord which linked me to them, except that of grace,” say Ms. Kameshwar, who surprisingly had no exposure to special needs either in her family or friends circle. “I think the reason is that I am just not able to see disabilities I only see different abilities.”

Source: Krishna Velupillai. Connecting with special children, The Hindu, Chennai, 25 November 2007.

Top

Vineet Shetty

There are very few in India who would separate LD from mental disorder

Vineet Shetty, 21, is a success story in every sense of the term. He has fought learning disability and become a film director, making short and corporate films. Yet, he refuses to be photographed. “It may affect my clientele,” he says. “They may think I am dumb though I am not,” he shrugs. His statement is a crude reminder of the fact that few in India separate learning disability from mental problem.

“The stigma is there, though it has not affected me much,” says Shetty, who dreams to be a full–fledged film director someday. Shetty was in Std I, when a teacher at the Arya Vidyamandir noticed that he was not paying enough attention to reading or writing. “I went to SNDT College for the test but things did not change much after that,” he says. He maintains that his school as well as his family handled the situation extremely well. “Even my friends were very supportive throughout and never made me realise of any weakness whatsoever,” he adds.

He has availed of concessions but he is not very appreciative of the concept as such. ,“I chose environmental science and commerce in place of science and mathematics,,” says Shetty. ,“But, my friends did not do well in these subjects, so I never took them as easy subjects,”. His friends labelled him as the lucky one who did not have to sit for the mathematics and science exams.

However, he is wary of the certification that parents have to acquire from Sion Hospital for availing concession. “Concessions can help only till one is in a school or a college,” says Shetty. But, in the job market, where merit or expertise matters, the certificate or concessions will be of little help.

Shetty strongly believes that optimism can make things better.

Source: Sumitra Deb Roy. A success story despite stigma. DNA, Mumbai, 28 November 2007.

Top

Vipin Malhotra

Advocate Vipin Malhotra is visually impaired and has been spearheading a campaign for last 14 years to bring justice to the disabled at the Disability India Network, where he volunteers his time.

He believes it is imperative that society be made more aware of disability laws.
“While giving a job or during appraisals, handicapped people are always marginalized. Some government departments are also oblivious to the benefits given under Disability Act, 1995,” says Vipin, who teachers human rights and law at the Sri Aurobindo College (Delhi University) to earn his livelihood.

“To make it worse, these laws are not known even by the victims and even if they do know about them, they don't have sufficient money to fund the litigation, ”he adds.
Talking about a few cases where he ensured justice to the disabled, he says; “A driver working with a multinational company (for 25 years) suddenly realized that his vision was deteriorating rapidly and he was not table to drive in the night. The organization terminated his services on medical grounds. My legal cell intervened and they had to provide the driver with an alternative job with full wages.”

In another case, a mentally retarded 25–year–old was turned away by the Special Employment Exchange on the grounds that he was not “retarded enough”.
This happened when the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had changed the rule of disability status entitling all mentally retarded people to all the benefits.

Source: Visually–impaired lawyer fights battle for justice, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 26–Nov–2007.

Top

Gautam Lewis

Gautam Lewis doesn't have too many memories of the seven years he spent in India except for going to church every Sunday with Mother Teresa and flying kites from the roof of his orphanage. Most vividly, he remembers India as the country where he contracted polio.

Born in Kolkata in 1977, Gautam was abandoned by his mother after he contracted polio. He was 18 months old at that time. However, surmounting every challenge, Gautam Lewis, now 30 years old, has built an illustrious career in the music industry by managing many high–profile bands, running his own nightclub during his college year and recently becoming the only Indian with polio to have become a pilot in Europe.

“After being abandoned, I spent six years at two orphanages one of which was Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. It was sheer good luck that I was adopted in 1985 by Dr Patricia Lewis, a dual British–Irish national who is now my mother. After adoption I migrated to the UK and have lived there since,” says Lewis, who is in India for the first time since his adoption to help Rotary in its campaign to eradicate polio.

His adoption into a loving home might be good fortune. However, it's his will power and discipline that led to his success. “I might be disabled but I don't like people judging my capabilities. Every time someone assumes I can't do something I take it up as a challenged to prove otherwise.” says Lewis, who uses crutches to walk.

Lewis's dreams are not dictated by others. Flying was a long–cherished dream tat came true this September when he became a pilot after months of grueling training sessions. “The first time I climbed on a plane was when I was crying and screaming while leaving the orphanage. The only thing that calmed me down was the airport which I had never seen before. Flying was an even more fascinating experience and that flight was symbolic of a new beginning for me. Since then I had harbored a dream to become a pilot,” says Lewis. Since, he can't use his legs, he will be using hand controls to fly planes which actually require one to be more alert. Incidentally, Lewis uses hand controls to drive his car as well.

This is hardly the end of the road for him. While continuing his career in the music industry he owns a private company and works for an event management firm–Lewis now wants to become a flying instructor. “I want to set up a flying school for the disabled. I am also going to organize fundraising programmes for disabled and polio patients,” claims Lewis who swims and trains with wheelchair basketball teams besides going rock–climbing and canoeing to keep fit.

Lewis, however, admits that he is lucky to have got so many opportunities which other polio victims may not have. “India is on the verge of eradicating the disease and I want to contribute,” says Lewis. As part of the campaign, Lewis will be going to Moradabad, one of the districts worst hit by polio. During the November 25 mass immunization programme, he will administer drops of oral polio vaccine and go house to house to ensure no child is missed.

Source: From orphanage to cockpit, The Times of India, New Delhi. 23 November 2007.

Top

Mariam Tharakan

Mariam Tharakan was seven when she met Jawaharlal Nehru in a Mumbai hospital in 1962. He asked her to dedicate her life to others who are in similar plight. And Mariam did just that.

Mariam, who was born with cerebral palsy, has never let her disability come in the way of her dreams. She completed her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and also earned a Masters Degree in Sociology amid numerous surgeries and remedial procedures that helped rectify some of her bodily structures.

Today, she along with husband George run a centre in Ernakulam for children with the same disease, called Spring Valley Homes. “For many parents they become a burden in on time. Even if they get an opportunity to educate them they won't do so. They literally dump them,” says Mariam, a mother of two children.
Beset with financial crunches, they were forced to reduce the number of children recently. “Some parents donate once in a while. We will hold fort as long as our pocket permits,” says George firmly. Many NGOs have come forward to help them, but they refuse. “We never believed in publicity or profit. It's a small endeavor to help the most neglected lot,” explains Mariam.

Apart from being a dedicated teacher, the 52–year–old is also an author. She has published a book, Paradise, and is now busy with her second book, an anthology of poems and prose. Mariam is also the recipient of the Manav Seva Dharma Award.

She met George through an advertisement in a Malayalam daily. “It was more than a hand. His inspiration and guidance really helped me come up. ”says Mariam.
“Service is in her blood. Even the most stubborn or cranky ones get mild before her in no time. She understands their problem and becomes one among them quickly,” says George.

Source: Disabled, but not out, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 21 November 2007.

Top