Your Shopping Bag is Empty
“From where did he gather such strength, what inspired his outlook, the optimistic perspective, with his every move he encouraged the life in that moment.”
It was the fifth morning of September, the livid clouds looked heavily laden, and after a rough estimate about how long would they be able to hold their burden, I strode towards my friend’s place. Nature failed my calculations and it started to rain cats and dogs. I remember cursing my fate and the timing of my situation; monsoon was never my cup of tea.
My grumbling was abruptly stopped as I bumped into a man. I knew it was my fault, but even before I could apologize, to my surprise the man started walking in the opposite direction. Even on a day like that, he was dressed up in a white Kurta, his eyes looked dreamy but his young bearded face reflected contentment. The man was laughing louder than the spatter of the rain, his clumsy steps were then dancing moves and looking at the sky he embraced the droplets like a dessert would welcome its first shower after ages.
From where did he gather such strength, what inspired his outlook, the optimistic perspective, with his every move he encouraged the life in that moment.
My mind was trying to find the answers compelling me to be the observer. His movements were so swift that I had completely overlooked the cane in his hands. Disbelief was a part of the realization that he was blind.
That incident had forced me to question how we understand disabilities. Who is disabled, the man who lacks eyesight or the one who lacks a vision. When a person lacks the ability to believe in himself, it becomes the ultimate disability. A person with a prosthetic arm might perform better than one who lacks the right attitude. A special need might result in special superpowers. A special need can act as a source of strength and encouragement, can motivate to perform better and fight stronger. Disability can never impose limitations on attaining goals but can be directed as a motivating catalyst.
It is the hour we must realize that it is the especially abled accepting the society and not the society accommodating them. With the enormous advances in technology and science, acceptance of disability as a state of mind is the only logical approach.
Let us all before declaring another as physically impaired, remember the last time we woke up with the spirit with which the former lives each day, and ask ourselves about the greater disability.
By Tanshi Sahu
Guest Author and Student of Law
Comments will be approved before showing up.
