Disabled from Society...

Today after watching a glimpse of Accsex, a documentary by Shweta Ghosh I was left a little perturbed. The documentary talks about disabled people who are discarded from the society. It shows how they have dealt with their problem and what do they think about beauty and sexuality.

I have never given this a thought, to be honest. How it feels like? How does it feel like when you can’t see anything around you? And you have to either accept what others tell you or never ask any questions. How does it feel like when you can talk but cannot listen to your own words? When you can see and listen but cannot speak. You are not able to even express yourself to anyone around you. It must be very frustrating. And no one can ever understand the problems that they have to deal with in their daily life. This documentary shows how they have accepted their disability as a part of their life and how they have found a way to lead their life. The film-maker took the life of five women from Delhi, each suffering from some problem and how they have blossomed in their life.

A blind woman operating computer better than normal people, polio contracted women who are no longer imprisoned inside the walls of their house and a deaf girl who is a graphic designer is never bothered by her deafness. They are inspiration for all those who think disability is their weakness in life.

“My scooty is my leg, I cannot walk. And it is my scooty which helps to go anywhere I want, without my scooty I feel lonely. It feels as if something is amiss” reflects a polio-affected girl.

However movies and documentaries are playing a crucial part in motivating them but the way they are always looked upon by everyone around them often de-motivates them to do something in their life. For instance, their families are over protective towards them, people show sympathy unnecessarily and never let them do anything. Some do out of concern; many actually think they are good for nothing. The way they are labeled as abnormal is very disturbing.

Earlier I never had any opinion for them, and I am happy that I was never among those who judged them based on their disability. Still I don’t have any opinion. But after watching a small part of the documentary, it has helped me to understand their state a little better. And we do need people like them who are inspiration for everyone.

All they need is someone who can listen to them. They don’t need people’s opinion or suggestion about how to lead a life. They just need someone by their side who can just listen to what they have to say, what they have to express. Imagine. How it will feel like if from tomorrow you are not able to express yourself even after trying your best. It is a nightmare.

Disabilities are natural, no one asks for it. But how the world has disabled them from the society is a big question. Ask yourself. Imagine their state. Put yourself into their shoes. Push the boundaries of your thinking, open your eyes and don’t restrict yourself to someone’s opinions. It is not necessary what has been told since beginning must be true. Help them out of concern, don’t mock on their disability.  

Source: http://www.toocool2betrue.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Reality-Rearranged-By-Tommy-Ingberg_10-605x350.jpg

Silent cry…

There are times in our life when we get affected by few things which we know is momentarily. That thing might never come again in front of us in future. But as humans few things aren’t in our control.

I was in the metro, when I saw her. I was standing near the door, when my eyes caught her glimpse through the tinted window. The next moment, I turned around and that’s when our eyes met. There was something electrifying about her aura, her black dense hair kept coming in front of her eyes every time she moved and her kohl lined eyes had a world of its own. She wore a blue top over her black jeans with matching blue ear rings which looked quite appealing on her personality.  

And then that moment arrived when the metro reached Rajiv Chawk, she lined up near the door to get down from the train. Every now and then our eyes met, the more I tried not to look at them, more they looked into mine. As usual there was a big crowd already waiting at the station to board the train. The irritating thing about Delhi crowd is no one waits for people to get down from the metro. Before anyone tries to get down they start boarding the metro. They don’t understand the simple fact that first people need to get down only then they can board the train.

When metro reached the station, there was a murmur among the crowd, pushing each other even before the metro had come to a halt. The siren beeped twice, door opened and people tried to get down when she took a step forward. But before she could react, the big crowd barged inside the metro and pushed her inside. I saw it happening in front of my eyes. She was pushed from one side to other side by the passengers who were trying to get in. The moment the crowd barged in, her eyes looked into mine. Perhaps asking for help, she was traumatized by this sudden situation. She went numb for a while and couldn’t utter a word. She just kept looking into my eyes and I couldn’t do much. I tried raising my voice to stop them but it was suppressed by the hassle of the crowd.

I was at one end, it was impossible for me to come forward and help her out. But I should have done that; at least I could have tried to help. Those few seconds delay in my reaction kept on disturbing me the whole day. The look which was there over her face was disconcerting. She was on the verge of crying, tears almost came into her eyes. The way she was being pushed among the crowd terrorized her. The siren beeped again twice, door closed, metro left the station and she couldn’t get down. Instead she was pushed to the other end where I was standing. I felt bad.

I should have helped her. But I couldn’t and she was helpless. The next station when she got down, she turned around and gave me a look which kept on disturbing me throughout the day. The image of her face kept revolving in my mind. The more I tried to not think about that moment, the more it kept on coming back.

I know there was nothing much I could have done. She being a girl expected a little help from my end. Perhaps. But I was quite late in reacting. The reason maybe I was too numb in witnessing the scene or whatsoever. The fact that I didn’t try to reach out to her for help was something which kept echoing into my ears the whole day. Usually I always do my part if any stranger needs any help. For instance, offering my seat to ladies and old people; helping old uncle-aunties to cross the road; giving them way to board the metro; helping them to get down in crowd and stuffs like that. But after failing to help her much today, I felt disappointed. And that look on her face didn’t help either.

I know I am not going to see her again. Maybe someday I might. But then she won’t even remember me. This was a momentary accident which happened but somewhere it did hurt me. Like she uttered a silent cry…

http://s8.favim.com/orig/72/art-broken-heart-cry-girl-Favim.com-695395.jpg

Challenge Accepted…

“What you do?”

“I write.”

“What do you write about?”

“I write scripts for advertisement firm.”

“I didn’t ask you what you do for a living. I want to know do you write anything for yourself.”

This is a very famous cameo, done by Naseeruddin Shah in the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara. It reminds of my current situation. Amidst the hustling-bustling of finding stories and meeting deadlines, I am left with no time to spare for my life. After joining Times group, my whole day goes by in search of some story and night passes in filing reports. I don’t know when I should write something for myself. Most importantly the question always is what to write.

Although I am very much happy with the way my life is going. I always wanted this. I always wanted to do what I am doing every day. However the fact that I am not updating my blog disturbs me sometimes. Journalism is not about us, it’s about the people. The joy of writing something which reflects meaning of your life and expressing the feelings curbed inside your heart is immense. One feels satisfied after pouring down everything which resides inside our mind and heart.

Sometimes I feel in the process of trying to become a good journalist I may end up losing the ‘writer-inside me’. I am not complaining. I surely want to make it as a top journalist but not on the cost of losing the ‘writer-inside me’. The ‘writer-inside me’ has helped me to reach where I am. And now when I am here, I don’t want to leave him so that he gets lost somewhere. And that maybe the reason I am pouring out the state of my mind, in best possible way. It may not make any sense at all to many; I am doing this for myself. Someone told me, when you have no clue what to write about but you want to write something. Always start with the feelings you are going through, it always works.

When I was in Engineering College, I had ample amount of time to write about anything and everything. I used to be frustrated most of the time and it helped me to shape up my blog. If you are able to channelize negativity to create something positive, it always works. Most of my blog posts were crafted in the middle of those lectures. The transition is I love every class now.

Every morning when I leave, I think about writing something after coming back to my room at night. But when I am back, most of the time I am tired and overloaded with many other works. I need to find a way out. I have two options, either to stop writing for myself or manage my time in a way that I am able to balance my work and personal desire at the same time.

The former is not in the picture and the latter is challenging. And I love challenges in life. History is evident how I have emerged out of those tricky and challenging situations when everybody gave up the hope.  

Djinns…

I have heard the stories about Djinns when I was a kid. I even used to watch Aladdin and always expected Djinn to come out of a bottle and fulfill my crazy wishes. But I never heard about Djinn Pooja. On Thursday I got a chance to experience the thrill of Djinn Pooja and I was amazed to see the crowd. It happens every Thursday in Feroz Shah Kotla after 4:00 pm.

From outside, it looked like another monument. But when I went inside, it was still. It was quite, pin drop silence prevailed and the darkness defined the presence of some soul. Although there were plenty of people, the stillness of the place had wrapped everyone in its silence. The place where people go and pray is underground. There are plenty of small caves and each cave is decorated with candles and flowers.

Make a wish list and drop it there. That’s what people do. They come with a chit in their hand which holds their precious wishes scribbled in it. They all come and pray, while leaving, they all drop their wish list and wait for their wish to come true. People believe that most of the time, their wish has been granted. And when that happens they come back to the same place and distribute Biryani and sweets out of happiness and respect to Djinns.

Above the cave, there is a masjid named Jami Masjid. Feroz Shah Kotla was built by the Sultanate Feroz Shah Tuglaq. Opposite to this masjid, a 13.1 meters high column made up of polished sandstone, popularly known as Asoka Pillar.

The place is in a big area, mostly covered with a green garden where people usually spend time with their family and loved ones. Every Thursday a lot of people gather there to offer prayer. There are lots of rumors also that one gets to hear about this place. It gets closed by 8:00 pm, as people say after the sunset Djinns come out and read people wishes.

It is pointed out as a haunted place, and nobody dares to go there after sunset. There is a strange vibe inside the cave but the existence of Djinns is still a mystery. Some say they exists some say it’s all bullshit. There is no point in arguing on a topic like this. Never try to question people’s belief. You can either be on this side or on that side of the road. You cannot be or expect others to be on both side of the road at the same time. And never try to bring those people from the other side to your side. When you tend to ridicule their belief, it invokes a deep rage in those people. That’s why there are always two kinds of people in our world – the one who believes in miracles, the other who don’t believe in anything.

Apart from the fact that Djinns exist in this place, it is quite a good place to spend your evening. It is situated near Delhi Gate, which is another historical Monument of Delhi. Usually the place is quite empty, except on Thursday. Outside the gate of Kotla, you will find a great variety of Street foods comprising from pani-puri to chicken tikka’s.

People who have not been there, I would suggest to go there and experience a new dimension of this world.