Is Impairment an Impediment? | Citizen Reporters

Vol 3 Issue 19, May 11 - 17, 2012

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Is Impairment an Impediment?

By rvnachar18 May 2012

posted 31/10/11 11:52:48

Every incident in our life has some message, if only we have the patience to observe and imbibe! Recently, I was travelling by a public transport bus. At a stop, a bunch of blind people got into the bus and one of them, a slim and fair lady, aged about 30 years sat next to me. I felt curious and asked her, ‘Are you all from some institution?’ with hesitation, because we always imagine blind people staying together in some institution! ‘No, madam! We live in Electronic City. That’s my husband and those two boys are our children. The other fat lady sitting on the left seat is my friend, who too lives near our house. That’s her husband and the other two boys are her children. We came visiting our friend who lives here in Yelahanka, as today is a holiday’, said the lady. Electronic City is situated 35 kms away from Yelahanka and I was stunned to hear that four blind people have travelled all the way with their four naughty children by buses. The lady caught the curiosity in my voice and continued, ‘Our friend who lives in Yelahanka and her husband too are blind. We were all classmates in Ramana Maharishi School for the Blind.’. ‘Since both of you are blind, how do you manage your home?’ ‘We are like any of you Madam. I wake up, cook food for my family, get ready and set off to work along with my husband to a garment factory’, said she confidently. ‘Do you cook on a gas stove?’ ‘My friend has a gas stove. I use a kerosene stove’. ‘Is it not risky filling the tank and using a kerosene stove?’ ‘It is as risky for us as it is for you. We have the extra-sensory power which can tell us when the tank is full. I then lift the stove and check the weight. That’s it.’ With all senses in perfect order, we make so many mistakes everyday like we let the milk overflow, we forget to switch off the water pump and let the tank overflow, we burn our fingers while cooking, we fall, we drop things, we bang our heads, etc. Whereas, here is a blind woman confidently telling me how blind people lead normal lives like we do (or rather more normal than we do!). She said how her parents and parents-in- law are very happy that they are well settled and managing their lives successfully. So, what it is it that is required to lead a successful life? That fillip is missing in many normal people, who keep complaining about so many things that are preventing them from achieving their goals!

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