Sami Saravanan
 Forty
eight years old Sami Saravanan could not forget the thorny path he
had walked through to reach the peak. Born in a poor family in
Thanjavur, he had a severe attack of Polio, when he was one and a
half years old. He lost all senses in his hands and legs. For every
movement he needed some ones assistance.
He could not stand,
crawl or walk. His parents tried all treatment in Thanjavur, but
there was no improvement in him. His father could not bear the sight
of the invalid son and Saravanan's brother also joined him in
cursing and neglecting the poor disabled boy. But his mother
Muthulakshmi proved to be very loving, caring and sacrificing.
She took him to
Chennai to give better treatment and education. He was admitted in
the home for the physically handicapped, run by the Andhra Mahila
Sabha. As the physicians of the hospital told her that the treatment
would take few years, he was admitted in the school attached to the
hospital. Four years passed like that and there was no improvement
in his health.
As his mother could
not afford to spend any money, she took him back to Thanjavur and
put him in a local school. He studied in Tamil medium sixth
standard. He saw many boys of his age learning English. So he
requested his parents to put him in an English medium school. But
his father openly hit his emotions by telling that he was not even
fit for rearing the cattle and what was the use of studying English.
Saravanan's elder brother also joined his father in teasing his
disabled brother. But his mother fought with her husband and put him
in a school where he could learn in English medium. That became a
turning point in his life.
 He
stood first in his class up to 12th standard. He participated in
many competitions and secured prizes too. What he could never forget
in his life is the way he was insulted, teased and treated by the
people around him for no fault of him. He is very grateful to his
mother who carried him to school and other places every day.
He has shed tears
for her sufferings when she carried his 35 kg weight. Sometimes she
had fallen down with him too. What pains him more even now when he
thinks of people who never came forward even to lift the fallen
woman with a handicapped boy. He wonders whether people could be so
heartless! Later when his mother could not carry him, he was carried
by some of his kind classmates.
The treatment he
received from the public made him a stronger person and he resolved
to make his mark. He joined the B.com and after successfully
completing it, finished his M.com too. Side by side, he secured a
diploma in Science. It was not easy to get a job inspite of his
qualifications. His life had shown him the pitiable position of the
handicapped.
So he wanted to do
something to improve the position of the disabled. He founded an
association for the handicapped. In the west main street in
Thanjavur, he started an std booth and taught many disabled persons
how to manage the telephone booths. He helped many disabled to start
the booths so as to enable them to earn their livelihood. To get
some privileges and rights for the handicapped, he fought with the
telephone department almost every day.
Saravanan was keen
on knowing the condition of the handicapped in other countries. He
took books from libraries to know more about the disabled. The
matter he has gathered shocked him. In foreign countries handicapped
are treated by fellow human beings with care, concern and sympathy.
There are special privileges for them everywhere.
They are given
priority at every place. Even if they go alone, there are volunteers
to take care of them. Cycles and cars have been specially designed
for them. Though Saravanan was happy to note these details, he was
upset about the treatment met out by the handicapped in his country.
He bled for them. They are disowned by their own people. In public
they become a laughing stock. They are totally neglected.
Perhaps the
handicapped born in rich families are given special treatment, but
in poor and illiterate families, the plight of the disabled is
indescribable. After gathering all these information, Saravanan has
resolved to work for the betterment of the handicapped. As he is in
Thanjavur which has a university and many literate people, he is
able to develop good contacts with them.
As he has involved
himself in public activities, especially to empower the disabled, he
was interested in meeting the academicians who come to Thanjavur
from Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Japan, USA, England and other
places. His horizon widended after his contacts with the westerners
and he came to know more about them.
His research work
on the handicapped reveals the pathetic condition of them in India.
Saravanan does not hesitate to quote his experiences as a
handicapped. When an international conference of the physically
handicapped was held in Thanjavur, he presented a research paper on
the condition of the disabled in India.
The foreign
delegates were very much moved by his speech and they were shocked
to know the naked facts about Indian handicapped. He expressed his
unhappiness about the absence of any law to protect the welfare of
the handicapped in India and stressed with distress and agony the
need for the same. He also expressed his sentiments when there are
innumerable caste and communal organisations and many laws have been
enacted to protect the caste and religious minorities. why the
governmet has been keeping quiet over the issue of another minority
group (ie.) the handicapped. The foreign participants regretted for
the condition and appreciated his research paper and bold
expression.
In various
conferences the pitiable condition of the disabled was discussed and
memoranda's were also submitted to the government and other
interested organisations by various bodies of the handicapped.
Ultimately in 1995, an act to safeguard the interests of the
physically handicapped was made available because of the pressure
given by the International Organisation of the Pacific Nations. This
is a milestone in the progress of the disabled all over the world.
Saravanan collected
more materials and along with the paper he presented in the
international conference at Thanjavur, he wrote a book in English
and released the same.
He is happy that he
has been wanted to represent the handicapped comunity. He
participated in the interenational conferences held at Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand and other places. He is pleased to see the
condition of the handicapped in those countries. They never bother
about their disability and with the support of the government and
other organisations, work hard and earn their livelihood. Even in
poorer country like Thailand there are special facilities to the
handicapped in banks, schools, colleges, offices and shopping
complexes.
A special cycle for
the handicapped is always available to them and if they themselves
are not able to operate, volunteers come to their aid. But Saravanan
feels that no such assistance is offered to the disabled in India,
instead there are people to hurt them physically and
psychologically. He used to wonder how heartless some people are to
scold and tease the physically handicapped who crawl on the roadside
and thinking them beggars, the so called able bodied people throw
some coins at them reluctantly and even make comments why they do
not stay at home instead of troubling the public!
This attitude of
some people is really rude and crude and Saravanan wants people not
to pity the disabled but treat them as human beings atleast because
they have the potency to earn their livelihood if care and concern
are shown to them. He quotes the Chinese proverb, "Don't give
fish; teach him fishing" in Indian style, "Don't give him
food, teach him how to cultivate so that he may turn to be a capable
person to feed not only himself but others too." Saravanan has
that much confidence on his community (ie) the handicapped.
He has a massive
plan for his fellow beings. He has collected datas of the
handicapped in India. There are more than 15 crores of disabled in
India. He wants to found a home for the disabled in Thanjavur and
accommodate as many as possible in it. He has started the work and
hopes that the future inmates of his home would be able to lead a
peaceful and happy life.
He has devised many
plans to give them general and vocational training to bringout each
ones talents so that everyone benefits. He has seen in his
experience and research that there are talented people among the
disabled in music, drawing, painting and crafts. They are to be
spotted out and brought to lime light. He has determined to do every
thing to empower the handicapped.
Saravanan analyses
the contribution of the handicapped in the field of sports and
games. In a country of multi million people, no Indian could win any
gold in international sports and games when very small countries
could snatch many golds. Getting a bronze medal has been celebrated
as the greatest achievement in India.
But the Indian
handicapped have won laurels and all types of medals (gold, silver
and bronze) in different games at the international levels and it
should be appreciated and winners are to be honoured. What the so
called able bodied people could not achieve, the disabled are able
to do. Should they not be given a status, care and concern?
Saravanan promises that his home would train the disabled in all
games and sports too to bring honour to the country.
He is sure that
there would be many young handicapped who could become great
scientists and professionals. If trained well, they would have good
approach to science, technology, social and human values,
literature, art etc. Saravanan who is 41 has spent his life in
facing challenges of different kinds. He desires to concentrate on
the home for the disabled in Thanjavur and spend the remaining part
of his life in improving the status of the disabled and bring out
their talents. He is very confident that he would one day achieve
his life's ambition.
Shanmugam can be contacted
@:
No: 54 Kamaraj Road,
Ramakrishna Nagar,
Alwar Thirunagar,
Chennai- 600 087.
Phone: 248 60 221
E-mail: shanmugam@azagi.com
|
Protector of
the handicapped
