“Count your blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done”
Today I am reminded of this song, we used to sing in Burn Hall School, Srinagar. At that time I didn’t realize what it meant. I realize it now.
I feel thankful towards God that He has given me a pair of working eyes, a pair of working ears, a working tongue and four limbs. Even if I were to belong to a lower economic-stratum, I would have been able to manage a living by labouring or by working out my brains smartly – all in all I am having overwhelmingly many opportunities, just for the fact that I am apparently normal, like everyone around. But not everyone is equally blessed, according to some people – though I do not belong to this school of thought.
Today I am forced to think about it after having seen that in this fast-track world, which is only for the normals among us, there exist another neglected people, the people who are left out. These are the differently-able people. Indeed they are left out because we do not have time to think about them. I am not of the thse who believe in the unequal creation of God; I believe that God has created everyone equal – some have visible defects, others’ defects are not so visible. But these people who are physically or mentally challenged are not ungifted. They have such abilities wrapped up in them, which when properly unveiled leave us wonderstruck. If they have a physical disability, then their mind shows extraordinary brilliance and talent that is rarely seen elsewhere. If they don’t have a good mental balance, they have extraordinary physical abilities and yet they have a very adorable and friendly nature. Yet if some have both physical and mental problems, they are still special and serve as a reason to live to those whom they are special – their parents, at least.
It was my second visit to Mata Bhagwanti Devi Chadha Charitable Niketan, Noida (MBCN) and I was touched equally as was by the first one. It in fact, was my third visit to a place of its kind, the first being a visit to the Mental Hospital, Rainawari, Srinagar, some 4 or 5 years ago.
Coming back to MBCN, I was so much moved by the efforts put in by whosoever runs it.  I met students who were so friendly as I had never seen anyone before. Yet, they are not accepted into this world, like you and me are. I made friends with most of them. I won’t forget their faces, their names.
The first time I went there, I was much depressed and agonized on my return. But this time I was much prepared and instead I was thinking that though I cannot ease off their pain, how can I become a part of their lives, share their pain and give them little happiness. I feel it is a place which holds the most beautiful creation of Almighty. Then why do we segregate them out calling them as disabled and retarded. Are they not humans; as good as we are? Don’t they have emotions just like all of us? They too hold a heart – big enough to accommodate everyone, even those who make fun of them.
They are not useless as many people think. They too have abilities and skills that need to be channeled. Some of them can make beautiful paintings, while others can sing marvellously. In MBCN, there were two boys who could dance very well and caught attention of everyone around. Everyone was forced to applaud at their mind-blowing performance. There is also a workshop over there where the students are taught to make paper bags and other paper products. I must say that the bags I saw there were undoubtedly beautiful and above all, absolutely flawless. Whatever, they are God’s creation, just as we are, and ought to be treated that way. That might make this planet a better and a blissful place to live – for them and for us.

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Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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