Caught in uncertainty

"Prejudice is a burden that cconfuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible...We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated." - Maya Angelou 





hold on...

let go...

Over the days of inaugurating our arts based therapy centre for children and adults with special needs, between March 23rd and 29th, I've been told - 'The most important things in life never come easy', I've been asked to 'wait' with hope and I've learned that ‘it is important to allow ones emotions raise and fall’.

Caught amidst uncertainty, I wonder, what happens when some individuals respond solely from a space of prejudice? Would an understanding of importance to anything ever make that difference?

On 23^rd a mob of neighbours along with the local corporator made a racket outside the centre demanding for licences and permissions without any legal standing.  Their complaints ranged from-‘visual distortion’,  where they claim by even looking at children with special needs ‘could’ mentally be traumatising to them, their children and people around’ to ‘noise levels’ and ‘traffic issues’. The later half, we are in the process of putting systems in place to reduce that stress on the local community. As concerns this has been addressed in a public meeting with them. But when it gets to a state of ignorance and prejudice, I have come to believe, it is a journey of the community to unlearn.

On the day, we explained ourselves endlessly. We have followed govt. protocols with regards to permissions and licenses; we have approached the State Commissioner for Persons with Disability for advice. Nothing seemed to make sense. They continued to protest with baseless arguments.

I wonder have we become inaccessible as conditioned humans. Aren’t we losing sight of the self, the other and the possibilities? Do we live in unfriendly societies that will always remain closed?

It has now reached a point of conflict not just with the local community but local politicians, local BBMP officers and the cops. We have been forced to ‘shut down’ all operations on account of a baseless notice issued to us.

In the light of all the things happening over the last three months, I do not know whether I want to spend more time and energy in cushioning that ‘time’, ‘waiting’ for people to start using their hearts while they attempt to use their heads in making absurd comments and selfish decisions. At the end of the day, I do not know whose ‘ego’ we’re fighting for.

One is forced to consider options of whether to – give-up or fight.

Is it worth to ‘hope’ for a time of acceptance for our children? I wonder.

Pallavi Chander
for Snehadhara Foundation