Blind race

DB mall at 8.30 am was very deserted . Gradually the place started swelling up with people. Occasion was that of a special car rally where route navigator will be a visually challenged person. It is organized by an organization called Arushi which works for children with special needs. The money collected would be go to the organization as charity.   

This year I decided to participate in this  decade old annual event. Thanks to Rohini who volunteered to take care of my registration procedure.  Excitement overpowered sense of charity. At the start-off venue there were various types of cars. Some were vintage treasured only for such special events, jazzy cars like Porsche flaunted its existence, special Bhopali jeeps with exotic makeover, luxury cars, medium to expensive range of 8-seaters, but the regular category cars being in majority. Car owners were of matching personalities fully dressed for the event. A mini bus pulled in at the venue and all the eager eyes turned towards it . This vehicle brought in our navigators. A coordinator facilitated them to get out of the bus and made them sit on the steps. Soon they were flocked around by the drivers to get connected with their own navigator.

The Police band started playing a melodious tune. It was an indication that the rally was soon to start as the chief guest was on his way for the flag-off. Being a novice I was trying to understand rule of the game. Each car is provided with the speed regulation rules and a route map at the time of flag-off, all –in- braille. The navigator will first explain you how much to speed for which sector. Then gradually s/he will read the route map. Driver has to concentrate on speed limit and the route as sometimes landmarks are symbolically described along with.

My navigator was a young boy from Gorakhpur. He was studying in std XI with Political science, Geography and economics as his subjects. It was a full time school in Bhopal. Ashish aspires to do a course in Masters of Social work. I was amazed to see his ease in operating a cell phone, many of them are expert in using touch screen also.

It was a unique experience being instructed by a visually challenged person. We got lost at few occasions, circled and circled at one place initially due to poor coordination, went on the correct path and felt motivated. But we enjoyed our complementarity thoroughly. Along the way we chatted and came to know about each other, thrilled over our correct routes and consoling each other on a wrong move. Towards the end we were so comfortable with each other that we have decided to be the winning  pair next year .

In recent years the facility of audio books has negatively affected capability to read braille. However, the facilities offered to the specially challenged population are very less in comparison to the liveliness of these human beings who make it their own responsibility to live life to the fullest. I realized that we pity them as they are unable to see the world from our standards , but they see the world in a more meaningful way. For them the world is really nirgun, nirakar  which is the centre of Vedic philosophy.  

Aboli

January 2016