“…what a quiet bunch of students!...”

 “…what a quiet bunch of students!...”

…I told myself. I was on my way back from college in early 2000s in the general compartment of a local train in Mumbai.

A couple of stations passed & a group of 5-6 college students boarded the train. From my window seat, I was able to glance at them as they boarded the train. It was a mixed group, with a few girls & boys. They decided to stand near the door & did not come in.

Slowly, the compartment started getting occupied & I could barely spot them due to the crowd . I could see them involved in an animated discussion, with their hands moving all around. I guess they were speaking too softly as I couldn't hear them & that’s when I pondered how such a group of seemingly energetic students can be so quiet in their discussions.

In a few mins, I was about to reach my destination, so I decided to alight from the door they were at. As I reached closer to them, I was stunned at what I saw. I could see why they weren’t as noisy as any other group of students would be. All of them were specially abled (differently abled, as commonly known) & they all had a hearing impairment. They were still involved in a very animated and engaged discussion (in sign lang.) which most of the people around had no clue about, yet they seemed to be enjoying it. As I waited for my station to arrive, I was totally mesmerized by them. All of them probably around their 20s, dressed immaculately with trendy accessories – bright and energetic faces and not an ounce of indication about their struggle with the impairment.

The incident stayed with me for the next few days. Got me thinking how these folks, who did not have the basic ability of communicating via spoken words, seemed so happy. Their smiles were as beautiful as any and their dressing sense perhaps much better than most. They did not seem to bother about onlookers who stared at them as if they were aliens from another planet. It seemed as though their palms and fingers were more efficient in communication than most people's tongues could be. 

We often wonder about the abilities we lack, but forget that while we can try and acquire the abilities we desire, the abilities & attitude we possess can make up for the absence of such missing abilities. Things like ability to speak, hear, see, walk & touch are totally disregarded as an “ability” whereas we are actually privileged to have these. There are millions of such people in the world, who lack the basic abilities in their life yet manage to rise in their life like a phoenix through the ashes. Some might put up a great picture for all to see, though deep down, they might be fighting a tough battle daily.

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Hopefully, the word disability will soon be replaced with different or special ability. Links in comments for similar anecdotes.

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