What possibly can be more disabling than the inability to see a person as more? The question posed long ago by Robert M Hansel, a Guinness World Record holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, has come around once again to haunt the concerns of an Indian director, Bejoy Nambiar, who is gearing up for his Amitabh Bachchan-Farhan Akhtar-starrer film, Wazir. His recent statements about “limiting” Amitabh Bachchan in a wheelchair, sparked anger, evoking strong reactions and a demand for apology on Tuesday after Disability rights activist Javed Abidi condemned his remarks. Though the team of Wazir with Nambiar, as well as the film’s co-writers Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijat Joshi have apologised, and clarified that “no malice” was ever intended, it raises many questions related to the way issues related with disability and the disabled are shown in Bollywood. Nambiar said, “I have no clue (about the issue)...that’s the character he’s (Amitabh is) playing... what is so wrong in what I’m saying?” http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/life-style/the-disabling-act/180131.html Mind your language Our problem is not with the film, nor do we have any issues with the film showing a disabled person, but the fact that Bejoy says “Limited to a wheelchair”, “Confined to wheelchair” and “Wheelchair-ridden” is very derogatory. Anyone who knows English decently, would know that the word has a connotation to ‘bed-ridden’. However, I do feel that the modern-day cinema deals with the issue of disability more sensitively than the movies in 80s and 90s, with villains shown as blind from one eye or walks with a limp. Even that could be spared since the director has artistic licence of a director, but there’s no excuse for the remarks used by Bejoy. Watch out: I like Sparsh and Taare Zameen Par. Javed Abidi, Disability rights activist
Wheels of change At the outset, I congratulate the Bollywood fraternity for showcasing the lives of persons with disabilities in lead characters. But, I feel one’s personality doesn’t get limited in a wheelchair as it is a mere equipment to enhance one’s independent mobility. Generally wheelchair is perceived negatively by the society rather than being a symbol of mobility and independence. That needs to change. Sminu Jindal, founder of Svayam & MD Jindal SAW Ltd. Pay no heed We work with little kids and we don’t make them feel any different from other kids. I don’t think such frivolous comments should be entertained. Also, we teach them to not be affected by what people say. If someone wears specs or is on wheelchair, ideally, people should not comment on them. Even in movies, we see that the villain is blind of one eye or a comic character limps, which gives a negative shade to the disabled. We, at our foundation, are working in close quarters with Gulzar since last 30 years, who writes for us. In fact, our anthem is “Aasman kholo ek aur aasmaan hai”. Watch out: I like Koshish (1972), Taare Zameen Par, Iqbal, Dosti (1964) Anil Mudgal from Arushi, volunteer organisation for disabled Words that hurt I often hear people using words like “wheelchair bound” and “confined to wheelchair”, which is are quite derogatory. Words like these highlight ones intention to narrow down one’s horizons. Every individual is limitless. And not only is this bias evident in the films, but also in our Hindu Dharm Granths, where Manthra, a daasi in Ramayana was referred as ‘kubhri’ and even shakuni maama for that matter. Also, in Himachal, mostly it is considered inauspicious to see a disabled person in the morning, just at the start of the day. Watch out: I like the way films like Black, and Taare Zameen Par deals with the issue of disability. Ajai shrivastava, chairman of Umang Foundation Being inhuman I feel such a comment is inhuman. It seems like Bejoy is living on different planet. I feel that wherever the effort has been there, filmmakers have treated the matter of disability with much sensitivity. The fact that they have taken up the issue of disability is brilliant and applaud-worthy. Watch out: I like Margarita with a straw, Taare Zameen Par, and Sparsh AK Dua, Disha—Harbringer of Social Change, city-based NGO amar...@tribunemail.com -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Celebrating Louis Braill birthday, Jan. 4th. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
