Our life and personalities are by some means related to disability, according to Ira Singhal, Civil Services Examination Topper of 2015 and the Assistant Collector, Government of Delhi.
While interacting in a disability event ‘Humari Zubaan - From Impairment to Disability’ held in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday, March 20, Ira said, “Victimisation needs to end.”
Reflecting on rights, disability and culture, Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, JNU, Dr Ratheesh Kumar PK said, “Society created stereotype is there in every domains of life.”
When asked why all the Indian beggars are disabled, Ira said, “The generalisation is untrue. The physically challenged beggars are part of this society. Class and religion always play a significant role while speaking about disability. People solidify that disabled people are the lesser performers. Being forced to get into that mindset; negative attribution takes over the positive.”
Deconstructing disability discourse through personal narrative, a differently-able person said “Despite my academic credentials and learning about my issues, I was humiliated in an interview of Aligarh Muslim University, where I was asked to write my address on blackboard.” On which Ira said, Shying away from disability is no solution. let us satisfy people’s curiosity and challenge their thought process!”
The event highlighted that States, like Kerala and Karnataka, are friendlier to the disabled in comparison to Chhattisgarh.
The policy adopted by the country to those marrying a disabled person ends up getting a caretaker than a life partner to those physically challenged persons.
Ira ended up the interactive session on a healthy note “Do not be ashamed of your disability, honour is with ourselves; put an end to those bullying minds. let your disability not define you!”