ASHANKURA

This again happens to be an article written and sent to me by Dr. Ramamani. She wanted me to publish it in my blog. So here it is.

I happened to receive an invitation card from Ashankura school for inauguration function of Annual sports. Ashankura is a special school for spastic and mentally challenged children. I had not really made up my mind whether to go or not as I had work. But arrival of a friend and common interest of we two, tilted my decision in favour of attending the function.
I never regret going there for it turned out to be an experience of different sort. The inauguration was arranged in outdoor space of Ashankura School. There was a dais meant for Chief guest and other dignitaries. School children both boys and girls in the age group of 8-16 were dressed up in sports uniform of red T-shirt and black shorts.
I had a look at these children with faces so different, faces with different features, faces with different expressions. Some had slanting eyes, some had mouths gaping, some had their tongues hanging out, some had a funny grin. Many children had a different bone structure, loose limbs, thin weak legs and walked with halting gaits. One boy had a mass of tissue in place of right ear. A boy perched on a chair had both his legs in knee length braces. His supporting walker had fallen off by the side. He drew my attention to get him back the walker. With the help of walker he joined the crowd of other children.
Probably not aware of the world, not aware of what is in store for the future these children just giggled .
These anomalous children are innocent victims of errors. Errors not of their own but of nature, of nature passing on the genes wrongly coded, of genes which do not give the right command for development of brain, bones or muscles, or errors during the birth process, often stranded while coming out of mother’s womb resulting in brain damage.
I went up to them and said ‘hello,’ wished them luck in sports and extended my hands towards them. Out came twenty hands with eyes peering curiously at me, some smiled also.
Apparently sports teacher was trying to arrange the children in columns of three for March past. A lady teacher who was holding the hand of a boy to keep him well with in line.
Chief guest and dignitaries arrived and sat on raised dais . They were welcomed and there were speeches. Lamp was lighted and sports was declared open.
Sports oath was taken by a tall girl on behalf of all children, oath meant for special Olympic participants. "I want to win, if I dont win I want to learn". She looked so normal and even graceful. I asked teacher how this girl happened to be a schoolmate of Ashankura.. I was told that she looked quite different some years back, now with training she has mastered many body movements and speech. That was an optimistic note.
A tall boy who had many medals to his credit from Special Olympics in Europe was leading the group for march past. It was proudly announced that he was expected to go to China for special Olympics later. He was the flag bearer.
The march past moved in a circle. All children marched past to the rhythmic beat of band and ‘ left right , left right’ command of leader not so rhythmically. Their hands flailed forward and backward as their legs stomped in strides of different lengths. March past was so asynchronous, yet looked so beautiful coming from them! As it went on, column of children grew wider and wider. Finally the leader saluted the guest of honour and planted the flag in front of him.
There was a sense of achievement in children’s face as they looked at their parents and onlookers who smiled back with encouragement. I could see the pride in parents eyes.
Then there was a drill. It was fashioned in accordance with different movements of cricket game. A girl brought a placard written ‘ bowling’ and children swung their arms in circles bowling an imaginary ball. Another girl brought another placard written ‘batting.’ Children batted virtually from both sides as a left hander or a right hander would do. Then came the placards ‘four’ ‘six’ ‘ catch’ ’out’ ‘ lbw’ ‘ wide’ ‘out’ ‘catch’ Mimicking of all these actions were done by children.
Spectators and guests clapped On the whole inauguration was a great event.God bless these children. God’s children .