In the first weekend of this year, an August gathering, not an unusual scene in a touristy Goa, was seen on the banks of the Miramar beach in Panjim, Goa, the capital of India’s (size wise) smallest state. Every gaze was locked at these differently-abled individuals. These people living with wheelchairs were invited from different parts of India to showcase their talent and prove their mettle. The performance received a thundering applause. It was a celebration of inclusivity.
As my cab zoomed past the venue, I saw volunteers setting up their stalls for the International Purple Fest. There were sign interpreters for the visually impaired, accessibility announcements for musical evenings and well-organized cultural programs.
Picture Credits: Author
PC: Author
Mind Matters
Since mental health of persons with disabilities is a topic rarely discussed, I noticed the mindscape zone on the very first day of the fest.
“As per neuroscience, we create up to 60,000 thoughts per day. 80% of them are negative and 95% repetitive. Every thought has energy. Since disabled people get lot of negative comments, imagine how these thoughts pile up in their mind. To remove this negative and heavy energy, there is a technique called Pranic Healing.”
Ipomea Chaudhary, a volunteer at IPF 2024 demonstrates with an example. If someone tells you “I love you”, it feels good and cheers you up but if you get a comment like “I hate you”, it saddens you. Why? It is not the words, it is the negative energy.”
‘Invisible to Visible’
In a one-of-its-kind inclusive festival that celebrates persons with disabilities, the first-ever ‘From Invisible to Visible’ conference was also hosted. So, what was the conference all about? It was aimed at generating a debate and get the status of people living with invisible disabilities, as these disabilities are not included in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Polymyositis is an example of an invisible disability. There are no visible markers on the individual’s body but the muscles are inflamed and irritated. A person with a locomotor disability may use a white cane or a wheelchair; it is easily recognized through assistive devices, but what about people who live with neurological conditions or a pain syndrome? They may look okay but experience considerable challenges. Examples of such conditions include auditory disabilities; neurodivergence like autism, dyslexia, ADHD, autoimmune disorders etc.
What I learned as a fellow whose project surrounds around persons with disabilities and how I can help amplify their voice, I realized that I have a long way to go. I have to dig deeper to try to find solutions and understand the space better through various resources, skills and more importantly, observing and living with the community.
PC: Author
Many firsts in the kitty
To bolster inclusion, Government of India launched India’s first cloud based IVRS toll-free ‘Disability Information Line’ services for persons with disabilities. They can now call 1800222014 and seek information or report issues concerning their daily lives. How effective it will be remains to be seen.
A standout moment was the launch of the Festival anthem ‘Dhumal’ featuring PwD’s from the Indian Music Industry. Written by the legendary Javed Akhtar, Dhumal means Purple, the colour of diversity and inclusion.
Enable India, an AIF partner, launched purple playbook in the presence of the Chief Minister of Goa. In this global celebration of inclusivity, some key highlights also include the opening and closing ceremonies with engaging music, dance and entertainment performances by Persons with Disabilities, symbolizing their remarkable talent.
To add another layer of significance to the Festival, in the presence of 22 purple ambassadors representing 21 disabilities of RPwD Act 2016 and spinal cord injury, Purple TV was also launched. It is a TV channel exclusively meant for Persons with Disabilities. The channel aims to showcase their ideas, success stories, interviews, and achievements globally, creating an inclusive media platform to empower them.
Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa, also launched the first inclusive musical app- Purple Riyaz- melody without boundaries.
Dialogue in the Dark
PC: Author.
Organized by the SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India, a pitch-dark room was setup inside the venue to perform three activities: smell the spices, play cricket and identify the object. Of the six members in my group, only one person could smell or identify the object clearly. The aim was to tell the non-disabled how dark the world feels for the visually impaired round the clock. If a sighted person feels 15 minutes is too much and wants to get out of the room, imagine how it feels for the visually impaired. So, empathize and be kind, that is the least we can do.
PC: Author
Outro
From January 8 to January 13, immense athleticism, sheer grit and the never-say-die spirit took centre stage across multiple sports disciplines, including the prestigious National Para Athletics Championship at Bambolim.
In the land of the sun, the sand and the sea, this 6-day festival was a true celebration for the marginalized community. All the sessions were a massive ejaculation of opportunities. Over 14000 people participated in the Festival which drew to a glorious conclusion with the triumph of the superlative abilities of persons with disabilities.
