Dear reader, imagine yourself in a group of friends, they are laughing and cracking jokes and having a great time, but you can’t talk or listen to what the joke is or what they are talking about. Will you feel isolated and excluded? You may feel singled out since you cannot relate to what is happening. This is the everyday story of millions of deaf and mute people live with loneliness.
Deafness is not a limitation; the limitation is the lack of awareness since we don’t feel it is important to learn the language of love. Late last year, as part of my project, I learnt the basics of Indian Sign Language (ISL) and today, I truly feel that I am able to understand my peers better. Learning the basics of ISL made me a better human since I realize now how important it is to take note of the mental health of the deaf and mute individuals, how to engage in a conversation etc.
The community is not broken to be fixed as some people may believe. They are bonded together through this beautiful language. The reality is that 1.5 billion speaking and hearing impaired people in the world also have a voice. And they articulate better. It is my problem if I am unable to communicate with them. That is why I advocate for its inclusion in our curriculum in schools and colleges at least as an optional course to begin with. Who will bell the cat? Do we start a petition or a signature campaign?
Pertinently, ISL is missing in the list of languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Presently, there is a demand to include 38 more languages in the Eighth schedule but sadly the language is not part of that list also.
466 million people use sign language as their only mode of communication. We still don’t give it the attention it deserves. In India, over 90% of deaf children are born to ‘normal parents’. Only 5% of the hearing impaired children get basic schooling in India. Where do you think is the problem? The problem starts when you don’t speak the language they understand. Since ISL is not the first language, the gap between the children and parents is widened. It is a loss. They don’t feel connected. Their cognitive skills are delayed and their literacy level is impacted, negatively. In this X thread, Pallavi K explains How deaf children face language deprivation.
There are around 350 special schools in India. And students enrolled in these schools get access to ISL. Why? Why can’t we mainstream this language? Why do we rely on special schools only? It may sound a stupid demand but ISL needs to be promoted in all schools so that we can celebrate the true spirit of Inclusivity.
Now, we understand that in India, the announcements (of flight delays or cancellation at airports or change of platforms for trains at Railway stations) are not inclusive. Deaf are excluded and there are no captions and no sign language interpretation. The daily oppression starts with this commute and ends in entertainment industry. As I mentioned in my first blog, deaf feel the music, let’s understand and appreciate the silence in this noisy world.
Here are a few reasons why ISL should be an important priority for the government to be given the status and attention it deserves.
- As per the Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, everyone has the right to equality before the law. Including ISL in the Scheduled Languages list would be a step towards recognizing and upholding this right for deaf individuals by ensuring equal access to information, education, and opportunities.
- Sign language is not just a communication tool, but also a complete language with its own grammar, syntax, and cultural nuances. Including ISL in the Scheduled Languages list would acknowledge and respect the unique cultural and linguistic identity of the deaf community in India.
- Including ISL in the list would promote wider usage and learning of the language, empowering deaf individuals to participate actively in various aspects of society, including education, employment, and governance.
- Including ISL would ensure that deaf individuals have equal access to government information, legal proceedings, education, healthcare, and other essential services. This would promote their inclusion and active participation in society.
PC: unsplash.com
References: the Hindu, the Indian Express, Hindustan Times.
