8TH CULTURAL PROGRAMME IN MUMBAI

SANATANA DHARMA FOR THE DEAF

WILL HOLD ITS 8TH ANNUAL CULTURAL PROGRAMME

At

GUJARATI KELAMANI MANDAL

AMULAKH AMICHAND VIDYALAYA,

close to SNDT COLLEGE, near AURORA CINEMA,

76/A, KIDWAI ROAD, MATUNGA,

MUMBAI – 400 019 INDIA

At 3.00 pm on Sunday, 27th January 2008

PROGRAMME : LECTURES, PLAYS, CONTESTS, FILM SHOW, POOJA & DINNER

TICKET:

Rs. 75/- only per an adult

Rs. 150/- only per an overseas visitor

For further information, please contact:

Shri Anantadev ( Sms: 9845457727 ), Smt Geeta Saraiya ( Sms: 9867296830 )

Email: hkwad108@yahoo.com

sdd108@rediffmail.com

More Photos on Krishna Janmashtami Programme

Report on SHRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI FESTIVAL PROGRAMME 2007

On 2nd September Shri Krishna Janmashtami programme held by Sanatana Dharma for the Deaf (a wing of Universal Sanatana Dharma) at SRN Adarsh College, Chamrajpet, Bangalore went well. Around 100 persons including a few hearing ones enjoyed lectures, LCD show, plays, spiritual lucky dip, film show, contests, pooja and prasad lunch. Anantadev’s prayer began. A play on `Sharing Fortunes’ by deaf students and physically handicapped ones of Association of People with Disabilities and other play cum ballet on `Krishna Leela’ by deaf school students of Shri B.D.Tatti (Annavaru) Memorial Charitable Trust, Laxmeshwar, Gadag, Karnataka were delightful. As a special guest, Smt Sukanya Chattopadhyay, the principal of the college gave her speech which impressed all. Anantadevji’s lecture on meditation, Bhagavad-Gita and science of soul was pleasing. Conversion Multimedia to VCD – Srimad Bhagavad-Gita by Shri Rajendra Joglekar of Pune ( IIT M.Design) was greatly applauded. Priyanka, a daughter of deaf parents, did her good job by interpreting to the audience for Sukanya, Anantadevji and Rajendra both in a voice and sign language way.

Anantadevji performed a pooja. Lunch followed.

Shri K.S.Chandramouli arranged for an exciting transcendental game. Many of the participants liked it very much. Anantadevji and Rajendra distributed prizes among the school winners of Janmashtami Painting Competition. Shri R. Sriram won Spiritual Lucky Dip by receiving an Indian comic `Amar Chitra Katha on Bhagavata’ from Anantadevji.
Finally there was an animated film show on `Lord Krishna’.

Shri K.S. Chandramouli gave a vote of thanks. Everyone enjoyed the programme.

Acknowledgement:

1) To Smt Sukanya Chattopadhyay who let us to use her college auditorium for Janmashtami programme.

2) To Volunteers did excellent work for Krishna Janmashtami programme - Shri K.S.Chandramouli, Shri J.V.Jagannath, Shri K.D.Chandramouli, Shri Somusundara, Shri M.C.Ganesh, Shri Jaisal Shah (Pune), Shri Chinnappa, Shri B.Vikas, Shri C.Sharath, Shri Rikwak, Smt Padmalatha Reddy (Nellore, Andhra Pradesh), Smt Hema Chandramouli and Smt Rajendra Joglekar (Pune).

3) To Shri Somanath Mahajanshettar of Shri B.D.Tatti (Annavaru) Memorial Charitable Trust, Laxmeshwar for sending his school students for their performance

4) To students of Association of People with Disabilities for their performance and to Smt Anuradha B Muzumdar and Ms Jaagadeshwara for their support.

5) To Shri Rajendra Joglekar and Shri R.Sriram who contributed photos.

6) To Chira Information Technologies who sponsored food for the audience in memorial of Late Film Actress Soundarya.

7) To New Arya Bhavan for donating sweets

8) To all advertisers, sponsors and donors.

India USA Deaf Youth Empowerment Camp 2007

Working together to overcome disability

Staff Reporter

Seven-day cultural camp aims at empowering persons with hearing disability

Bangalore: A cluster of young people from the U.S. and India — all people with hearing disability — are working towards empowering one another at a seven-day cultural camp here.

The programme, which began earlier in the week, was organised by the Global Reach Out Initiative (GRO). Some of the challenges they face, according to Director of the Disabled and Senior Citizens Welfare Department V. Shrirama Reddy, include the absence of facilities for people with hearing disability to pursue college education although there are 39 schools for them.

The participants had a role model in Anantadev Das (52), founder-president of Sanatana Dharma for the Deaf (SDD), who had fought a lone battle to become the first Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) graduate with hearing disability in Mumbai.

They learnt that they too can make a difference.

Mr. Das, however, lamented that the employment opportunities for students with hearing disability were almost nil in India. This was in contrast to the situation abroad, where employers provided interpreters so that people with hearing disability could work easily.

In India, however, this concept was yet to catch up, he said.

It was pointed out at the camp that people with hearing disability had one problem.

The Indian sign language was slightly mixed up and not standardised as in the U.S. According to Kripa Damas, coordinator of the Sign Language Department, Dr. S.R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech & Hearing, the sign language differs from place to place as culture and dialects influence it.

At the camp, however, the participants overcame this problem by taking recourse to reading of basic gfestures and lip-reading.

Global Reach Out Initiative co-ordinator Smitha Hanumantha said that the camp would encourage the participants to use visual media such as plays to communicate their ideas.

( Taken from The Hindu, 24th June 2007 )

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GRO Member KJ's Appreciation

Instead of writing of negative experiences, which thankfully were few and far in between, I would like to give props to those who deserve it.

In no particular order:

The Indian delegates. Anu, Anil, Bharath, Krishna, Vikas, Roopa, Fathima, and Anand. I know that we all had doubts about the effectiveness of our work, if any, but you all quickly dispelled any doubts that we had. Even if it was different than what we all originally imagined, it was clear from your skit at the closing ceremony that we did have an impact. More importantly, it was clear that you guys learned from this experience and our hope is that you will take it all to heart and continue the work that we started together.

Anantadev Das. For your honesty and your patience. This program would not have been a success without you and I know that we all hope to be able to work with you again.

Chandra Mouli. I think we all fell in love with your giggle! What I am most impressed with is your positive attitude at all times. We know it is not easy, as you always say. Yet, you manage to pull it off and it is clear that you have the best interests of the Indian Deaf at heart.

( Taken from http://www.globalreachout.org/ )

SHRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME

SHRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI FESTIVAL PROGRAMME will be held at SRN Adarsh College, Chamarajpet, Bangalore on 1st and 2nd September 2007.

First Day – 1st September - 4 pm to 7 pm at Lecture Hall in Adarsh College

Lectures on Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Spiritual Messages.

All are welcome

Second Day – 2nd September - 10 am to 6 pm at Auditorium in Adarsh College

1) Welcome Speech
2) Prayer
3) Lecture on Krishna and Bhagavad-Gita by Shri Anantadev
4) Play by the deaf students of Association of the People with Disability
5) Conversion Multimedia to VCD – Srimad Bhagavad-Gita by Shri Rajendra Joglekar of Pune ( IIT M.Design)
6) Play by the deaf students of Shri B.D.Tatti (Annavaru ) Memorial Charitable Trust, Laxmeshwar, Gadag, Karnataka
7) Puja
8) Lunch
9) Prize Distribution
10) Lucky Spiritual Dip
11) Film on Lord Krishna ( about 1 ½ hour )

ENTRY FEE for 2nd September : Rs. 50/= per a person

For further information: please contact Shri Anantadev Das, Shri K.S.Chandramouli, Shri K.D.Chandramouli, Shri M.C.Ganesh, Shri B.Vikas

Rajendra Joglekar's Programme in Mumbai

Anantadev Das (Left) and Rajendra Joglekar (Right)

SDD programme was held at Amulakh Amichand Vidyalaya, Matunga, Mumbai on 18th March 2007. Shri Anantadev Das invited Shri Rajendra Joglekar ( M.Design from IIT staying in Pune ) (SDD supporter) to speak to SDD members about Bhagavad- Gita background. Shri Anantadev also lectured to the members about Bhagavad-Gita. Everyone enjoyed the programme. Hare Krishna!

Anantadevji Remembering Jonathan

JONATHAN TINAT PASSED AWAY

This morning K.S.Chandramouli smsed me by saying that he got sms from Lucy Upah of Nigeria saying that Jonathan L Tinat ( President of Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (HQ) fell into coma on Saturday and passed away yesterday ( 12th March ). I could hardly believe this shocking news.

How did I meet him for first time? In the 2nd week of November 2006 at IRYLA event, Ichalakaranji, Rotarian Dr.Dilip Deshmukh, who had arranged a double hotel room for me to stay, asked me whether a deaf male delegate from Nigeria who would arrive soon could share the same room with me. I nodded. Later Jonathan, Lucy and Antonia introduced themselves to many delegates including myself. At the very first meeting I and Jonathan became good acquaintances.

I saw that his Bible book was lying near his bed in the hotel room. This showed that he was a believer of God. In order to clear his misconception of Hare Krishna philosophy he became curious about it and learnt a lot from me about it. Jonathan remarked that this philosophy was very beautiful.

I invited him and two friends of his to stay in my place in Bangalore. They was greatly wowed by the colourful city of Bangalore and wanted to extend their stay for more days. Being comfortable with my and other deaf friends’ goodwill they spent about one week here. Jonathan endeared himself to everyone.

He loved India, her food, culture and people. He came to India for the first time and conquered people here by his friendship but were also conquered by great goodwill of people here. He presented me a Nigerian cap. Since he said it cost around Rs.1800, I am still keeping it as a token of memorial friendship.

He recognised the importance of SDD. He said that he would welcome me to establish SDD center in Nigeria. This shows that he believed firmly in communal harmony and peace. He felt strongly that my lecture on proverbs and spiritual values would be of great use to the deaf in Nigeria if I come there.

He had a good sense of humour. He shared jokes with me. He sometimes burst into laughter whenever I joked. He said he loved my jokes, wits and humours.

He was full of enthusiasm to serve the deaf. He was one of the gifted leaders for the deaf. He was the President of Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (HQ). He was popular among the deaf communities in Africa. He aspired to represent the deaf community of Africa in the World Federation of the Deaf in July 2007. But his death embraced him leaving this aspiration unfulfilled. It is God’s will which is more important than everything. My prayer to Him is to let Jonathan’s soul be in peace.

When Jonathan learnt from me that India Deaf Expo was expected to be held in Bangalore in 2009, he got very excited about taking part in this expo with his Nigerian members. But death unexpectedly took him away. Bhagavad-Gita taught us not to lament too much over our dear relatives/friends’ death. So uncontrollable lament was unnecessary. But of course! we miss our great friend Jonathan. It will be great if he is with God in His abode. We are His instruments so we cannot thwart untimely death. Death is inevitable whether it is timely or untimely.

Rtn Dr.Dilip Deshmukh described him as a genius and considered his death as a great loss.

Visit his beautiful website: http://www.laatinat.com/ . Also see Naty's blogspot: http://jonathantinat.blogspot.com/

May Jonathan’s soul be in peace.

Hare Krishna!

Anantadev

CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU'S APPEARANCE DAY ON 3rd MARCH 2007

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is one of the prominent spiritual personalities in the world. He is also one of my favourite spiritual personalities. His life and teachings are a source of great inspiration to me. About five hundred years ago he predicted that the Holy Names of Lord Krishna (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) would be spread all over the world. It had come true when Srila Prabhupada (Guru of Hare Krishna society) spread the Holy Names forty years ago.

APPEARANCE

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took birth in Mayapur in the town of Nadia just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phalguna 1407 Sakabda, answering to the 18th of February, 1486, of the Christian Era. He is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna. The moon was eclipsed at the time of his birth, and the people of Nadia were then engaged, as was usual on such occasions, in bathing in the Bhagirathi with loud cheers of Haribol. His father, Jagannatha Misra, a poor brahmana of the Vedic order, and his mother, Sacidevi both came from brahmana stock originally residing in Sylhet. Mahaprabhu was a charming child. His mother's father, Pandit Nilambara Chakravarti, an astrologer, foretold that the child would be a great personage in time; and he, therefore, gave him the name Visvambhara. The ladies of the neighborhood named him Gaurahari on account of his golden complexion, and his mother called him Nimai on account of the nimba tree near which he was born.

CHILDHOOD

As he grew up he became a whimsical and naughty lad. After his fifth year, he was sent to a pathashala where he learnt Bengali in a very short time.Most of his contemporary biographers have mentioned certain anecdotes regarding Chaitanya which are simple records of his early miracles. It is said that when he was an infant in his mother's arms he wept continually, and when the neighboring ladies cried `Haribol', he used to stop crying. It has also been stated that when his mother once gave him sweetmeats to eat, he ate clay instead of the food. When his mother asked for the reason, he stated that as every sweetmeat was nothing but clay transformed, he could eat clay as well. His mother explained that every article in a special state was adapted to a special use. Earth, while in the state of a jug, could be used as a water pot, but in the state of a brick such a use was not possible. Clay, therefore, in the form of sweetmeats was usable as food, but clay in its other states was not. The lad was convinced and admitted his stupidity in eating clay and agreed to avoid the mistake in the future. Another miraculous act has been related. It is said that a brahmana on pilgrimage became a guest in his house, cooked food and read grace with meditation upon Krishna. In the meantime the lad came and ate up the cooked rice. The brahmana, astonished at the lad's act, cooked again at the request of Jagannatha Mishra. The lad again ate up the cooked rice while the brahmana was offering the rice to Krishna with meditation. The brahmana was persuaded to cook for the third time. This time all the inmates of the house had fallen asleep, and the lad showed himself as Krishna to the traveler and blessed him. The brahmana was then lost in ecstasy at the appearance of the object of his worship. It has also been stated that two thieves stole away the lad from his father's door with a view to steal his jewels and gave him sweetmeats on the way. The lad exercised his illusory energy and deceived the thieves back towards his own house. The thieves, for fear of detection, left the boy there and fled. These anecdotes relate to his tender age up to the fifth year.In his eighth year, he was admitted into school close by the village of Mayapur. In two years he became well read in Sanskrit grammar and rhetoric. His readings after that were of the nature of self-study in his own house, where he had found all-important books belonging to his father, who was a pandita himself. Now, after the tenth year of his age, Chaitanya became a scholar in grammar and rhetoric. It was after this that his elder brother Vishavarupa left his house and accepted the ashram (status) of a sannyasi (ascetic). Chaitanya, though a very young boy, consoled his parents, saying that he would serve them with a view to please God. Just after that, his father left this world. His mother was exceedingly sorry, and Mahaprabhu, with his usual contented appearance, consoled his widowed mother.

YOUTH

It was at the age of 14 or 15 that Mahaprabhu was married to Lakshmi Devi, the daughter of Vallabhacarya, also of Nadia. He was at this age considered one of the best scholars of Nadia, the renowned seat of nyaya philosophy and Sanskrit learning. The learned scholars were all afraid of confronting him in literary discussions. Being a married man, he went to Eastern Bengal on the banks of the Padma for acquirement of wealth. There he displayed his learning and obtained a good sum of money. It was at this time that he preached Vaishnavism at intervals. After teaching him the principles of Vaishnavism, he ordered Tapana Mishra to go to and live in Benares. During his residence in East Bengal, his wife Lakshmi Devi left this world from the effects of snakebite. On returning home, he found his mother in a mourning state. He consoled her with a lecture on the uncertainty of human affairs. It was at his mother's request that he married Vishnupriya.

MISSION

It was at the age of 16 or 17 that he travelled to Gaya with a host to sing the holy name of Hari in the streets and bazaars. This created a sensation and roused different feelings in different quarters. The bhaktas were highly pleased. The smarta brahmanas became jealous of Nimai Pandita's success and complained to Chand Kazi against the character of Chaitanya as un-Hindu. The Kazi came and broke a mridanga (khola drum) there and declared that unless Nimai Pandita ceased to make noise about his queer religion he would be obliged to enforce Mohammedanism on him and his followers. This was brought to Mahaprabhu's notice. He ordered the townspeople to appear in the evening, each with a torch in his hand. This groups, and on his arrival in the Kazi's house, he held a long conversation with the Kazi and in the end communicated into his heart his Vaishnava influence by touching his body. The Kazi then wept and admitted that he had felt a keen spiritual influence which had cleared up his doubts and produced in him a religious sentiment which gave him the highest ecstasy. The Kazi then joined the sankirtana party. The world was astonished at the spiritual power of the Great Lord, and hundreds and hundreds of heretics converted and joined the banner of Visvambhara after this affair.It was after this that some of the jealous and low-minded brahmanas of Kulia picked a quarrel with Mahaprabhu and collected a party to oppose him. Nimai Pandita was naturally a soft-hearted person, though strong in his principles. He declared that party feelings and sectarianism were the two great enemies of progress and that as long as he should continue to be an inhabitant of Nadia belonging to a certain family, his mission would not meet with complete success.

RENOUNCED ORDER

Mahaprabhu then resolved to be a citizen of the world by cutting his connection with his particular family, caste and creed, and with this resolution he embraced the position of a sannyasi at Katwa, under the guidance of Keshava Bharati of that town, on the 24th year of his age. His mother and wife wept bitterly for his separation, but Mahaprabhu, though soft in heart, was a strong person in principle. He left his little world in his house for the unlimited spiritual world of Krishna with man in general.

Bhagavad-Gita Programme in Chennai

Shri V.R.Venkatesan, the publisher of Silent Brotherhood, ( who recently won India Deaf Expo award for best deaf magazine ) invited Anantadevji to be Guest of Honour for 7th Anniversary of Srimad Bhagavad Gita Course for the Deaf at Krishna Temple, Sree Gaudiya Math in Chennai on 28th January 2007. Anantadev consented to it. About 20 persons including Mastan, his wife Padmalatha and brother-in-law Ravi ( from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh ) attended it. By train he was travelling to Chennai from Bangalore. But derailment of a train in a certain place in Tamil Nadu delayed his attending the programme. Thus they waited to give him a reception. Anantadev thanked Mastan and Ravi for picking him up at Chennai station and saving his time.
Anantadev lit the lamp along with others like Jakkala Ranganathan, Venkatesan, Vidya ( hearing interpreter ). Then he and the audience recited Hare Krishna mantra in signs three times. When Venkatesan introduced him to the audience, he eulogised him as a rare deaf messenger of Sanatana Dharma, who is familiar with some Vedic literatures, and as the only deaf person who spread the messages of Krishna all over India. Anantadev lectured about Lord Narsimhadev and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya appeared in Bengal, India more than 500 years ago to spread Hare Krishna mantra all over India. His appearance day falls on 3rd March 2007. Anantadev also spoke briefly about proverbs. The audience enjoyed the lectures. Recitation of Hare Krishna was followed by prasadam lunch.
Venkatesan asked Anantadev whether he would arrange for his lectures at Hyderabad in the future. Anantadev happily agreed to it because he has never been to Hyderabad to meet the deaf there.

Newspaper Interview with Anantadev

TEACHING THE GITA, THRU SIGN LANGUAGE

by Gladwin Emmanuel

He is perhaps the only one in the world to teach the Bhagavad Gita through sign language.
Not that it was a matter of choice for him. Anantadev Das had lost the capacity to hear when he was just a year old.
Going to deaf school first in Mumbai as a nine-year-old, Das, founder of Bangalore-based Sanatana Dharma, an organisation involved in cultural, educational, social and spiritual activities for the deaf, says that he found the answers he was seeking in the Bhagavad Gita, the divine discourse spoken by the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself and the most popular of all the sacred scriptures from ancient India.
It was in school that he first met deaf children wearing hearing aids. He studied the English language, learnt grammar and passed SSC. While some of his friends went to America, he had to stay back, more as an obedient son to his mother than as an option.
In an interview to this website's newspaper, with the help of an interpreter, Das disclosed that before his graduation in History and Philosophy from a university in Mumbai, he was searching for answers to questions like why he became deaf, why people kept fighting each other, hated each other and kept secrets to themselves.
Das then plunged into research, met people belonging to different communities, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, and finally after reading the Gita, realised that “the body and not the soul was deaf.”
Happiness dawned on him only thereafter.
As a special leader and social worker for the deaf, Das who was in Coimbatore for the three-day India Deaf Expo last week, had visited the US and given a lecture for deaf children in a university there.
Currently teaching the deaf the meaning of life through sign language in Bangalore, Das said he wanted people with normal hearing capability to involve themselves more in helping the deaf.
Das has also plans to buy some land and construct a temple for Krishna, possibly in Karnataka.

( Taken from The New Indian Express, Chennai - 9th January 2007 )

India Deaf Expo in Coimbatore

THE OPENING CEREMONY OF INDIA DEAF EXPO
ON 5 TH JANUARY 2007

THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF INDIA DEAF EXPO

ON 7 TH JANUARY 2007

Dear Members,

It is to inform you all that India Deaf Expo 2007, an international conference on Innovative Technology and Education of the Deaf / Hard of Hearing was held from 5th to 7th January 2007 at Coimbatore, India. It was organised by DEAF LEADERS, Coimbatore.The Objective of the Conference is to provide the platform where educators, researchers, social workers, speech therapists, audiologists, linguists and deaf persons can share their knowledge and experiences together and finding good solutions.

About 350 participants attended the conference. Topics of many paper presentations were given as below.

1.Creating a new generation of deaf teachers and improved Deaf education- Mr.Kevin Long, Founder,Global deaf Connection, USA.
2.Deaf education for the changing Times: need for parallel thinking and resourceful persons - Mr.K.Murali, Organising Secretary and Director, Deaf Leaders,
3.Deaf youth can develop through education and communication- Mr.A.S.Narayanan, N.A.D. New Delhi
4.Study on development skills of children with hearing impairment attending phase 1 of ECE Programme- Mr.B.Nageshwar Rao, AYJNIHH.
5.Sign language and comparisons- Mr.Rajesh Ketkar, Vadodara Deaf Association
6.Computer Assisted Language tutor for children with hearing loss- Mr.Arunmugam Rathinavelu.
7. History of use of technology for rehabilitation- Dr.Manjula Waldron,USA.
8.AURED- An early intervention and cochlear implant centre for children with hearing impairment. Mrs. Vashishtai J. Daboo, Mumbai
9.Training sign Teachers: Why and How? for children with hearing loss- Dr. Gaurav Mathur, Columbus.
10. Indian Sign language- Introduction to sign Language- Mr. Sujit Sahasrabudhe and Mr. Mohammed Shafique, AYJNIHH.
11. Sign Interpreters - Mr. Virbhadra Rathod, Vadodara Deaf Association.
12. Visual Collection Album – Rajendra Joglekar, Pune
13..Ayurveda- Mrs. Minal U. Joshi.Pune
14.Empowerment is the Key - Dr. Madan Vasishta, Gallaudet University,USA.
15. Deaf culture by K.Samuel, USA
16. Opportunities for the Deaf- Mr.D.N.Tripathi, Lucknow
17.Government - Mr. Kiran R. Kumar, Vadodara Deaf Association.
18.Role of Parents in Rehabilitation- Suresh C.B. Mysore.
19.A Will and a Way- Mr. S. Poornachandran, Madurai.
20. The Deaf's Well Being- Mr. Anantadev Das, Spiritual Leader, S.D.D.
21.Study of social and cultural integration of NRI deaf persons with family and society in USA- Manjula Waldron, Standord University.
22.Social Inclusion and the deaf- Prof. Sarah Giri, Bangalore.
23 Raise your global hands- Mr. Alim Chandani, CSD student, Development Center.
24. The Spech Problems of the Hearing impaired Children - A Phonetic Analysis- Mrs. Didla Grace Suneetha, CIEFL, Hyderabad.
25. Hearing Aids; Then, Now and Future.-Mr. R.S.Allurkar, Bagalkot.
26. Quality of life of Adult deaf as a function of hearing aid usage and employment status.- Mr.Giriraj Singh Shekhawat. AYJNIHH.

Vadodara Deaf Association got an award for Best Organisation. Many other deaf persons including Dr.Madan Vasishta, Mr.Alok Kejriwal, Mr.Sujit, Mr. Aqil Chinoy, Mr.Rajesh Ketkar got awards. Shri K.Murali also presented to AnantadevJI a picture of Lord Krishna as a memento.

Many cultural programs including mime, drama, dance and others provided good entertainment to deaf participants.

Best regards,

Kiran R.Kumar.
( Vadodara )

Anantadevji's Presentation at India Deaf Expo

THE DEAF’S WELL-BEING

By Shri Anantadevji


Namasthe!

For many years I have been travelling throughout India to meet thousands of the deaf. Mixing with them has given me a lot of opportunities to understand their life and needs when I have signed to them about God, spiritual values and moral importance. I have seen that many of their hearing elders, superiors and siblings have not known how to educate them and make their life better but instead have negative attitudes/thoughts about the deaf. This is a major hurdle for the deaf’s progress in their life and mind. Thus the deaf are struggling hard to cope with the hearing people though only a small percentage of the deaf are fortunate to get good support from their family or their well-wishers to stand on their feet, and be well-being, well-educated, well-developed or well-earned and to match the hearing in many things.

More than two years back I started signing to the deaf adults about proverbs. I found that these proverbs delighted many of them who wished to absorb them to make their life more meaningful. Unlike the hearing, the deaf have not known about these proverbs since their childhood because they have no power of hearing to hear about them though they can have chance to read about them.


What is proverb? Proverb means a saying, usually short, that expresses a general truth about life. Proverbs give advice, make an observation, instills moral values or presents a teaching in a succinct and memorable way.

I would like to expand four following proverbs with examples and illustrations.


1) Dependence on another is perpetual disappointment

In India many deaf persons depend heavily on others like relatives and friends. The latter sometimes thinks that they are a great burden to them. The deaf should learn how to stand on their own feet. Since they are endowed with intelligence by God, they should use it to be advanced socially, educationally or economically and dependence will not be of disappointment to them both.

2) Learning is a treasure no thief can touch

Learning is really a valuable treasure. It can give you lasting happiness and peace. What is learning? It is knowledge which you acquire from reading, listening and studying. When you have learning, no one cannot take it away from you.


3) To loan is to buy troubles

This proverb proves to be true for many deaf persons who have bitter experience of loaning to their friends. Not only them but also many hearing persons. When your friend fails to repay you the loan, you may keep bothering your friend to repay the loan and this lead to your friend’s thinking that you give them troubles. But when you need money badly, you may ask someone to lend it to you. However you must repay the loan in time. So you may not buy troubles.

4) United we stand, divided we fall

The deaf in India must realize the importance of this proverb. It can strengthen their efforts to make the hearing people to recognize their abilities as being beneficial to the society when the deaf are capable to unite strongly. They should sink their petty differences, instead of finding fault with one another, to avoid falling down into deep divisions. We can see that many deaf persons are hopeless and jobless because other deaf persons fail to unite and support them. We, the deaf persons, should try to analyse our problems to unite and interact well with one another. The hearing should set aside their negative image of us and . `Union is Strength’ should be one of the mottos of this Expo and other groups like clubs, associations and institutions.