“Here, right above your head on this small branch,” he
responded. I had difficulty spotting Lulu hidden in green foliage of the mango
tree. “I was watching you yesterday speak to a girl student. It appeared to me
that she was visually challenged.”
“Never knew you follow me, Lulu. Yes, she was visually
challenged.” I said. “She was appearing for placement interviews. She said that
some of the interviewers showed insensitivity in interviews. The mere
recollection brought her to tears; it must have hurt her deeply.”
“And I saw tears in your eyes too! Men become sensitive only
when they grow old!!”
“May be you are right. People always thought of me as a man
with the heart of a solid rock! My children now laugh when they see me crying
while watching a movie.”
“Crying? So what did you discuss with her? Did you offer her
a job?” Lulu asked.
“I am no longer employed, Lulu, you know that very well. She
had several questions on her mind. The reluctance of organisations to offer her
a suitable job was finally taking toll, her confidence was eroding.”
“Hmmm.......it is unfortunate, and I hope she gets a good
job soon. But I have seen visually challenged persons working with speed on
their laptop. Don’t your fellow professionals know that they use software
called ‘Jaws? It literally talks to them.’”
“Life would have been different if HR managers were so well
informed! But I can’t really blame them. I too did not know about the software
and that they do not have a handicap when it comes to working with laptop.”
“Is being visually challenged really a handicap? I remember
what happened when you screened a movie for your students. The most insightful
observations were made by a visually challenged student who actually ‘heard’ a
movie.” Lulu wondered.
“I remember that day. I was actually shocked to hear him
raise some questions and observations. I was then so moved ....I had to search
for words. Good that he did not see my moist eyes.”
“So visually challenged persons can understand the
intricacies of human emotions. I guess they might be better than others at that.”
“Yes, I would agree.”
“Is rational thinking affected if you are visually
challenged?” Lulu asked.
“Not at all. The two are not connected. I mean some may be
better at it and others not so, but it has nothing to do with their being
visually challenged.”
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You human beings believe that you see with your eyes. The
fact is that it is your brain that “perceives” what you think you see.” Lulu
said.
“I agree Lulu.”
“You have to make an effort to see things....to perceive
them and that too correctly. Remember perception is intentional.”
“Sometimes that is not enough. There is also a question
about the safety of visually challenged people in the minds of recruiters.”
“Nonsense.” Lulu shot back.
“What?”
“I wonder why you just don’t see what goes around. People actually
are more protective of a visually challenged person in open spaces and on
streets. And so they do in offices.”
“Hmmm.....let me
think what you are saying.....are you saying that it is all about being
socially conscious and inclusive?”
“That is right, but it is such a cold and inert statement. I
like what Bill Cosby said.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“Every Closed Eye Is Not Sleeping, And Every Open Eye Is Not
Seeing.” Lulu quoted
him as he perched on my laptop and looked at me meaningfully.
Vivek