JAMMU, DECEMBER 18: It was a cultural show with a difference. The dancers were moving their feet with perfect facial expression synchronizing with lyrics and music that they were not actually hearing, for the performing artists were deaf and dumb. The loud music played at which they danced was for the entertainment of invited audience at Jammu Club. The talented artists were the students of a school being run by a charitable society, J&K Samaj Kalyan Kendra.
Incredible as it was, the audience was stunned to witness a unique spectacle as none of them could make out any difference of their dancing talent and that of those who have their hearing faculty intact. The Chief Secretary B R Sharma specially attended the show to encourage the young students who are undeterred by their impaired hearing and speech.
The show started with a dance of two 7th class students- Roshi and Satti, at tune of a popular bhajan “Yashodamaiyaterakaniya..” The movement of their feet on the floor with occasional full turn of the body with different musical notes left everyone dumbfounded. Their colourful costumes, facial expression and movement of steps were perfect. It was followed by “ShivTandava” by Vakesh Sharma of Katra. Attired like Lord Shiva holding the holy ‘trichul’( trident) in one hand and the damru (small drum) in another, Vakesh descended on the floor to the recorded tune of Shiv Tandava hymn and mesmerized the audience with his stunning and energetic performance.
Another scene from Hindu mythology, mahishasur ka vadh” was presented by Vishali Raina and ShikhaKumari. Through the dance they portrayed the fight between the Goddess Durga and mahishasur,a demonwho was killed by the Goddess. Forth class student, Anshik Sharma presented a solobreak dance on fast music. In was amazing that his body twists harmonized with high beats of fast music as if he was moving his steps and twisting body on different musical notes.
So impressed by the performance of these “children of lesser God” that two prominent personalities in the audience, A M Vatali, IPS(Retd) and Dr. K C Sharma, a celebrated rural surgeon from Udhampur, donated Rs 5000/- each to the Samaj Kalyan Kendra which runs the School on donations.
Chief Secretary lauded the performance of these specially challenged students and recalled his visit to the school in the first week of May this year. He assured that the Govt would provide all possible assistance to the NGO which is doing a noble work.
President of Samaj Kalyan Kendra, K B Jandial thanked the Chief Secretary for his appreciable help to the NGO in last six months and hoped that EP department would soon undertake repair and renovation work of the building in which the School is housed. He thanked Social Welfare and Education departments for their continuous support. He also gave detailed account of the help received from J&K Bank, Dr Maharaj Radzan, a NRI and many others. He said though vocational training courses in Computer and cutting and tailoring are regularly being conducted yet there was a need for bringing them under different centrally sponsored Skill Development schemes for enhancing their employability in private sector too. He thanked Dr. K C Sharma and AM Vatali for their contributions and hoped that others would too come forward for liberal contributions.
Principal of the School Roshan Bhan gave the history of the NGO and its long journey. He pleaded for special measures for absorption of physically challenged students in Govt. departments.
Earlier the students welcomed the Chief Secretary and presented him a bouquet.
The NGO set up by Dr. R L Khajuria about two and half decades ago is managing its affairs with donations.Over one hundred deaf and dumb students are getting free education from first to higher secondary classes.
NGO’s General Secretary V K Vaid, SS Wazir, Prem Gupta and B K Raina all Advisorswere also present.
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