A wonderful experience with the Special Children

The moment my neighbor, who works in a school for 'Special Children' informed me about their forthcoming annual function, I knew I wanted to attend it. It was indeed very sweet of her to convey my desire to the Principal of the school and seek her permission.

Well the so called invitation was a very informal one. She asked me to be there by 8:00 A.M to help them out in the preparations before the commencement of the function that was scheduled at 9:30 A.M.

I reached the venue on time. As I got down from my car, I saw a little girl dressed in a golden saree and laden with jewellery. Her mom escorted her inside the premises. I could make out that she is a special child and she was looking very sweet and shy.

As I met my neighbor backstage in a room, where the hustle bustle and last minute arrangments, rehearsals were being done, she introduced me to everyone and asked the other teachers to assign me some work as well. And within seconds one of the teachers asked me to put 'tilak' on two of the children playing the roles of Ram and Laxman for their play called "Sita ka Swayamvar". Now considering my drawing, painting and whatever is so pathetic, I was even reluctant to draw a tilak (as in a straight line) on their forehead with the paint brush.

But I knew I had to do it, thinking of the kind of impression that would be formed if I said no. So I drew the tilak on Ram and Laxman's forehead. The two of them were so calm and obedient. And I could spot no difference between them and the 'non special children'. I gave them smile and got a cute smile back. Helped them out in other things. I turned to spot the same little girl in golden saree and came to know that she is playing the role of 'sita' in the play. I told her that she is looking v pretty and she just smiled away shyly. Her mother was all the more happy to hear that compliment. And then I just went strolling to meet other children. A number of them were on a wheelchair but dressed up as participants.

All of them knew that they are to perform in the function and they all took their respective roles seriously. Their dedication was amazing to watch. There was this naughty one who told me that everything is gonna go well in the function and introduced me to other children telling who is going to play which role.

And when the stage was all set to start the programme, I sat amongst the audience to enjoy the event. When these children came one by one on stage to enact their roles despite their shortcomings, my heart just went out for them. It was so difficult to hold the tears. Similar feelings were growing in everyone's heart. I could see people getting emotional. It was not out of sympathy, speaking for myself, I cried because I had never seen such purity, such innocence,such sanctity and truthfullness anywhere so far. These kids appeared to me as the purest form of humankind created by God. They exuberated so much of innocence, crudeness through their expressions which just touched me.

The thing is today even a young kid is very smart and polished. He/she says what he is taught but lacks his natural innocence. But these special kids had that natural spark to believe in them. I remember few funny lines from the act. When 'ravana' is unable to pick up the 'dhanush' in sita ka swayamvar, a cute little girl ( i cant recall which role she was doing), stood up and said 'Jab Ravana ye dhanush nhi utha paye to kaun utha payega'; 'Ab sita ki shaadi kisse hogi? Kya ab sita kuwari (unmarried) reh jayegi'...and then everyone in the audience broke into smiles, considering the way that cute litte girl said these dialogues.

I want to say hats off to the parents and hats off to the teachers for respecting a special form of humankind and making them capable of doing what is even so difficult for the non-special children, for people like us - and i.e. being truly able to win other's heart and earn tremendous respect for oneself.