Communication has many shades. Mass, radio, TV, words, pictures, music, announcing, articulation, assertion, communion, connection, contact, conversation, converse, correspondence, corresponding, declaration, delivery, disclosing, dissemination, elucidation, expression, global village, intelligence, interchange, intercommunication, intercourse, link, making known, mention, notifying, publication, reading, reception, revelation, talk, talking, telling, transfer, translating, transmission, utterance, writing. You get the picture.
So what happens if your world is silent? What happens if you talk with your hands? Does the communication breakdown? No way.
I was at the Sheila Kothawala School For The Deaf to take some publicity shots and I ended up getting an education. The kids were putting up a play and two days to showtime , all the nerves that I'm used to seeing in any production were missing. Instead there were beaming smiles, infectious excitement and overwhelming affection.
Once they were done giggling at my hair and moustache they ran through scenes from their play for my benefit, with as much gusto as they would've for a 1000 strong audience. I've rarely seen such genuine expression, such reckless abandon.
Thanks to me they had missed their van home and it fell upon the organisers and I to get them home. So two little ones gripped each palm tight and we were off. They were very enchanted by the music system and indicated that they could hear it at very high volumes. How could I be a cad and say no to those earnest faces? So, we whizzed down the ring road, Sigor Ros blaring like never before or after as a conversation of signs and lip reading ensued at a frenetic pace. As I dropped them to their humble homes, they squeezed my hand in thanks and were off.
If you'd like to help out at the institute, they always need volunteers, funds and general help.
Contact:
Jese Samuel (the principal, so mind your 'p's and 'q's)
Sheila Kothavala Institute For The Deaf
Bangalore
080-25262274
Toothy grin
Ramu the koracal boy
Official firestater
Taking a break
Fisherman one-eyed Jack
Eerie stares
Lumbani lady
The boys
The red moon was rising, its reflection bleeding into the water. Hussain Sagar Lake makes our very own Ulsoor look like a pond. It stretches 30-35 kms around and the only waves are made by our boat, gliding through.
In the distance the Buddha was growing. And getting more impressive. Having bribed the boatman with a ciggie, we got to ride up front away from the munching families and cuddling couples. One of them came up front and thrust a tiny camera into my hands. They wanted a Titanic style photo taken. I obliged.
As we docked the size of the Buddha statue became more evident. Standing on an island in the middle of the lake it stood 17 meters tall. Carved by 40 sculptors from a monolith, and weighing in at 320 tonnes, it had to carried 60 kms by a massive chariot with 19 wheels.
I stood in front of it overawed and said a silent prayer, in surrogate for all the Buddhists I know.
With the peace, the magnificence and artistry, there was enterprise. Photographers by the score were haunting the island, asking if people wanted instant pictures with The Buddha. Intrigued, I followed one of them to the side of the island. There by the row of giant spot lights, were a row of photographers bending over their pint-sized printers. Wait. Printers?? Exhibiting rare ingenuity, they had plugged into the wiring of the spot lights and abracadabra presto, instant DTP. Bravo! So the printers whirred away, and the tourists cooed as their instant memories were handed over and everyone lived happily ever after.
The End
Communication has many shades. Mass, radio, TV, words, pictures, music, announcing, articulation, assertion, communion, connection, contact, conversation, converse, correspondence, corresponding, declaration, delivery, disclosing, dissemination, elucidation, expression, global village, intelligence, interchange, intercommunication, intercourse, link, making known, mention, notifying, publication, reading, reception, revelation, talk, talking, telling, transfer, translating, transmission, utterance, writing. You get the picture.
Once they were done giggling at my hair and moustache they ran through scenes from their play for my benefit, with as much gusto as they would've for a 1000 strong audience. I've rarely seen such genuine expression, such reckless abandon.
Thanks to me they had missed their van home and it fell upon the organisers and I to get them home. So two little ones gripped each palm tight and we were off. They were very enchanted by the music system and indicated that they could hear it at very high volumes. How could I be a cad and say no to those earnest faces? So, we whizzed down the ring road, Sigor Ros blaring like never before or after as a conversation of signs and lip reading ensued at a frenetic pace. As I dropped them to their humble homes, they squeezed my hand in thanks and were off.
If you'd like to help out at the institute, they always need volunteers, funds and general help.
Posts
