Monday 1 January 2024

Resolute Towards Resolutions

When the new year is around the corner, many among us would get excited and electrified not just because it is yet another new day that is waiting to dawn. But more importantly, we would seem to have an illusionary spring upon our feet to jump out of our bed with many resolutions for the New Year. These resolutions all of a sudden appear into our minds and would keep us engaged into making the ‘how of it?’ possible to be adopted.


Whether, these resolutions actually do make a meaningful difference to us, or do they just remain as a mirage that evaporates when the heat turns on is a million dollar question. It perhaps would be fitting to go beyond the thin screen to have a look into the making of the resolutions and impact that they have on our lives.

One of the best ways to have a closer look at our resolutions is from the stand point view as to how they were thought off in the first case. Was it developed with a reflection within the personality as a course correction method to work on the work-life balance? or was it developed to compete with someone whom we envy around in our social and professional connect? It must be understood that when resolutions emerge as part of a process of our self reflection, they are most likely to have a positive impact on our personality and influence our actions towards accomplishing them.

Now with the reason being established behind our resolutions, the more pertinent aspect would be to know if they can actually stand the course of time to bring a desired positive outcome. For any reasonable progress to take place to work on resolutions there must be a strong quotient of ‘resoluteness’, to get that practiced and imbibed into the daily frame of our lifestyle with consistency and determination. It is not just to be a knee jerk reaction to surface for a few days and then silently disappear from the daily routine.




Resolutions are life goals split in small measure of milestones. As you travel the distance and keep on progressing going beyond each milestone, you will finally reach the desired destination.

  • There are a few basic elements that are fundamental to accomplish this effectively:
  •  Fix the resolutions that are linked with your own reflection and not copy from others.
  • Be practical in limiting the resolutions to an achievable level and not compile a huge list.
  •  Allocate a time and targeted response schedule for practicing whatever you outline
  • Stay focused from distractions and time wasters in the productive hours of the day.
  • Be patient and consistent with your efforts and do not jump to have instant success.
  • Do travel alone on the path to accomplish your resolutions, as group work will not help.

Resolutions with being resolute lead you nowhere!

 

Nicholas Francis

www.nicholasfrancis.in

 

Saturday 21 October 2023

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Idaikattur

 
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Idaikattur
An Historical Architectural Edifice Radiating Divine Blessings

Every church will have an historical connect with the past deeply linked with its establishment and existence. But what you will find at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Idaikattur, Sivagangai District is something that is spectacular with significance standing out with legendary connect of history, culture, heritage and divine faith with blessings.

Constructed in pristine design of the Gothic Architecture, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is an iconic church that transcends time. Located along the banks of river Vaigai, it is a never to be missed catholic church with intricate and innate detailing that is very unique.


Historical Connect of Across the Seas:
This unique church of the sacred heart of Jesus was built in 1894 AD by a French missionary Fr. Ferdinand Celle SJ has an interesting history, steeped in legendary connectivity, this is a replica of the Rheims Cathedral in France.

A French Anglican lady by name Mary Anne was suffering from severe heart ailment. She met three Roman Catholic ladies who advised Mary Anne to have Novena prayer for the sacred heart of Jesus for nine days. When doctors abandon a patient, God's grace is the only source for curing if the patient completely believes in him. With this conviction and confidence, she had novena prayer to the sacred heart of Jesus. After five days of prayer, she got completely cured. Immediately to show her gratitude to the sacred heart of Jesus Mary Anne wanted to build a church.

When Mary Anne came to know about the arrival of Fr. Ferdinand Celle SJ in France, she requested him to build a church to the sacred heart of Jesus in his parish Idaikattur in south India with a donation of 2000 francs. This is to express her gratitude to the sacred heart of Jesus and it should be exactly like the Rheims cathedral in France. Father accepted her request with great joy and agreed to build a church in Idaikattur.

Architecture
Idaikattur Church is an architectural marvel decorated with distinctive French style of Gothic architecture.  The church is constructed with high vaulted roof supported by columns with cantilevers. The windows are adorned with small brick pillars with hollow flower bricks and stained glass which illustrate the events of the way of the cross vividly and skillfully.


The stucco figures and the statues of saint, angels and the sacred heart of Jesus, his foster father St. Joseph and the Holy family statue with golden gilt and the mother of sorrows are of great beauty and symbol of ancient French artwork.

The Main Altar:
The main altar of the church is more beautiful with gigantic Gothic facade of 45 feet high with stucco figures of God the father holding his only crucified son Jesus by his hands and the holy spirit proceeding from his chest surrounded by angels in clouds and in the glittering gold rays of the sun around the whole work are relief from the wall.

This main altar depicts the doctrine of the Christianity i.e., the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in one and the same clearly shown to all people who look at it. The Gothic arches are decorated with rows of beads, flowers, garlands.

Another unusual feature of the church is the statue of Sacred Heart Jesus Christ. Paintings and statues of Christ usually show his heart at the center of the chest. At Idaikattur, the statue shows the heart on the left side of the chest. The Christ is highly embellished with golden crown and silk robes.
 

Epitome of Miracles & Blessings:
The Sacred Heart Church stands out as an epitome of faith and blessings to the people, blending grace and peace with miraculous power of healing over more than 140 years.

There is a miraculous anecdote connected with the construction of the church, as the work of divine destiny, there were showers of blessings upon the church and the construction activities. When the spirits of Fr. Ferdinand were really down, there was an unbelievable occurrence that was taking place in his mind. As a dream, he visualized that angels were actually lending their graceful gesture to support the construction work, by shouldering the responsibility of working with the construction materials layer by layer. He saw the church rising with the support and intervention of the angels from above.

There is a popular saying in Tamil “Intha Alayam Sammanasukalal Kattapatathu”, which translates English to “this Church was built by the angels”, which is true when you see the sculptures within the Church.
 
- Nicholas Francis
Author of the Coffee Table Book
"Marvel of Miracles"

www.nicholasfrancis.in

Thursday 7 October 2021

 

Space & Significance for 

Professional Social Work in India

 

In an era when the concept of social development is on the spotlight as an indicator for assessing the true wealth and status of a nation, we have many undercurrents that keep pushing it to the top of the discussion table of practically every segment in the society. Whether there is merit or not in those discussions is not a big deal; but what is to be noted here is that everyone wants to be identified with the concept of social development in some way or the other.

 

It is in this scenario, it may not be out of place to mention that there is a cult of professionals who are keen to be counted by having the appropriate space and significance accorded to them for contributing their might towards the cause of social development with a professional touch. Without any doubt we are talking about the cult of individuals who belong to the discipline of ‘Professional Social Work’ who are confined within a certain boundaries for far too long.

 Social work as a profession in our country has been in existence right from the early days of our nation’s independence during 1947. The deep rooted intervention of social work can be vividly recounted in many areas of welfare, rehabilitation, education and community development initiatives as there are numerable testimonies in the pages of history for all to see.

We cannot deny the fact that social work as a concept emerged from the west and then came into India as a consolidation of charity based intervention.  Social work profession in India is firmly grounded in the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, and in the United Nations (UN) Declaration of Human Rights. What is of concern is that, despite its deep rooted existence in the Indian social landscape, yet it craves for proper recognition at the national level as a profession with appropriate mechanism and statutory bodies for recognition and regulation, so that the profession is taken very seriously.

Insights into the world of professional social: Social work is often viewed as any intervention on a voluntary basis in the society and largely associated with the non-governmental sector, which is not entirely true, since it operates much beyond the non - governmental set up.

The National Council for Social Work Education in India defines Professional Social Work as “an internationally recognized academic discipline and practice based profession, based on knowledge, methods, and skills of working with people and systems. It is built in the foundations of values and ethics of human dignity, sensitivity to structural realities, and respect for diversities. It promotes social justice and social development, guided by the Indian Constitution and by India’s commitment to International Human Rights Law”.

In the meantime, it is common to find many categories of people calling themselves as so called social workers, since they are engaged in some sort of public activity on a social service basis. There is no harm any way in their self proclamation, but what needs to be sorted out or clarified is that whether all of them could be classified as professional social workers? Those who belong to this category often take it as a decorative or fashionable venture to use it as a tag for their social recognition. Their activities largely centre around distributing some takeaways on specified days like their birthdays, anniversaries of festival occasions.

Professional social work is much more than charitable service. It based on a systems approach with many interventions firmly grounded on sound theoretical principles to make the life and environment better for those who gets past through it at any point of their life. The common story which is shared in a lighter vein among the social work students by their professors is that, when you meet a hungry man, don’t just go and give him a fish to eat and stop with that. Instead, teach him the art of fishing so that he can sustain his life with dignity based on self reliance.

Core Competency of Social Work Professionals: Professional Social Work as a comprehensive process starts with working to empower individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to enhance their well being and increase their problem solving capacities. It stands as crusader to address and challenge barriers, inequalities, and injustices that exist in society by facilitating the inclusion of marginalized, socially excluded, dispossessed, vulnerable and at- risk groups of people.

It assists people on the awareness creation and sensitization level about the various welfare and developmental schemes, projects, programs and initiatives that are provided by the government and allied agencies. It also stands out as a valuable source for the developmental administrators to plan, organize, administer and manage programs both at the Voluntary Sector and at the Institutional Sector to advance the concept of Social and Human Development.

The success of the professional social work as a concept and practice methodology is very much based on the expertise of the professionals involved. They have sufficient practice skills in knowledge of assessment and relationship building to help the process to achieve the targeted outcome. Professional social workers operate with ethical principles in encountering / confronting inequality in socio-political spheres, address challenges in economic injustices and gender aspects recognizing the inter-connectedness that exists within and across all systems at Micro, Mezzo and Macro levels.

Professional Social Work can be an inclusive part of developmental administration: All the social, welfare and developmental policies that are promoted through the government mechanism are a result of a process that is centred around the perspectives of the officials based on the principles and polices of the political dispensation that is in power. There is nothing wrong about since this has been the practice of the past and also the present, which in all likelihood will be the pattern in the future as well. 

We also need to accept and acknowledge that there have been considerable efforts on the part of the government at the national level to tackle many social and developmental issues which have grown over a period of time as threatening problems. Various social legislations and statutory provisions are also enacted to help in providing assistance and protection to people in need and distress. This is in addition to the state governments’ efforts at their level to address the social and developmental issues with the resources at their disposal. These energy and efforts are never to be undermined, at the same time there is no harm in looking at an objective angle of assessment of them from the point of view of efficacy of them in alleviating the issues in tune with the present times.

What we need here is an inclusive mechanism to provide space for the Professional Social Work personnel to be part of the system at the policy level, program development level, implementation level and also at the evaluation level, so that they could blend the authority of governance and power of doing good with that of humanistic concern based on the aspect of human development for which they are adequately qualified and trained.

The possible way forward:  It is always wise and prudent to be part of the solution than to be part of the problem and keep blaming the system, for which we have no answers. We need a paradigm shift in the very basic approach of handling developmental administration; we need to move away in qualitative and quantitative terms from a ‘top-down approach’ to that of a ‘bottom-top approach’. The best window that can be opened up for involving professional social workers is at the local body level, in which the real transformation of the various policies is supposed to take place.

The ladder of inclusivity and synchronization of support in a professional approach can move up to the Taluk level and to the District level in which the panchayat, municipal and civic corporation structures come into the reckoning. It is here that when many agencies coordinate and collaborate to implement the various schemes, there would be a great scope for professional social workers to offer their expertise in program implementation. 

The next stage is at the state level in which there will be an opportunity for the professional social workers to be part of the policy making team or structure. It is yet another vital space that the social workers can bring in their vast experience, expertise and professional knowledge into focus by providing a component of value addition to the administrators.

Social schemes and programs are not just material units that can be distributed and moved away from the scene; rather it must provide an opportunity and a canvas to work on the mindset of the beneficiary. This can be done effectively if the policies are people centric including within it a structure for accommodating the specific needs of people at the grass root level for better coverage, acceptance, consumption and successful transformation of their lives in accordance to the schemes or policies. It is here that the role of professional social workers comes into play in garnering the support of civil society, and micro level organizations to social development initiatives, programs and projects.

Challenges faced and the need for course correction:  It is a matter of reality that we are witnessing an aggravation of social problems in addition to poverty eradication, rural development, public health, employment etc. We are currently witnessing many new issues related to human trafficking, destitution of older persons and violence against vulnerable groups, rehabilitation and inclusion of persons with disabilities into the social mainstream, environmental degradation and loss of livelihood due to climate change, growing culture of drug and substance abuse, domestic violence and human right violation etc.

This calls for augmentation of skilled manpower to get engaged in various capacities to address these aspects with continuing education, training and development as part of their professional career enrichment in the field of professional social work. This apart, the engagement of professional social workers in terms of employment and career opportunities in various sectors is largely unregulated with varied working conditions. The salary and other working conditions are not justifiably satisfactory on a wider scale while taking into consideration of the lahks of them languishing without any feature of job security in the private sector.



Need for recognition: Concerted efforts are being taken at the national level to bring to light the much anticipated legal and structural framework for Social Work Education and Practice in our country. Yet there is no much progress in this regard which is a sorry state of affairs in the modern era of governance.

There have been many attempts in the past to get the National Council started like the “National Council of Professional Social Work in India Bill, 1993” and the “National Council of Professional Social Work Practitioners Bill, 2018”, which were carried out by select group of eminent social work educators and practitioners in the country giving much impetus to carry forward the need to establish a professional council for social work in our country.

At present thanks to the efforts of Niti Ayog, recently an initiative in the form of a meeting of select social work educators across India was called to discuss the need for a national council for social work. The deliberations of the formal meeting led to the formation of a select group of eminent social work educators who prepared a Draft Bill on a National Council for Social Work (Education and Practice), Bill 2020. There are attempts to get a wider consultation for the draft from among social work educators / institutions and practitioners both at the government and non- government level.

Given the fact that the society needs professionally educated and trained manpower in the domain of professional social work to address various issues related to human conditions; community development; human resource management; health and welfare of people, especially children and women; welfare of the marginalized and elders; disabled welfare and rehabilitation programs; rural reconstruction; urban planning & development; corporate social responsibility initiatives and disaster management etc. It is only imperative that the formation of such a council will bring more advantages to the education and professional aspects of social work within the country.

In conclusion: Our country will eventually stand to gain if we acknowledge the need to accord the deserving space for professional social work to be absorbed into the governmental and institutional setup at various levels of developmental administration. This is imperative and unquestionably a very pragmatic need of the hour, if we are to make rapid strides with a broad based community foundation in terms of achieving a higher status of human and development index, which would also be instrumental in making the lives of our people comfortable, happy, contended and dignified.

-          Nicholas Francis

 

Note About the Author:

Ø Nicholas Francis, the author of the “Handbook of Professional Practice & Career Development in Social Work” holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Bishop Heber College in Tricuchirappalli along with a ‘University Rank from the Bharathidasan University’ for the same during the year 1991.

Ø He can be reached at nicholasmdu@gmail.com 

 

 

Tuesday 5 May 2020


A Pat and a Push for the Public Health System by the People in India!

We are in the midst of a huge pandemic that has taken away the normalcy from us in terms of our regular routine and life activities being completely stalled. We are confined to the precincts of our homes and having adjusted ourselves to a new life circumstance which is starkly opposite to what we have been doing all these days. There is a constrained silence within us and around us which practically is the new life status that we share with those who are lucky enough to be safely away from the web of the dreaded virus.
In the midst of the silence a few of us are startled with the siren sound of the ambulance that is passing by our neighbourhood, or woken up by the domestic breed checkers (DBC's) who come house to house to equire about our health status. Periodically, we can hear the public address system far away blaring with details of the procedures to be adopted as safety health practice in this pandemic environment.
Did we ever ponder for a while from where all these are originating out? and who is responsible for all these activities in times of turmoil and trauma for the people? No guesses, all these are part of a gallant effort by a coordinated team that belongs to the “Public Health Care System” in our country which is in the frontline as we fight the dreaded pandemic. It sounds good, but what do we know about it? and how are we connected with it? are questions that must occupy the minds of people at the present moment.
Perception and Reality:
As always perception keeps varying from person to person, but in many cases a concept of mob psychology applies and translates into a group perception of a majority. It is in this background we are faced with a realistic perception of the concept of public health among our people. 

If one can traverse through the mindset of people in terms of health care, everyone would be by far comfortable to go into a private health care system, than that of the government setup. This is in a way because of the fact that the general perception of the government health care set up is for the other person and not me. In a similar manner, Public Health is always construed to be a government system that is for the public and not me. This can easily be taken as the general perception of the common citizen in our country irrespective of where they belong and what work they do. 

One of the possible reasons for this perception could be that Public Health mostly works from behind the scene, in terms of being a silent workhorse that caters to the preventive and promotive aspects of health care in the country. It is easily identified as the government’s business and it is something related to community or village work, which sadly is not the case.

While we know that Public health is the initiative and efforts taken by the Government with regard to disease prevention and control in the country. It plays a very vital and pivotal role in the general health status of the citizens, since it works on a wide spectrum of services that are undertaken in a large scale covering a huge number of people. 
The Central Government through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides the scope for Public Health to function within the country’s health care mechanism. It is with the support of the Government through provision of resources and financial outlay various activities are carried out across the country through the structure of public health.
Despite this, the public health care system of our country has always been at the receiving end when compared to that of the private sector health care institutions. It is always been a matter of debate and discussions in our country at every level. But, as always in times of national calamity or a nationwide health issue that is casting its dangerous impact on the common people, it has been the public health system and structure that comes to the rescue on a larger canvas covering the length and breadth of the vast geographical areas of our Nation.
Vital Vanguard:
The structure and framework of the public health in India has been a vital vanguard for the people to protect themselves against the very many dreaded diseases that have surfaced from time to time. We need to acknowledge that through the efforts of the public health system we have been able to successfully combat major health problems like malaria, tuberculosis, small pox, polio, etc in the past, since independence of our country. We have also fought the spread of HIV AIDS, avian flu, HINI influenza in the recent past which affected multitudes of people. Now, as we all know that it is the public health care system that is in the forefront to fight the pandemic Corona Virus which is dangerously impacting the lives and livelihood of the people in our country.
Apart from taking on emergent health care issues on a far footing, the public health system must be credited for increasing the human life expectancy among the population in India with considerable improvements in the health care facilities for the masses. The social problem of relatively high maternal and child mortality is also been effectively tacked by the vast network of the public health system in our country.
The process of surveillance within the framework of the public health system is playing an important role in assessing the level incidence of new diseases among the people and for also analyzing the impact that it creates among the social fabric of the nation. This is a very critical step for framing up intervention strategies that needs to be drawn up from time to time and address the emergent realities in the wake of endemic and pandemic diseases. Based on the pointers that the public health surveillance throws up when in need, the government is able to bring in regulations that are necessary to be adopted towards the mitigation or eradication of various major health issues.  This is a very proactive role that often goes unnoticed from the eyes of the common people, but from the point of view of the health care administrators and civic administration this is a strong foundation on which they operate.
Significance to Social Development: 
The health status of the citizens to a great status reflects on the economic and social progress of the nation. It will be hard to imagine that one could contribute to the GDP through their respective work area, if they are to be stricken by threatening health issue, since their productive capabilities will be drastically hampered, impaired and impacted. Mass health care hazards if unchecked will result in chocked economy for certain. It goes without the saying that significance of public health must also be viewed from the point of the economic progress of the country.
This apart, the public health system to a great extent works towards reducing the health inequality between the have’s and have not’s.  The economics of health care comes to the light when it is addressed to mass population in a country like ours in India. Various researches points out the fact that common people are gravely impacted by spending their resources and wealth for their health care needs. With health care for curative services being offered in the private sector for a considerable cost, it is not that all the citizens can afford it. Only those who can afford to pay can get care and treatment from that of the private and corporate sector. This leaves a huge gap in the society between the have’s and have not’s which throws up a big social problem. It is here that the role of the public health system and structure comes to the rescue for all to have accessible health care at their own environment.
The psyche of the people undergoes a great stress and strain when any major health issue that affects them in terms of a mass impacted syndrome. Many would be requiring immediate medical facilities that are institutionalized through the hospitals and many more would require life modifications at their community level. Public health is significantly known to play a very proactive assistance in developing coping strategies on a prevention approach through IEC campaigns. The Information, Education and Communication through vernacular languages reach out to millions of people so as to bring about a behavioural change among the people to overcome their problems.
Promoting Public Health:
Public Health at the perception level of the common people in country would have been something that was concerned with somebody’s health and not something that of their own. Thanks to the Corona Virus, now people are starting to wake up to notice the importance and vital role of the public health care system in that of the status of the health of the people of our nation. It has taken a pandemic to possibly turn the perception of the public health upside down. Hope it stays that way and keeps on growing in strength among the mindset of the common people in our country.

Any program or initiative which is focussed for the masses, will achieve the targeted outcomes, only if they are consumed by a majority of the people for whom it was intended and implemented. In this manner, the people of our country will have to give due respect to the concept and practice of public health by proactively participating with greater sense of positivism.

Promotion of public health does not start and end with the government alone, there needs to be greater level of participation of the public who are common citizens in the initiatives, programs and campaigns of public health in our country. The participation of the people in the public health initiatives and promotion of the same within their families will indeed create a rippling effect which eventually can have a greater and significant reach with percolation deep down in the society.

Yes, we are asking that the allocation of financial outlay for health sector be increased considerably in the union budget. Infact, this is also vociferously being raised at various seminars and workshops that are conducted day in and day out. There is a clarion call to modernise the government setup and infrastructure in tune with modern standards. There are questions of concern of inadequate manpower in the public health sector in proportion to our population.  Hundreds of messages, images and memes float through the social media with ideas to revamp health policies, changing the modalities of operation and sharpening the focus of public health care system etc.

With due respect to all concerned, in my humble opinion the points mentioned above are not entirely wrong. Each one in their own right has a credible valid reason to state, seek and to review the aspects of public health appropriate to their expertise and experience. There are challenges that are always part of any system that is taken up at the national level, particularly to the size and scale of our country like India.

All said and done the onus lies in the hands of people to make Public Health successful, meaningful and effective for the cause it works. We cannot remain mute spectators without taking part in the national mainstream and then critically evaluate the system of public health. It would be much more prudent, if we are to come together and lend our support to cause of public health in our country so that our people and our nation stays healthy and wealthy.  We live in an age of rapid social connectivity, through technology interface success stories of the public participation in public health care system will indeed result in a cascading social action that would benefit our nation.

This is the time for the common public to give a big pat for the public health system in our country and also a great push to promote it in the society for the welfare of the people of India!

- Nicholas Francis


..................
Note about the author:

Nicholas Francis is a Professional Social Work Administrator based at Madurai. He is also a Motivational Author and Freelance Writer.


Wednesday 25 March 2020


Abilities Unlimited

An unforgettable evening that lives in my mind!


The synchronized movements of classical dance performed to professional precision and perfection are always a mesmerizing treat for the eyes and soothing to the soul. 

The experience is all the more divine when performed by artists who are differently abled. It is a blessing to be gifted with an opportunity to witness the abilities of those who are specially abled on a stage that vibrates electrifying enthusiasm.


It was one such evening that I was fortunate to be part off, to truly get immersed in the pleasure of passion which showcased the astounding confidence, flair and professional presentation skills of the artists who are otherwise referred in society as “persons with disabilities”. The grounds of Vellaichamy Nadar College in Nagamalai Pudukottai was the place that opened new vistas for the dancers to delight the audience with a once in a lifetime program that was star studded with each and every member of the team.

Better late than never:
I must confess that the evening that I am referring here was not something that happened recently, but it did happen in the year 2017. I had enriched myself more than adequately that evening by witnessing the unlimited abilities of the differently abled persons and treasured those memories with some photographs that I was able to shoot during the event.

It needed a special time and occasion to do a write up and on 25th March 2020 when the whole world is confined to their homes with a deadly virus that has and is threatening mankind, I thought it fit to do this write up to emphasise that the human connections are very much powerful and valuable than compared to any other connections.

Live performance with life:
The manner in which the Visually Impaired dancers enthralled the audience with their perfectly synchronized bharathanatiyam dance sequence holding lamps in their hands was unimaginable to be honest. The reason for me to term it as ‘unimaginable’ is simply because I did have a question in my mind whether it was a real onstage live performance or an animated movie sequence that was screened on a big stage.




If the bharathanatiyam enthralled, the wheel chair bound dancers of Sufi music got the audience to the edge of their seats. It calls for great strength and determination to be on public view straddled on a wheel chair, but here the men came dressed in white with their exceptional skills for a wonderful performance of Sufi Music Sequenced Dance. 


The feel was so lively that one could easily identify themselves of being part of a dance item that was new and unique in style and substance. The impeccable lighting and the audio literally took everyone out of the auditorium into a flight fantasy.



It takes two for a tango goes the saying, it was very touching to witness a classical dancer only with her left leg give us one of the boldest demonstration of bharathanatiyam during the evening. It was not only a dance that got many locked on to the stage, but more importantly a message that what one could do in life with what they have, not just living complaining of what they have not. 



The dancer was so graceful that one did not notice that she was just dancing with only one leg. She gave a graceful depiction of the classical dance that conveys much through muthras and abinayams so delightfully that one could easily relate to the theme of the dance and the presentation in appreciation.


What is music to the hearing impaired?

The world will go gaga with music that is blasted with a high decibel on professional speakers. So what?.....it is not something unusual may be the common comment from anyone. Quite unexpectedly the evening ended with a standout performance by a hearing impaired female dancer combing with wheelchair bound dancers to give one of the most passionate and powerful performance that got sound raptures in the form of nonstop clapping from the audience.






If one were to look at the photos without bearing in mind that that the female dancer was actually a hearing impaired person, they would not believe their eyes. Taking a second look and observing the facial expressions, the synchronised pose and formation of the dancers, would blow you out of your wildest imagination as to whether was it possible? Yes!, it was the crowning glory of the splendid performance that came through effortlessly but punctuated with great poise and an excellent piece of choreography that let the passion rule the stage.

How did I get there in the first place?
It was my good friend Shri. T. Kumar, the Director of Physical Education and NCC Officer of NMSS Vellaichamy Nadar College in Madurai who invited me for the very special evening which was celebrated in their college campus as a social responsibility day.

‘Virutcham’ an initiative by the NCC Cadets past and present of the college has taken up the social initiative to extend support for the deserving sections of the society. This was an annual event that gave out socio- economic benefits to the deserving sections of the society.  A great initiative from the college which is described as a great motivation and encouragement from only with the support of the College Management, Principal Staff and Students says the founder of Virutcham Shri. T. Kumar.


Passionate Dancers who proved:

The evening would very well go into my frame of mind as the one that dispelled the darkness on the question of the abilities of the persons with disabilities. It is not just a matter of mere words just for the sake of mentioning, but instead it comes directly from the deepest bottom of my heart that those dancers not only brought light on their abilities but very effectively convinced the audience that abilities are not to be limited on physical ailments or impairments..... Abilities are a mater the mind and heart and it shall spread light whenever there is a conducive atmosphere in the society.



The team that relegated the audience and shook me off my foot was mentored, trained and guided by Guru Dr. Syed S Pasha, a renowned therapeutic theatre dance choreographer from ability unlimited  in New Delhi.


Nicholas Francis