After putting it off for several years, I finally braved it and watched the popular Indian movies, Paa and Taare Zameen Par. For those that haven't seen these movies, both are about kids with disabilities. Paa is about a kid with progeria, a rare disease that makes the child age rapidly. Taare Zameen Par is about a kid with dyslexia, a learning disorder that causes difficulty in reading. I put them off because I knew what the movies were about, and I have seen clips of the movies, and have heard the soul searching songs that pull at your heartstrings. True, the movies star the best of the best in film industry, and has the most melodious voices singing their numbers. My kids were moved too. I let them watch Paa. My 9yr old kept going in and out of the room as she was trying to hide her emotions. My 5 yr old kept saying repeatedly that "this is not real, right, Amma?". I replied, "Yes, Sweety, this movie is not real". I am glad I didn't watch Taare Zameen Par with them as I was shamelessly crying watching it.
Truth be told, I don't think it is the block buster acting of the Bachchans and Aamir Khan or the mellifluous voice of Shankar Mahadevan that moved people. What moved us all is that it is about children. More importantly, it's about children suffering. One film showed the kid surrounded by a loving mother, grandmother and eventually a loving father. Although it was hard to see, a 12yr old grotesque looking kid suffering with issues that affect an 80yr old man, it was at least heart warming to see the love and friendship he received from his family, friends and teachers. But when another film depicted an adorable kid misunderstood by his own parents and sent away to a hostel, it broke our hearts, because we can't see a child crying. Especially, when he is just crying for love and understanding. He is surrounded by people, people with the best intentions, but he is still very lonely because there was not a single person that was willing to hold his hand and walk with him only because no one understood that he needed help. It takes a loving special needs teacher to show the family and the world that the kid is capable of anything with just a little extra help and a lot of love and compassion.
Well, those were just movies. And their stories were completely in the writer and director's hands. What about the children in the real world? If only there were writers and directors that can paint a beautiful life for them. If only with some smart editing and graphics, we can make these kids with special needs to learn to read, write and do all the other activities that they normally can't. Sadly, there is no editing in real life. These kids and their families have to live their lives with the struggles that come with raising a special needs child. But they don't have to do this by themselves. They have Abhilasha and they have You!!!
As this year is coming to an end, we would like to thank you all for your continued support. You are our heroes. You may not know this, but you are editing the children's lives to better and independent ones. Thank you, and Wish you a very Happy New Year!!!
Please visit Greatwish.org and make a donation today!!
