Vikram Seth, the storyteller who helped
India capture the world's imagination, was one of NDTV's 25 greatest global
legends honored by President Pranab Mukherjee on December 14. In the award
ceremony, he said, “Intolerance is violence, and accepted intolerance is
violence with the acquiescence of society.”
Vikram Seth was at his sardonic best as he delivered a touching speech at the function. He emphasized that intolerance in the family setup would be disastrous and that we cannot have the spirit of intolerance in the country as a whole.
We need to plan and create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming by treating people with disabilities as people first, a soul first just like yours and mine and their disabilities should only come later. Instead of trying to outcast them due to the disability factor, we need to see, as a nation, how we can measure up to support them.
People with disabilities are at many instances gifted with great talents. We should be more tolerant and give them the opportunity to prove their God-given gifts. The virtue of a society can be measured by the way it treats the poor and the people with physical, mental or learning disabilities.
Vikram Seth was at his sardonic best as he delivered a touching speech at the function. He emphasized that intolerance in the family setup would be disastrous and that we cannot have the spirit of intolerance in the country as a whole.
One should link Vikram Seth’s
speech with the situation of people with disabilities in India. Why do people with disabilities face intolerance in the Indian society, and why are they left with no option to choose? Why do we make them lose the
option to have the opportunities that the rest of India has - be it going out shopping, sightseeing, eating
at a restaurant etc. etc.?
We need to plan and create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming by treating people with disabilities as people first, a soul first just like yours and mine and their disabilities should only come later. Instead of trying to outcast them due to the disability factor, we need to see, as a nation, how we can measure up to support them.
People with disabilities are at many instances gifted with great talents. We should be more tolerant and give them the opportunity to prove their God-given gifts. The virtue of a society can be measured by the way it treats the poor and the people with physical, mental or learning disabilities.
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