TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Hey Folks! Gouri Shirwadkar, at your service. Heard of this name before??Well, let me analyze... Nope, but if you like my content we could be good friends. So, let's get started: Sometimes a small incident can cause many changes. The memory is old but still quite fresh... Having a great Sunday is all you can ask after a tiring exam week. To celebrate my CID (children independence day). I had requested my parents for a mall trip. I clearly remember that day, we were having our lunch at KFC (I am a big chicken fan) and we needed extra straws, so as the elder child I had to get up. I walked to the counter and asked for some straws but the guy did some actions and as a Bollywood fan I knew what they meant. I was so shocked that I froze; I said straws again and he handed me some tissues.

God! I was feeling so awkward but also had a sense that said, “You are holding up the line.” (TBH, that was the lady behind). By the way, those actions meant that he couldn't hear and speak. I had never faced a situation like this. This was when I realized the importance of sign language. According to the 2011 Indian census, around 1.3M people in India have hearing impairment excluding the people who have headsets or earphones on, the whole time and since being given the title of the deaf by their parents. Also, if we speak about the world there are around 5% or 466M people fall into this category. If you are thinking that it's not important that I will face an issue like this, then you are wrong because when it strikes, it strikes hard. ​

At this particular time, I wanted to do something to make it up to them, or rather I would say make it up to myself. I felt unfit, I had the power to speak to hear to express myself but I couldn't do it. I looked up for sign language, what I found was astonishing! This is a whole culture in itself. If we search, you can see that it consists of 300 languages and the most common is Pidgin Sign Language(PSE) or Signed English. In every school, there is a third language taught. Students get to choose from a series of several languages. The importance of a third language is to know more about learning a language we relate most too or be bilingual, which is pretty much taken lightly. As presently, until there is a deadline it’s impossible to expect results. I strongly suggest that ISL should be one of the multiple choices given to the students. Even if it won't make a lot of difference but it will be a start. People are used to be spoon-fed or a plate to be served. So once we serve this side dish I am not 100% sure but there is surely a possibility that 45% handpick of people would love it. I know that at my place I might not be able to make a big difference but I have tried my best and would want you guys to try your best to if you feel it’s high time to bring the needed change. Gouri Shirwadkar