Kolkata: Citing the instance of polio-
afflicted Gautam Lewis, who became a role model for physically
challenged youth for his versatile talents, former Lok Sabha
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has said children confronted with
disabilities, including progeria, should be given the right
scope to ignite the spark within.
"Talent within an individual, whether he is afflicted
with a disease like polio, or otherwise physically
disadvantaged should be allowed to flourish freely, and all of
us should do our bit in rehabilitating these people in
whatever disciplines they excel," Chatterjee told PTI after
inaugurating a photography exhibition of London-based Lewis,
still dependent on crutches from his battle with polio, last
evening.
With the media's focus now on progeria after a
Bollywood film dealt with the disease, Chatterjee said, "Not
only polio, or other physical deformities like blindness,
deafness or likewise, children afflicted with other crippling
ailments should also be encouraged to face life on their own
terms."
He called upon media and the public to create more
awareness about all such diseases, and include children struck
by cerebral palsy, and not just make it a one-off affair.
To a question, the veteran Marxist leader said he was
ready to personally come to the aid of any physically
disadvantaged child to help him find the moorings of life.
Recalling his own life's journey, where he overcame
the physical obstacles of difficulty in movement, renowned
painter Wasim Kapoor said no deformities could stop a person
from achieving his objectives.
"Gautam's life can be an astounding success story for
persons faced with the same situation or likewise and
corporates and other organisations should come forward to chip
in whatever way they could.
"It is heartening that people are waking up to the
cause of children, challenged physically or otherwise, through
films, media and other means," Kapoor said.
Abandoned after contracting polio at the age of three,
and initially sheltered at the Missionaries of Charity, Lewis
was later adopted by a nuclear physicist from UK and his
life's orientation changed.
From the saga of abject poverty, unable to explore
his talents, his life turned into one of privilege and comfort
turning him into a youth icon, dabbling in arts, aviation and
social activism.
Aptly named 'Full Circle', the black and white
photography exhibition depicts how Lewis viewed life of
polio-affected, whose minds always soar 'over the rainbow'
despite the backdrop of cobwebbed old houses and narrow
alleys.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, December 06, 2009, 19:33