This is a story of a lingering relationship of 23 years; a relationship that cannot be described in its fullest form ! However much I may try to express, much of it will be unsaid !
I am so grateful for having had this everlasting friendship, love, gratitude, and inspiration from my lovely student VIDYA RAJAGOPALAN!
Before I met her
I became the Project officer on special duty for a building project in Vidya Sagar (NGO ) in 1994. Much to my surprise, Poonam called me just before the staff meeting, and asked me, “I want you to manage our building project. Would you like to take it up?”
I had just completed my Special Education course at that time and Poonam was the Founder of Vidya Sagar. I deeply admired this woman who had by this point taught me a lot and she was actually giving me the opportunity I was seeking in life!
Immediately, without an iota of doubt, not knowing what this meant or how I would manage it, and not even knowing how vast this project was, I simply said, “YES! SURE!“
My heart was confident that she would support me in the journey.
Target time: 18 months.
Size of the project: 33,000 square feet.
Cost of the project: 1.5 crores in the year 1996.
Having accepted to take it up, I had to start from scratch.
The call of teaching
Having recently completed my course, however, my heart yearned to pursue teaching, and so, I was determined to find ways to do that as well.
Initially, when I approached Usha Ramakrishnan, our Technical Guru, , she told me that she had been instructed that I wasn’t to be distracted from the building project, and therefore wasn’t to be allotted any technical work.
“That’s true,” I told Usha, “it is a big project and I agree with you, but I am capable of teaching some students between 10am to 12.30 pm, before returning to the building project in Kotturpuram soon after.”
In response, she told me to talk to a colleague of mine, Neeraja, and ask her what slots she had that needed support.
One of the greatest teaching practices that Poonam had inculcated in the classroom was the Teacher/Student ratio; she maintained it at 1 : 8, and that made all the difference in the quality of services offered in a Special School.
When I approached Neeraja, she told me that she specifically needed support in teaching english to Vidya – a child with Multiple Disabilities – who was non-verbal.
I said, “OK, I will start from Monday.”
The class begins. Teacher or student?
The class on the following Monday turned out to be like an orientation class; to get to know this child. From the class I understood that Vidya could only communicate through her eyes; she was full of cognitive energy and willing to learn. We gelled very well.
So now my task was clear, but, my lesson plans had to be worked on each day. My classes with Vidya were on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My first class began with a check on her capability to identify alphabets and numbers from 1 to 10.
As we moved on, Vidya was teaching me many lessons. If I recapped what I had taught previously, she would sulk, which meant, don’t bore me with what I already know.
So I began to check on and off, does she remember?
What I discovered was that her connections to the environment with what was being taught was simply astounding. We started conversing so well that sometimes, I never even realized that the period was over until the call for the therapy came in. We began enjoying each and every moment.
Once in awhile I would have a visitor or a meeting, when I would be forced to call Neeraja and tell her that I could not make it to class. Whenever this would happen, Vidya – being seven years old – would get disappointed with me. Neeraja would tell me that she was looking out for me through the Time I had her session, in fond hope of me turning up. My next class then would begin with an apology and a smile, and ask her forgiveness for my not turning ups
As we moved on, my English lesson plans became very practical instead of being formal. I had worksheets which were new each time I took a class, after which we would move on to a practical lesson. For example, I would show her the picture of a kitchen and we would talk about what utensils and gadgets I had in my house, and what she saw her mother use in her kitchen.
There used to be many gaps, and, without any prompting, Vidya would tell her mother to take her to the kitchen on her wheelchair and ask names of the gadgets and utensils . So the two of us used to promptly do our own versions of a homework for the class.
I would remember her questions and what I had told her and in case I forgot about one of her questions, she would remind me. It was a sort of continuous homework cycle. It was also a constant bilateral learning event, because her queries were very intellectual and challenging.
As time went by, I found help in the form of Narain; a few months into this journey. I had just finished my NIIT classes before joining Vidya Sagar, and so I began to design small worksheets on the computer and Vidya’s lesson plans got better. Narain was a source of support for me in this regard. For example, if I could not find a picture, appropriate to the lesson plan, Narain would find it for me.
My english lessons grew with time. Most of my work was practical training.
The landline lesson
One day, as I was going through a worksheet on telephone handling, I showed her pictures of the telephone, and told her about BSNL (a government entity which was the sole service provider of those telephones) – and which were and are still called as a landline today. We both shared a lot of information about how telephones work in our homes, and Vidya said, “In my house everyone uses the telephone but me!”
I was heart-broken on hearing that. I could understand how she felt left out. The only thought running through my mind for the rest of the day was, this is not an inclusive society.
But Vidya had caught on with that conversation alone. She recounted to me the next day about how her mother spoke to her father, about how her aunt had called and also what she had heard her mother say about how she would be seeing her aunt on friday since she was coming to their house… I was truly amazed. The teaching plan is really working out, I thought.
Birthday parties
In the next lesson we discussed birthday parties.
We talked about how children used balloons, about how the mothers would make sweets and payasam, and about how many friends would come over, and of course about cutting the cake !
The lesson was well received.
Vidya was very happy with that class. She loved seeing the pictures, and the balloons and tinsel I had taken to show her. We had fun just touching and feeling everything and we even burst a balloon in class. She was full of smiles!
The call
About three weeks after the class, I realised that it was Vidya’s Birthday. In all the hurry burry to send my children to school by 7.30am, packing the lunch boxes for my three kids, myself and my husband, making sure they had their milk and breakfast, and checking to see if the driver – Shekar – was on time, I somehow did manage to find 10 mins to call my darling student Vidya.
The person who received the phone call was quite shocked to hear my request to talk to Vidya. She said, “you cannot talk to her.” In fact, she was so confident that she even said, “I think you have called a wrong number.”
“I know she is non verbal,” I replied, “but I want to wish her.”
“How can you do do that?” she asked.
The phone got transferred to another person who tried to convince me that I was trying to do a herculean task and it was not possible since the phone was somewhere else.
I then requested her mother to come to the phone, and when she came on, she immediately recognised my voice. I told her that I would be grateful if she could
bring Vidya on the wheelchair to the phone. She agreed spontaneously and Vidya was brought to the phone. As her mother held the instrument to her ear, I could feel Vidya’s happiness. I just said, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIDYA!!!”
What followed was a complete hilarious laughter from both sides. She laughed and laughed, and I stored her audio as a ringtone in my mind for life. That moment was so special for both of us !
The call continued and I I told her I would meet her in class and had a card and a small gift for her, then I hung up.
When I went to class that day, I met her mother Usha just before entering and she was all smiles and very happy.
Vidya gave me chocolates for her birthday and she told me the telephone worked for her also today! I was ecstatic on hearing that. That little gesture was a small form of inclusion for me.
Months later Usha told me that many people had started talking to Vidya directly on the phone and had said that they were coming to meet her. Her Mother would also make her use the phone when her brother or sister called home
Home visit
One day Usha met me at school and told me that vidya would love it if I visited her. Casually I agreed to it.
A few days later , I was in a session with vidya. We were speaking about our Homes. People who visit us, how guests behave, what we should do when guests come to our house, etc etc . The sessions for her were planned for two days and vidya called me to her house. I said I will surely visit you. I do not think I said, ‘I will come Today’
As I finished my work reached home, and was with all the busy time of cooking a dinner ,checking the homework etc, I got. call from Usha. She said, ‘Vidya has been waiting for you, since 4 pm. She wanted you to visit her soon after the school.’
I was surely in a mess. I knew how much this meant for this child.She would probably not have her dinner waiting for me . My thoughts were strewn apart. I was a little confused and wondered what to do. That is when my lovely husband sensed my emotion, and was willing to take me to her house from Indira Nagar. I felt even more confused . Was it right to do that ? Was I yielding to an undue request ?
Years later, I cannot explain how this bonding had grown . I went to meet her for just 10 minutes, but, by doing that I had achieved a bonding with this child, and had gained her faith and Trust . I believe Professionalism is beyond just the call of duty.
The classes end
After completing the building project, I worked as the head of vocational training and resigned from Vidya Sagar in 1997.
Even after the classes ended, Usha and Vidya cared to remember me and just simply loved me as a teacher and as a special educator.
It was a great time that I had spent with this wonderful student named Vidya. The teaching and learning cycle was so complete, I had experienced the full circle in PURNATWAM (which is a sanskrit word about an ancient Indian philosophy that poorly translates to completeness in english). It was a joy without limits. The teaching was very qualitative and the learning was experiential.
We were in 2019.
Vidya’s brother got engaged and the wedding was fixed. Even after all these years, Vidya remembered me and told her mother that I should definitely be invited for the wedding. When I heard about this, it was a very endearing moment for me. The picture above is the picture taken at her brother’s Wedding !
That event was so Blissful meeting Vidya ! We just laughed again and again ! I enjoyed seeing her in full style, with well groomed hair. Her dress was her selection and she looked so beautiful ! i had the chance to meet many other parents whom i had worked with during that period ! It was a great Day ! ’/
After all, I had only done my duty. But, for doing simply that, I was able to enjoy years of blissful love and undaunted respect as a Teacher, not to mention the gratitude that we both mutually felt for each other.
I never expected my lIfe to be so fulfilling ! Thanks to the Lord !
This the the Beginning of 2020 , I pray that I continue to keep getting many more such opportunities with these wonderful students !
VANI SUKUMAR
TEACHER /SPECIAL EDUCATOR
DATED 19.09.2019
