Tuesdays for Tomorrow

~ Visit to the Deaf Society ~

 by Himali Singh Soin

Visting the Deaf Society was a heartening experience: I had never before been somewhere that was as silent, and yet so full of noise, chatter and good cheer. 600 students from all over India (and several from Africa) travel here to enroll in training programs for the deaf and mute.These children learn Indian Sign Language and go on to work in prestigious banks, publications, hotels and other service industries.

I go with a bag of coloured pencils, paints, glitter, sequins, drawing books, scissors and glue. They say good morning as their palms, near their mouths, open as flowers blooming, connoting the sun. See how many words fell short of the gesture? Their thank yous and welcomes repeated in abundance, and their hands in the air in applause, they received the gift of art. Thank you.