I can still feel 5 year old Sangeetha sitting comfortably in my arms, her star and Christmas tree tattooed tiny arms around my neck brimming with excitement at the scene that was unfolding in front of her. We were busy looking at the other 100 odd children all running around to get their favourite Christmas themed tattoo which were being stamped by the volunteers who looked like they were having as much fun as the children themselves. It was a little after ten in the morning and under the big shady arms of the Peepal tree (guessing here but it looked like one), the party with the children of Sheila Kothawala institute for the Deaf began.
Out came colourful streamers which easily became head bands, the children getting more excited with each new individual clap they learnt. Off went the rocket clap, this is how we do the butterfly clap, catch that mosquito clap and bright as a sunflower clap! A volunteer initiated a couple of small songs through sign language, ‘Happy day’ being among the favourites with the children enthusiastically joining in with sparkling eyes and happy smiles.
While a couple of children taught me how to say, “what is your name?” in sign language; they all couldn’t wait to play the next game. So we split up the children based on age and off went the older group to decorate and colour the banners which we had earlier got readied. The smaller ones who had earlier spotted the huge Santa and Christmas decorations outlines which had been outlined on the ground ran up to them not knowing what they were in for. It was time to get down and colourful, we brought out the rangoli packets and the children got busy giving Santa his red cap and adding yellow to the jingling bells. I’ve always been amazed at the freedom of thought, to imagine without inhibition which only a child has. I always think of a ribbon being red, a ball is red, white or black… but a ribbon can be multi coloured and a ball can have stars and gems on them. Children look at the world so differently, I wonder if this structurisation in society is really that important as its meant out to be.
The older children put their thoughts into the banners, the different designs to stick, the various colour patterns, adding in streamers and balloons to make the banners come alive. It was wonderfully done and the creativity most absorbing. I am always amazed by how easily they communicate a twist of the fingers, a deft move of the hand and what would have taken a verbal discussion was as easily explained. Friendly, enthusiastic and willing, the children are beautiful; in everything they did and made. Its only we who consider ourselves normal that see them with a challenge; out there they were all normal, it was I who was challenged, it was I who has the mental block.
The banners were hung, the children making sure that the ones they had made stood out but frankly speaking I think they did better than I ever could have. So anyway, off we went to don the famous Santa costumes and HoHoHo!! There I was half blind because I couldn’t see through the mask, my glasses fogged up and 100 screaming excited children shaking my hand, taking the sweets we had filled up the Santa bag with and having the time of their lives!!
The goodies were handed over to the teachers to distribute along with the small neatly packed gifts for all the children and it was done suddenly all done. The children left since they had to go back home in their buses. The volunteers managed to hurriedly clean up and we headed over to our next party at Cheshire Home which was next door…
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