Viklang versus Divyang: Modiji, stop invoking divinity, address plight of persons with disabilities
Bengaluru, Jan 23: We all know how much Prime Minister Narendra Modi loves to coin new catchphrases and terminologies to push forward his various schemes.
Be it Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital India, Make in India or Start-up India, Stand-up India initiatives, various catchy slogans were invented in recent times by advertising agencies to popularise government schemes.
One of Modi government's latest pet projects is the disability sector. However, it seems, the BJP-led NDA government committed a major faux pas in its very initial stages of working for the upliftment of persons with disabilities.
Disabled rights activists have taken offence to the use of the term of ‘divyang' (divine body) instead of the commonly used word ‘viklang' (persons with disabilities) by Modi.
The disabled rights activists under the umbrella of National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) and its various affiliates on January 22 (Friday) wrote a strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister opposing the use of the term ‘divyang'.
Divyang versus Viklang
The letter began by saying, "On December 27, 2015 during the course of your ‘Mann Ki Baat' you had referred to persons with disabilities thus: "Those in whom Paramatma has created a deficiency in the body, those for whom some part of the body does not work properly, we call them ‘viklang'...............‘Why don't we, in our country, replace the word ‘viklang' with the word ‘divyang'?' These are those people who possess divinity - divyata - in one or more parts of their body; whose bodies are possessed by divine power (divya shakti)....."
"We presumed it to be a one-off remark, emerging from some stray thoughts. But in the subsequent days we were bombarded with the use of the term ‘divyang', not by you alone but various others in the government, who have taken the cue," the letter added.
Modi wants to change mindset
The activists wrote the letter after Modi stressed on the term ‘divyang' at a public meeting hosted for persons with disabilities in Varanasi on January 22. The event saw Modi distributing wheelchairs, electronic- hearing aids and skill certificates to the differently abled people.
"What I want to do is change the mindset about differently abled people. When I say let's use the word 'divyang', it is about that change," Modi said
In
his
December
27
'Mann
ki
Baat',
PM
Modi
had
based
his
concept
of
'divyang'
on
the
premise
that
the
people
with
physical
disabilities
tend
to
develop
special
faculties
that
even
the
fully
'able'
lack.
"We
see
a
person's
disability
with
our
eyes.
But
our
interaction
tells
us
the
person
has
an
extra
power.
Then
I
thought,
in
our
country,
instead
of
using
the
word
'viklang,'
we
should
use
the
term
'divyang',"
PM
Modi
had
said
in
his
radio
address
of
last
month.
Viklaang' to 'Divyaang': PM Modi's Mahatma Gandhi moment in Varanasi
The Department of Disability Affairs has since given a serious thought to changing the official terminology.
Stop patronising, Mr PM
The letter clearly stated that a new terminology is not going to change the reality. The activists want the Prime Minister to address the issue of discrimination and stigma faced by the differently abled people.
"Today, at the mega event for distribution of aids and appliances at Varanasi the term was used repeatedly and lapped up by a section of the media also. Even while not questioning the motive behind the coining of this expression, it is needless to say that mere change of terminology is not going to bring about any change in the manner in which people with disabilities are treated.
Invoking divinity will in no way lessen the stigma and discrimination that persons with disabilities have been historically subjected to and continue to encounter in their daily lives. Exclusion and marginalisation cannot be addressed by using patronising terms like ‘divyang'. On the contrary, they will only invoke sympathy and underline that charity is what counts," the letter said.
PM Modi to visit Varanasi, Lucknow on Jan 22
It's hard work, not divinity
The activists said persons with disabilities have achieved success in their lives because of their hard work.
"The persons with disabilities, overcoming various odds and multiple hurdles have proven their mettle. It would be fallacious however to conclude that this is due to any divine attribute. Such invocations would only tend to create myths, even while squarely failing to address the issues that the disabled face," stated the letter.
We want dignity
The
letter
demanded
that
persons
with
disabilities
should
be
treated
with
dignity.
"Dignity,
accommodation
and
recognition
of
their
rights
as
equal
and
productive
citizens
are
what
persons
with
disabilities
long
for
and
not
any
change
in
nomenclature,"
it
said.
End stigma and discrimination
Since ages, differently abled people have faced stigma and discrimination.
"We
would
like
to
reiterate
that
disability
is
not
a
divine
gift.
And
the
use
of
phrase
like
‘divyang'
in
no
way
ensures
de-stigmatisation
or
an
end
to
discrimination
on
grounds
of
disability.
What
needs
to
be
addressed
are
stigma,
discrimination
and
marginalisation
that
persons
with
disabilities
are
subjected
to
on
account
of
the
cultural,
social,
physical
and
attitudinal
barriers
that
hinder
their
effective
participation
in
the
country's
economic,
social
and
political
life,"
the
letter
said.
Voice
against
divyang
grows
The activists want the government not to use the term ‘divyang' while addressing persons with disabilities.
"The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) and its affiliates are not the only ones who are voicing their opposition to the use of this term. Various other organisations have openly come out against this and several write-ups have also appeared in various prominent dailies.
We would therefore request you to refrain from using the term ‘divyang' and also shelve any plan that the government may be making to officially use this term," the letter ended.
The intention of Modi government is good, but definitely misplaced. Maybe, it is like the same way the Dalits detest the term Harijan coined by Mahatma Gandhi. It further marginalised them. Here the idea should be integration, not building exclusive clubs, creating further division of society.
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