Wrap the handkerchief around your eyes and practice tapping left, straight and right with the walking stick provided to you. This place has a number of barriers for the visually-impaired, so be very careful when you are climbing stairs,” said Baldev Gulati to the blindfolded people who gathered near Delhi’s Qutb Minar to participate in the blindfolded walk organised by Delhi Walk Festival. Gulati, who is an assistant professor at University of Delhi, led the walk. He is also visually-impaired.
The walk conducted to enhance the sensitivity among the people for visual impairment was held earlier this month. Getting to know about the endeavour, students from various architectural colleges have asked their respective faculties to organise such walks to help them design better buildings keeping in mind the needs of the visually-impaired. “I became fascinated with the proposition when organisers contacted me to conduct this walk. The difficulties faced by visually challenged people on the roads and in any of the monuments are numerous. The pavements are not visually impaired friendly. People park their vehicles without a certain rule and much trouble is faced by visually challenged. The idea is to make participants feel impairment for an hour or so to understand the challenges faced by people who cannot see,” says Gulati.
The group of ten participants was divided into five pairs where one person had to go blindfolded. Though the other person was there to instruct the blindfolded one about the direction, it was Gulati who was the guide on that day. Participants observed a very different Qutb Minar without vision. Being a participant I was hearing instructions from him. “Touch the pillars on your right, can you understand if you are walking in the shade or the sun, the sound you just heard was of a flock of pigeons which flew over your head”. The passers-by were curious at this strange sight. Many of them asked the blindfolded people about the event. The sound of the stick used to make them alert and they cleared the path for the blindfolded.
I became fascinated with the proposition when organisers contacted me to conduct this walk. The difficulties faced by visually challenged people on the roads and in any of the monuments are numerous. The pavements are not visually impaired friendly. People park their vehicles without a certain rule and much trouble is faced by visually challenged. The idea is to make participants feel impairment for an hour or so to understand the challenges faced by people who cannot see.
“Sometimes, a visitor takes my hand and quickly makes me cross the street even when I don’t intend to. This in turn proves a pain for me as till then I have lost the sense of direction. When I ask the parson if he can guide me about the route, he quietly slips away. By this walk we will be able to reach out to not just participants but also onlookers. Their attitude and perception will change towards the visually impaired,” shares Gulati who wants people to be a little more aware of the trouble faced by visually impaired.
Participation from a handful of people in the walk from different backgrounds didn’t disappoint Gulati. “Any change comes from a micro level. Even if the change is slow, I have the satisfaction that I have taken one step ahead in raising awareness about the lives of people who cannot see. I will continue to do so. The students, professors and corporate in the walk will share the experience within their peer. This will create a lot of understanding about the issues faced by those who are visually impaired. I am delighted that the dynamic group trusted their leader and had no inhibitions in taking instructions from a visually challenged person.”
Talking about his life after the walk got over, Gulati says that apart from teaching Social Work at University of Delhi, he also helps an organization to create employments for the disabled. “At present, I am trying to create livelihood opportunities for the hearing impaired. There are fewer jobs for those who are impaired of hearing or sight. I also run a business where I supply grocery items to caterers and canteens.”
Being involved in social responsibilities while managing a business along with a full time job, what keeps him going? “It is just the way I was brought up. I will give the credit to my mother who is a great source of inspiration. My three sisters also can’t see but now are holding prestigious jobs. Due to the impairment my father had deserted us. My mother then took up a job of a saleswoman before getting a full time job. My wife doesn’t have this problem but otherwise she is full of problems, “chuckles Gulati. “She is my favourite travel companion.”
Gulati has various ideas for spending his leisure time but travelling tops his list. “I love to travel. I usually go with my wife and daughter. I have an affinity for waterfalls. Running my fingers under the water or just sitting beneath one, if it is not too dangerous, is my all time preferred activity during a vacation. I enjoy this tactile feeling. Apart from this, on an occasion I like to have a couple of glasses of whiskey only with coke. You see I am a man of fine taste.”