Author: Ambreesh Mishra
Publication: India Today
Date: April 16, 2007
Introduction: Hundreds of physically-challenged
find their life partners thanks to a teacher who plays cupid every year
For these children of a lesser God, marriages
aren't made in heaven. The nuptial plans of hundreds of physically-challenged
individuals are charted at a unique event that takes place in Bhopal every
year. While every caste and community has taken to the idea of Vivah Parichay
Sammelans with gusto, one man in Bhopal has taken it to a whole new level.
Meet Mukesh Bairagi, the cupid for the physically
challenged. The 40-something teacher has been holding these events in Bhopal
for the last five years. Through his efforts, hundreds of individuals suffering
from debilitating physical handicaps have found their mates.
Bairagi's efforts to conjure up this phenomenon
were not accidental. He is a qualified trainer for the hearing and speech-impaired
at Asha Niketan, a missionary-run institution in Bhopal. He also teaches mathematics.
During his work with the disabled over a span of 15 years, he realised they
needed more than mere education or economic independence.
"The idea was to bring them emotional
security," he says. Then he organised the first Sammelan in 2001 with
about 60 people which rose to 300 last December. Among the first couples to
have decided to tie the knot is Bhilai-based Sandhya and B. Ramkrishnan. "We
will forever be indebted to him," says the couple in sign language.
Bairagi's experience has provided him a unique
insight into the way marriages work out for these couples. "The blind
can find partners with perfect vision. Even orthopaedic disability doesn't
count for much. However, since speech and hearing-impaired can't communicate
properly and run the biggest risk of being misunderstood, they usually marry
each other," he says.
People come from states like Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar at their own expense, while
a minimal registration fee of Rs 50 is charged, which covers their lunch for
the day. "I spend over Rs 50,000 every year from my own pocket for holding
the Sammelan," he says. However, surviving on a teacher's meagre salary
and holding his life's passion year after year is proving to be financially
burdensome. "I hope we find sponsors next year. I want to scale the event
up," Bairagi says.
Even without sponsors, physically-challenged
individuals would continue to flock his Sammelan, secure in their knowledge
that with Bairagi there to lend a helping hand, marital bliss is just round
the corner.
