This Audiologist means Business!!

On the face of it, hearing impairment may sound like a disability that can be easily dismissed. Take a closer look and the statistics are staggering. Over 360 million people in the world suffer from disabling hearing loss and the impairment among children is increasing at around 60%. Simply put, 5.3% of the world population has disabling hearing loss of which 32 million are children, according to WHO estimates.

In India alone, 63 million people suffer from significant auditory loss and that includes around 50 lakh children. Surveys have estimated hearing loss to be the third leading cause of chronic disability, following arthritis and hypertension. 

World Hearing Day is held on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and to emphasize on ear and hearing care the world over. This year, with the theme 'Hear the future', World Hearing Day draws attention to the anticipated increase of people with hearing loss in the coming decades and preventive strategies to stem the rise and ensure rehabilitation services and communication tools are in place. This makes the relevance of World Hearing Day the need of the hour. 

Audiologist & Speech Therapist Devangi Dalal with kids at the JOSH Foundation's inter-school dance competition for the hearing impaired

"In most cases, children who struggle to hear can be helped with the correct hearing aid. We need to understand that hearing disability can be a nowned speech impediment resulting in the child being a socially isolated underachiever, something that can be prevented/controlled", says Audiologist, Speech therapist and Author Devangi Dalal, the recipient of Humanitarian Award from the American Academy of Audiology (AAA).

Dalal has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life of hearing impaired children of India for the last two and a half decades, and also provides free hearing services that is new digital hearing aids to hearing impaired children, enabling them to speak and attend normal schools. Dalal believes that "a hearing handicap is no longer a handicap", and is currently working at providing hearing impaired children in India the same privileges as the hearing impaired children in Europe and the United States through her foundation, Juvenile Organisation of Speech and Hearing (JOSH), whose purpose is to educate and empower hearing impaired children.

"Through JOSH, we organise programmes to empower the children, be it entertainment programmes were they perform to music, or self development or counseling sessions. We also personally fit children with hearing devices free of cost enabling them to lead normal lives. So far, over 750 children have benefited but there is a need to bring about a movement that will be a road map to independence for children with hearing impairment.”

Dalal points out that there is a need to create awareness in society about early detection of hearing disability and usage of proper hearing aids as hearing impaired children can then be integrated into normal schools.

“Proper neo-natal screening equipment need to be in place,” she adds, stating that there is a need to educate and counsel parents and children and provide the latest technology available to them.

“We also need to work on educational and job opportunities of the hearing impaired. It is then that the children will speak and not use gestural language for communication as if only they could hear with proper diagnosis, proper digital hearing and proper rehabilitation, they are as normal as any of their compatriots. Every successful child fitted with the right hearing devices is a step in that direction", urges Dalal asking each citizen to join her in this mission by lending their ears this World Hearing Day, and be the change.

Chidiakhana is the story of every underdog: Director Manish Tiwary

Dreams do not transpire into reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. And it may take a little pixie dust to make them come true…This seems to be the crux of director Manish Tiwary’s Chidiakhana, his latest venture after Issaq and Dil Dosti Etc.

Diractor Manish Tiwary and Actor Ritwik Sahore

Tiwary who wove his tale from his observation of the goings-on in our own metrop, adds that, the story of immigrants and the underdogs is a global issue. The 'Dreamers' in the USA and the cause of immigrants elsewhere in the world are politically rife and topical issues today! Manish Tiwary's Chidiakhana is the story of the underdog Sooraj, a teenager from the heart of hinterlands of Bihar who comes to Mumbai with his mother and finds himself caught in the throes of the Marathi-Bihari conflict, that threatens to take him away from his only passion – football, a game, that he worships, reveres and lives 24x7.

Says Tiwary, “Nevertheless, when you follow your dreams with passion and work hard, you find help from the most unexpected quarters. But will the boy be able to scale the wall that stands between him and his dreams in the zoo of this world that seems to bring with it unique creatures with minds of their own, forms the base of my film.”

Tiwary, who is working on the post-production of the film, avers that Chidiakhana is the story of every underdog. “The hero might be a young teenager fighting against all odds, but in him lies the story of each one of us, our strife and our will that will bend things our way. I would like Chidiakhana to inspire each viewer to achieve his dreams, irrespective of their circumstances.”

Pawtrait Click to Frame!

While Akshay Kumar was busy meeting and greeting junta at the Versova Festival, elsewhere his Entertainment lookalike Tiny the Golden Retriever was busy obliging fans with Kunju the Lhasa Apso and Snowy the Pom with Pawtraits, they could cherish for life.

The move of getting NGO Pawsitive Farm Sanctuary’s  four-legged Therapy Dogs  that were rescued or adopted and rehabilitated,  to come and meet those walking into the fest was that of ace pet photographer Bhavesh Karia, who believes that “clicking pets is not photography, but an artform.”

Says Bhavesh Karia, “pets are like little kids; forever doing something that you want to capture on your camera. But incredible pet photography is when you capture the essence of your furry friend through your pawtraits that look beyond the fur and into the soul of the pet. “I like to capture their honesty and their persona. I simply love the small smirks and poignant expressions – the animal's inner world.”

It is Bhavesh Karia’s pet boxer Bella who changed his world. “To me, Bella is not a dog, she is my life companion. So in my pawtraits, I try and capture what we miss most -- an expression, the moods, and the smile.” Though Bella was not present at the festival as she would follow Bhavesh Karia like Mary’s lamb, Tiny, Kunju and Snowy made sure that they not just posed for Bhavesh Karia but obliged all their young fans as well.

Mahima Chaudhary & Gracy Singh inaugurate artist Paramesh Paul's show, Glory of Varanasi.

Soul pilgrimage

The magical mysticism, the riveting riverbanks, the vast sea of humanity, Paramesh Paul infuses his works with a volatile energy that sees the City of Light shining bright, both physically and metaphorically. Worshippers taking dip in the river, the multitudes of small temples, the steps, the sadhus, the kamadul, the chhatris, the vatvruksha, the Nandi and the narrow streets teeming with life, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, of Benaras Gharana who have become synonymous with the embodiment of the spirit of Varanasi come to life on his canvas.

Painting, for Paramesh Paul, is a spiritual practice, an act of conscious, creative alignment with the Supreme. As one delves deeper into the paintings, one experiences a harmonious rhythm of life imbued with the feeling of transcendence, balance, and oneness with the whole of creation.

And this feeling was echoed by celebrities Mahima Chaudhary and Gracy Singh when they visited his exhibition at Nehru Centre Art Gallery to inaugurate the same. “I am in Benaras,” said Mahima Chaudhary. “The paintings transport you to the land of the Ganges. Paramesh Paul’s works are simply amazing.”

Added Gracy Singh, “the positivity in Paramesh Paul’s paintings is amazing. I have never been to Benaras but I feel I am there. His works have such an aura.”

Sarod Masters Amaan Ali Bangash & Ayaan Ali Bangash perform on the eve of Makarsankranti at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya.

Sarod Masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash perform along with Pandit Vijay Ghate on the Tabla and Sridhar Parthasarathy on the Mridangam, on the eve of Makarsankranti at Hridayesh Festival at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya. Check out the adjacent pictures! 

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan-Ayaan perform to packed audiences at dawn at The Gateway of India

Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan-Ayaan perform to packed audiences at dawn at The Gateway of India

It was a unique spiritual dawn at The Gateway of India when Sarod masters Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash took to stage accompanied by Pandit Vijay Ghate on the Tabla and Giridhar Udapa on the Ghatam… From darkness to dawn, a jam-packed historical venue resonated with melody.

Soon, the sun rose to greet Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan as he greeted the audiences with Raag Jounpuri, humorously stating that he wasn’t having pedicure but actually filing his nails midway through performance as he needs to play the Sarod with his nails.

The grand finale and the third part of the concert was when the father-sons trio took to stage and mesmerized the audiences along with their esteemed accompanists, leaving audiences spellbound. Interestingly, this father-son performed together in Mumbai after five years!

The spiritual morn was courtesy, Pancham Nishad Creatives, in collaboration with the Cultural Department of Maharashtra and Mumbai Port Trust as was a non-ticketed event.

Says Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, “this early morning concert is a tribute to our ancestors who respected the time of the ragas.”

Adds Shashi Vyas said, "The idea of commencing the concert at dawn gives the audience a chance to listen to some soul-stirring morning melodies that are best appreciated only at this time."

Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs at the Chhtarapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahalaya [Prince of Wales Museum] after Two Decades

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya(Prince of Wales Museum) resonated to the sound of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod on Friday evening. The maestro's performance is part of the celebration of the momentous exhibition, India & The World: A History of Nine Stories, at the CSMVS that celebrates the Indian culture and its interaction with the rest of the world. Ustadji being a leading exponent of Sarod, an instrument that has its roots in Central Asia and a globally celebrated artist was perfect to represent this exchange of India with the world. 

The crowd remained mesmerised for over 90 minutes rooted to their seats, clapping as Ustadji with musicians Pandit Vijay Ghate on the tabla and Sridhar Parthasarthy on the mridangam took us on a melodious musical journey, sometimes with soulful ragas and other times with energetic jugalbandis, that made the museum come alive, literally!

Glimpses...