In what can be taken as a unique and heart-warming presentation of grit and determination, today’s events at Shilpgram was dominated by the enactment of a group of disabled individuals who executed their performance to the joy of all present at the venue.

The performance was enacted by members of the Ability Unlimited Foundation, New Delhi under the guidance of their program co-ordinator and teacher, Syed Salahuddin Pasha.

In the words of Pasha, “haalaat ke kadmon pe sikandar nahi girta…jo toot ke bikhar jaye who sitara nahi kehlata”…meaning A winner never fails due to circumstances and one who shatters on falling can never be a star.

Truly, in what can be perceived to be an act of sheer grit and the blessings of the Almighty, the star performers of the group, namely V.K. Prajapati, Chetan, Aashiq Usmani and Dharmendra, all of whom are disabled in the lower limbs; Manish and Darshan Kumar who are blind; Alka Shah, Jyoti, Karuna Sarkar and Priya Kumari, all of whom are deaf and dumb gave astonishing performances.

Pasha said that all the above named artists have performed globally and the WZCC event, Shilpgram Utsav is one among only seven such global organizations, who give this platform for skill display.

The above group performed the Durga dance – Mahishasuvadh on a wheelchair; augmented by an amazing combination of lights and sound.

This was followed by the Sufi dance on wheelchair performed to the famous Bollywood tune “khwaja mere khwaja…dil mein sama ja” from the movie Jodha Akbar.

The Bharatnatyam display also had the audience in awe; while the icing on the cake was a dangerous martial art sequence performed by Prajapati, Chetan, Ashiq and Dharmendra, followed by the rendition of the Mahabharata and the Bhagwad Gita by all the artists.

Earlier, the stage shows started with the Gair dance, Manganiar by Gazi Khan; Bhapang by Ustad Jumme Khan; Lavani by Smitha from Dombivali (Maharashtra) and the Siddhi Dhamal by Shabbir Siddi and party, in which the dancers crack open coconuts using their heads.

In all, a great day of events and exhibitions, while we are reaching the end of the festival, as the year ends. Keep reading for more updates…let’s hope we see more of such fantastic performances as the festival nears culmination.