Mumbai: Rotary District 3141, Community Service Avenue and Rotary Club of Bombay West organised a talent cum fashion show-‘DHADKAN, a specially-abled miracle’ of special children on 29 June at Mukesh Patel Auditorium, Vile Parle West. The main focus was on breaking the stereotypes that surround disability.
Through Dhadkan, the organisers want to make people realize that these differently abled people are not helpless individuals. Their physical condition is not a barrier to fulfilling the dreams of these people.
The Rotary District Governor Shashi, which runs Rotary District 3141, said, “They’re not just runway models, they’re Role Models”.
More than 400 differently abled children from different institutions with their parents or guardians have attended the program. More than 100 children performed in the talent cum fashion show. 50 volunteer of NGOs working with differently abled children were also present. More than 250 Rotarians and Innerwheel members encouraged and appreciated the efforts of these children. Performances of Shadow Artists on Pulwama attack theme and Touching Little Hearts (Project where Rotarians supported more than 1000 paediatric heart surgeries of below poverty line children) were just remarkable.
“It will be enticing to see many paradigms being broken and will make people endure beauty in all body types, ages and disabilities. Hitting hard on misconceptions, it will be phenomenal to watch beauty in so many facets”, said Avenue Chair Rtn. Dr Mona Shah.
According to the President of the host club, Rtn. Anand Gupta, the show was about inclusion and diversity. It was about every individual who is holding himself back.
On summing up the event, Keya Shah, a 12-grade student studying in Dhirubhai Ambani School, said,” I experienced some of the most emotional moments of my life while watching the Dhadkan show. Seeing all of these special children with the unbreakable spirit was so inspiring that it made me question the definition of what our society labels as ‘disabled’.”
The joy and smiles on the faces of these differently abled children give immense pleasure to the audiences, and they were hoping to see more such programmes in future.
