The above statement will evoke harshness over the
speaker, if stated in front of an august audience. However, the same statement transforms
to higher magnitude when identity of individual is revealed as Rachel Kolb who
is deaf since birth.
My introduction to Rachel Kolb came through her
article “Seeing at the Speed of Sound”
appeared in Stanford Magazine (March / April 2013). Rachel is a Stanford
Graduate and a Rhodes Scholar.
The article by Rachel raises importance of
understanding the world of deafness and the challenges faced by them. She truly makes us understand what Edward T.
Hall has correctly stated “One of the
most effective ways to learn about oneself is by taking seriously the cultures
of others. It forces you to pay attention to those details of life which
differentiate them from you”.
The author takes us to an excursion, wherein the sight
of effort put to understand the turbulence of lip reading, journey of
understanding sound is touched upon. Rachel rightly acknowledged the point made
by prominent deaf educator Madan Vashishta (deaf at age 11, was farmer for next
10 years and subsequently acquired Ph.D. in special education):
“the rawness
of unfiltered contact surpasses even the reassurance provided by translation”.
The article removes our witlessness of believing the
life of deaf. Here we have to agree with Marlee Martin’s (only deaf performer to win Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading
role i.e. OSCAR, for the movie Children of a Lesser God) statement:
To truly understand the progress
and journey of Rachel please read the article. Link http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=59977.
About Madan Vashishta:
·
First Indian Deaf to
acquire Ph.D.
·
Ph.D., Gallaudet University
· Associate Professor (Part - Time)
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