Creating Music for Deaf

I came across an interesting video on YouTube a few days back (thanks to my friend Kelechi Emetuche). It explained about American Sign Language (ASL) and how interpreters are making efforts to make deaf people enjoy music.

ASL is one of the natural languages used by the deaf community to communicate and ASL interpreters serve as an important medium of conversion from oral language to communicate things to deaf people. ASL not only has hand gestures but use various movements of face and torso as well to represent different phonemic components of oral language. I had previously seen interpreters communicating news over television using hand gestures but I was totally oblivious to the fact that a lot of effort has been put in developing such a sign language so that people with hearing impairment have a rich vocabulary as any other language. The use of hand orientation, facial gestures, and direction of movements all play a complex role in making the words and sounds come to life and make deaf people not only understand the words but also the tone and emotions of the sentence. (Mind=blown :-o ) I truly appreciate the efforts of both language developers and interpreters in translating sounds to visual form.

One step ahead, interpreters are now trying to make such people enjoy music as well. Definitely! Why should people with hearing disability be deprived of enjoying the most favorite pastime of mine? Listening to music not only cheer us up and sets the mood but while we listen to music, our heart beats resonate with beats of the song and our whole body rejuvenates with good music (try guided meditation with healing sounds, and you'll know what I am saying ;) ). ASL interpreters' efforts to make deaf not only understand but enjoy music is commendable. Deaf people already feel the reverberations of music when played during concerts and live events and if it would be possible for them to not only understand what they would be listening but also how they would be listening, it would be no less than a boon for such people. And not only will it make music more enjoyable but also increase the number of consumers for music industry making musicians mint more money (alliteration you see ;P ). I just can't help but watch the video again and again and appreciate the move every time. See by yourself...

(Moral) Policing Done Right

Today, I was swiping through my newsfeed on Facebook and saw a disturbing video about my hometown. Watch it here. A little background. Yogi Adityanath has been chosen (mind you, chosen and not elected) to be the chief minister of the state of Uttar Pradesh and he has initiated a program called Anti-Romeo Squad whereby "the idea is to reclaim public spaces and make them safe for women." as was said by state’s director-general of police Javeed Ahmed [source]. Although as per an official statement saying "Under any circumstances, action would not be initiated against couples and people who interact with each other, while remaining within the social fabric and tradition at parks, malls, cinema halls and coffee house." [source], Aligarh police went on being vigilante (yes, police can also be one when actions are taken unlawfully) and moral policing around public places harassing people for no reasons. People here include students and even married couples.

I can see in the video some policemen going to Milkbar (an indoor public food joint in my hometown where we as students used to hang out very often) and being rude to students from my University. I recognize some of my juniors (all from very humble families) and as policemen asked about their intentions rudely, media clicking pictures, I can see them humiliated and discomforted. Policemen are meant to serve people and not harass them. The actions taken under the policy is to stop eve teasing and women harassment and create a safer environment for all people. But instead, what I see in the video is totally diverging from this perspective, intimidating people in public places with no reasons. I wouldn't see any reason why people would carry the proof of their relationships with people they go out with. Or maybe new governance would issue official certificates of this as well :P

I used to go with my friends to eat in Milkbar all the time during my college days. We had both girls and boys in our group. Why would any of this prove we are there with bad intentions. This moral policing has to be stopped. Humans are social beings and they should socialize in public setting. If such actions continue to take place, humanity would just have a bunch of introverts conversing on their phones and laptops with no interpersonal skills at all.

Being on the other side of the world and having several encounters with police officers of both LAPD and Department of Public Safety at USC, I have realized that police enforces law and order while making people feel comfortable and safer and simultaneously being super approachable. Some readers might have hard time digesting the fact that I had several encounters with police officers. YES, police officers are just the people who are there to help you. You can even have a nice conversation with them in times of distress and you'll get some awesome tips to take away. I hope of Indian police to have same kind of behavior towards people. All people are not criminals, don't treat everyone with a stern face. My only request to Indian police is that treat people with respect and you'll get respect in return. Respect not because of power but because of praise. You do a great job! Just change the way you do it and you'll see how half of your work would be done through people's participation and mutual coordination.

रास्तों की दास्ताँ

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लम्बे सुनसान रास्तों पर जब घूमा मैं दर-ब-दर

जाना मैंने कि मिल जाते हैं कुछ जाने अनजाने हमसफ़र 

जो मंज़िलों की दूरी को कम कर देते हैं 

जो ख़ामोश कारवां में ज़िंदगी भर देते हैं 

तब रास्ते भी घर जैसे लगने लगते हैं

तब अनजाने भी हमसफ़र जैसे लगने लगते हैं

रास्तों की दूरी और मंज़िल के दरम्यां

ज़िंदगी के सारे किस्से हो जाते हैं बयाँ

हँसी मज़ाक में सारा सफ़र यूँ ही कट जाता है

और सभी का रंज-ओ-ग़म भी आपस में बंट जाता है

सिलसिला ये सुहाने सफ़र का, मंज़िल से हम भागते रहते हैं

ना जाने क्यूँ ये रास्ते मंज़िलों से बेहतर लगते हैं।