MxMIndia

Tag: Paralympics

  • 100 columns later: The evolving landscape of disability and media 

    100 columns later: The evolving landscape of disability and media 

    Shruti PushkarnaAs I pen my 100th column in this series on ‘Media and Disability’, I find myself at a crossroads of pensive reflection and curious anticipation. What began as a fortnightly series has blossomed into a transformative journey spanning four years, challenging perceptions, and advocating for India’s largest invisible minority. From those nascent thoughts on the International Day of Persons with Disability back in December 2019 to this centennial piece, I’ve traversed a landscape of change, confronting stereotypes, celebrating progress, and tirelessly pushing for a ‘person first’ narrative in mainstream media.

    I never imagined to have run a score of hundred. In fact, often I found myself wondering if I’ll be able to dish out fresh content on the same subject. And yet every time I sat down to write, I was faced with persistent issues and stories which required relentless campaigning for visibility, dignity and equal representation. Have my efforts been rewarded? Has disability found a better spot in the media? Do you hear or read more about this marginalised community now? Or does everything remain frustratingly the same?

    Not quite. Even if it’s at a snail’s pace, change is happening. The ability to influence even a single journalist accounts for success. That I can happily acknowledge. Stories of persons with disabilities mentioned in my column have also made entry into family dinner settings. Another reason to celebrate. Friends at my co-working space are inquisitive about the work I do for disability inclusion. But we have miles to go.

    Persons with disabilities are still seen through an ableist lens, portrayed as either heroic or helpless. Thankfully the recent coverage around Paris Paralympics wasn’t entirely inspiration porn. The reportage wasn’t confined to mere feel-good accounts. Some dailies and television channels tracked down back stories which shaped the winning champions.

    The pandemic has also played a part in altering perspectives. Universal experience of isolation and restricted mobility following the Covid-19 outbreak helped people get a glimpse of what’s life like for someone with a disability or a chronic illness. And of course, there’s been an increase in awareness around mental health issues, and newfound respect for caregivers.

    There are still some incessant challenges including stereotyping and bucketing disability into an exclusive group, disability first narrative, and the endless rant around limitations. Normalising disability and conversations around disabled folk is something that hasn’t captured the media’s imagination.

    Before I carve out a plan for all that remains to be accomplished, I want to revisit and relish some of my memorable pieces. Not only because I enjoyed writing them, but some for the stir they created, some for the unease they caused, some for how well they were received and some simply because no one else would have voiced them so.

    CODA winning the Best Picture at the 94th Academy Awards represented a significant step forward in disability inclusion with deaf actors casted to portray deaf characters, a rarity in Hollywood and Bollywood. The story follows Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a deaf family, as she struggles between pursuing her passion for singing and supporting her family’s fishing business. (https://www.mxmindia.com/news/representation-matters-inclusion-matters-disabled-lives-matter/)

    Closer home, cinema inspired many when the story of Srikanth Bolla, a visually impaired entrepreneur hit the big screen starring Rajkumar Rao. It also struck an inclusive chord when the Delhi High Court ordered movie producers to make accessible cinema, for all. (https://www.mxmindia.com/columns/shruti-pushkarna/are-we-set-to-redefine-access-and-inclusion-for-cinema-lovers/)

    The challenges and opportunities for Modi 3.0 in advancing inclusion and implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. The government’s commitment stands to be tested in its ability to deliver promises of accessible infrastructure, inclusive healthcare, disaster management, digital accessibility, and social security for PwDs. (https://www.mxmindia.com/columns/shruti-pushkarna/does-modi-ki-guarantee-extend-to-persons-with-disabilities/)

    Not a very sporty person, yet I wrote a fair bit on sporting events. While I urged media for better coverage around Paralympics 2024, many readers (with disabilities) shared how they missed out on the sporting action especially around Cricket World Cup because of inaccessibility. Television commentary and news/sports websites overlook the needs of persons with vision impairment or hearing impairment, depriving them of all the fun. But earlier this year, Disney+ Hotstar made the Indian Premier League (IPL) more accessible for fans with disabilities through initiatives like audio descriptive commentary and sign language interpretation. (https://www.mxmindia.com/columns/will-persons-with-disabilities-enjoy-the-icc-world-cup-coverage/)

    I also got a chance to celebrate 25 years of First World Cup Cricket for the Blind along with the players and organizing committee. The stories were priceless, enthusiasm unmatched. (https://www.mxmindia.com/columns/shruti-pushkarna-changing-mindsets-rebuilding-lives-celebrating-25-years-of-first-world-cup-cricket-for-the-blind/)

    There were also some riveting conversations with Merry Barua, Peter Gibson, Neha Arora and more! Honestly, when I think of it, it’s difficult to handpick a few select specials.

    Looking back inspires me to move ahead with a determination to not only challenge but educate, so that fifteen percent of the global population feels included.

    To my readers – whether you’re a journalist, a media executive, a disability rights activist, or a concerned citizen, I implore you to question stereotypes, demand inclusive storytelling, and support platforms that give voice to the disabled community. For progress isn’t just about changing what we see in the media, but about changing how we see each other.

    The story of disability in the Indian media is far from over. In fact, we’re just beginning to write its most important chapters. Here’s to the next hundred columns, to the voices yet unheard, and to a future where inclusion is not an exception, but the norm.’’

     

    Wondering why MxMIndia publishes a disability advocacy column? Well, we strongly feel that the media can dramatically transform the world for persons with disabilities. This series attempts to help bring forth issues that the media must champion to create a truly inclusive and accessible India. Writing  this column is Shruti Pushkarna, a former journalist and now a disability inclusion advocate based in New Delhi. Her views here are personal. To access the archives of her 100 columns, please visit: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/ columns/shruti-pushkarna/

    If you have a view on the issues raise or would like to align with MxMIndia on this cause, write to us at editor [at] mxmindia.com.

  • Challenging the Disparity in Our Reverence for the Paralympics
    The Amul ad celebrating the twin wins of Avani Lekhara at the Paris Paralympics 2024

    Challenging the Disparity in Our Reverence for the Paralympics

    Sanjeev KotnalaThe recent 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games were a grand spectacle that captivated the world, where athletes from every corner of the globe pushed the boundaries of human capability. Nations celebrated their victories with exuberance, their stories of dedication and sacrifice lauded by everyone, and their achievements etched into the nation’s sports history annals. With their extraordinary performance, many of these names fulfilled the nation’s desires and dreams and became household names. Shreyesh and Manu Bhaker, Neeraj Chopra and Sindhu are examples of this.

    But there’s a darker side to this celebration of the human spirit–a glaring inequality that is almost racist in its subtlety and pervasive in its impact. There is a disparity in how we address and react to the Paralympics, as if the challenges are somehow less, the medals are of a different hue, or the gold is of a lesser carat. Pat yourself if you know Bhagyashri Mahavrao Jadhav and Sumit Antil and their sports: the flagbearer for India at the Para Olympics 2024. Or if the names of sportspersons like Nitesh Kumar (Badminton), Avani Lekhara (Shooting), Bhabina Patel ( Table Tennis), Yogesh Kathuniya Mariyappan Thangavelu and Preethi Pal (Athletics), and sound familiar to you. I did not know many of these names before I started writing this article.

    Like the Olympics, the Paralympics are a stage where athletes represent their countries, strive for excellence, overcome incredible odds, and inspire millions. Yet, the enthusiasm, pride, and recognition accompanying Olympic victories are noticeably dimmed when it comes to the Paralympics. This disparity in perception is not just unfair–it’s unjust.

     

    Double Standards in Recognition

    Consider the emotional wave that swept across the country when Manu Bhakar won the bronze or the emotional tsunami that cut across the nation when Vinesh Phogat lost her chance because she was a few grams overweight. These were moments of collective pride and charged emotions of national unity, where the athlete was hailed as a hero.

    Compare this to the reaction when a Paralympian achieves the same feat. Fortunately, nowadays, they make it to the sports page and the front page like Avani  Lekhera and Mona Agarwal did for their win in shooting. However, the applause is fainter and lasts that much shorter. The media coverage is sparse, and the recognition is fleeting. It’s as if their gold is not as golden, and their victory is not as victorious.

    This disparity reveals a troubling double standard. Paralympic athletes train just as hard, if not harder, than their Olympic counterparts. They face the same pressures, gruelling schedules, more demanding physical challenges and most often, a challenging sponsor and monetary gap. Yet, the world seems to view their achievements as lesser, as if the effort required to overcome physical disabilities diminishes the value of their triumphs. This is not just a failure to recognise individual merit; it’s a failure to acknowledge the full spectrum of human potential.

     

    The Need for a Paradigm Shift

    This almost dismissive attitude towards Paralympic achievements reflects a more profound societal bias that equates physical ability with worth. This bias sees disability not as a different ability but as a deficiency, something less than a whole. This mindset is changing but at a pace that is too slow for comfort. It must change now.

    The Paralympics should be celebrated with the same enthusiasm, pride, and respect as the Olympics. Paralympians, too, represent the countries. Their dreams are just as big, their efforts just as intense, and their victories just as hard-earned. They deserve not only equal recognition but also equal respect.

     

    Steps Toward Change

    A concerted effort on multiple fronts is needed to address this issue. Fortunately, media coverage of the Paralympics has improved—though still far less than that of the Olympics. Educational campaigns should be launched to raise awareness about the Paralympics, highlighting the athletes’ stories, the challenges they overcome, and the significance of their achievements.  Touch your heart, and you will know how much you have celebrated your para Olympians. How have the brands, corporate sectors, and government short-changed them? We talk of equality in sports. Can we start with equality of support, funding, sponsorship, and recognition for Paralympians?

    Most importantly, we as individuals need to change our perceptions. We need to challenge our biases and recognise that the value of a medal is not in the physical act of winning it but in the courage, determination, and spirit it represents. The colour of the medal, the carat of its gold, is the same whether it is won at the Olympics or the Paralympics. We must feel the same pride and maybe more when our athletes win in Para Olympics. We must celebrate- but more importantly, we must watch them perform the way we watched and chased our summer Olympians. That may pull the money into the sports, trigger a new wave of recognition and push para-sports.

     

    A Call to Action

    It’s time for us to change the narrative. It’s time to celebrate Paralympians not as athletes with disabilities but as athletes. It’s time to give them the recognition they deserve and to be as proud of their achievements as we are of any Olympic victory.

    The Paralympics are not a sideshow but a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Let’s honour that spirit with the respect it deserves.

    In doing so, we uplift Paralympians and ourselves as we move towards a more inclusive, equal, and just society. Let the pride in our hearts be as strong, the cheers as loud, and the recognition as enduring for every champion—Olympic and Paralympic alike.