Miracle on wheels

Whoever said one needed feet to dance? Thursday night would have been an eye-opener for many Bangaloreans, especially for the uninitiated,  as Ability Unlimited Foundation (AUF) put forth a delightful performance where all the dancers were on wheels.

Founded by Syed Sallauddin Pasha, AUF has, for over three decades, healed the differently-abled and Tsunami-affected people through dance and music therapy. Put simply, the idea was to make people with disabilities lead an independent life. In fact, AUF’s performances are a first-of-its-kind and have received accolades from around the world, earning a title even in the Guinness World Record and the Limca Book of World Records.

The performance, that was held at the Leela Palace Hotel, took every guest to a world of miracles as the students of AUF gave flawless performances on Sufi music, Bharatanatyam, Yoga and even the recitation of the Bhagwad Gita – and all of these on wheels. 

According to Pasha, “There is always a need for a platform to show the ability of the differently-abled. There is a need to create awareness that these people do not need mercy, but opportunity, dignity and equality.”  AUF recognises and nurtures the talents of people with disabilities through innovative therapeutic education, which he feels elevates one’s potential and capacity. Pasha believes that “therapeutic education is a package and a unique combination of many therapies put together”. “It is a revolution and an evolution to have been able to change the thinking of  thousands of people about the way they look at the disabled. Transforming the society is my moral responsibility; I want to eliminate the negativity and instill positive aspects about the whole idea of the ‘wheel chair’, which is seen as a sign of weakness and disability,” he says. 

A key message AUF always attempts at conveying  is the message of ‘equality, dignity, equal opportunities and full participation and protection of artist rights’, so that they can be on the same platform as the non-disabled.  The integrated act of Ability Unlimited Foundation last Thursday was a presentation of the ‘entire world on wheels.’ It was a reflection of Pasha’s work and experiences of three decades in only two and a half hours.  

According to the founder, “It was a difficult task to break the mental blocks of many families of the disabled about the way they should perceive their children.” But it is a proof of his  perseverance that he finally could  transform their thinking. “I never teach them as if they were disabled. The moment you think they are not perfect, there is an automatic wall that is built and that stops you from thinking further,” he signs off.