Shehnaz Virji, an Indian-origin Kenyan, is deaf, but works fpr the ‘empowerment of deaf women’.
Her silence not just speaks louder than words but also acts as a voice for deaf women.
Shehnaz Virji, 33, an Indian-origin Kenyan is deaf since childhood and now her only aim is to empower deaf women across the world and make them heard.
Virji lives in the US and is currently in Vadodara for her research work on deaf women. She is working on issues such as gender bias, Aids awareness, lack of education and poverty and other challenges faced by deaf women. Virji had migrated to the US to pursue higher education.
In conversation with DNA, Shehnaz talked about her project on Empowerment of deaf women, challenges and difficulties faced by deaf women in Gujarat as compared to those in western nations.
Virji started her project study from Vadodara and plans to work at a national level later on. She had first visited Gujarat at the age of 2. She holds a graduation degree in liberal studies and child development from the California State University, and uses sign language to communicate.
“My great grand parents hail from India and they migrated to Kenya many years back. Afterwards we shifted to the US but my Indian roots are still alive within. Being deaf myself, I have experienced what a deaf person has to go through. The deaf women here in India are not even aware of the basic human rights. I am here to fight for their rights and work towards their betterment,” said Virji.
Virji has worked with deaf women in the US for 10 years educating them about- HIV awareness, and other issues. She also has a sister who is also deaf.
“My parents learned to communicate in sign language with their daughters and provided us education which made us independent and stand on our feet today,” said Virji.
Virji began with her project in January 2009 and will be in India till November 2009. During this period, she will meet deaf women living in rural and urban areas of the state and do a detailed study on their life.
Talking about her interest in working with deaf women and bringing about a change in their lives, Virji said, “Interacting with them made me realize that there are lot of challenges a disabled person faces in the society. Deaf women in this country lead a very isolated life and are detached from the mainstream,” said Virji.
They lack basic education and knowledge about safe sex and use of contraceptive pills,” she adds. According to Virji, India lacks in providing education to the deaf, while in the USA, sign language is considered as one of the language in the constitution.
“The deaf are not able to express as sign language is the only tool they use to communicate. Normal people thus are not able to understand them and get them involved in the mainstream,” Virji said.
“Currently, I am working in collaboration with US organisations for the research. Once the findings of the study are out, I will take initially government’s help in funding and move further for the implementation of the steps required for the empowerment,” said Virji
She is now also associated with the Women Science Research Centre (WSRC) of MSU who will help her complete her study. Virji got in touch with people in India who work for the deaf through a social networking site.
Virji with her associate Rajesh Ketkar, joint secretary of Muk Badhir Mandal who is also deaf are planning to use technology and other methods such as blogging for the development of deaf women.
In her message for Women’s day Virji said, “The gap between the normal people and deaf should be narrowed and participation from them should be encouraged.”
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