Dear Friends and Colleagues,

For the past few weeks you have been getting calls from my office, couriers and e-mails regarding the candlelight vigil at India Gate, New Delhi on December 3, 2008, on the occasion of the World Disability Day. The response from most of you and the grassroots in particular has been very heartening. I can see a strong movement rising and it infuses the spirit with a fresh and renewed vigour. Those documenting the history of the disability movement in our country will see this as a major paradigm shift.
 
However, as the days pass, I am besieged with certain questions for you and also certain areas of concern which I am about to voice.

First and foremost, it is important that you let us know immediately whether or not you will be coming to Delhi. If yes, we would like to know the numbers. I realize that it will be difficult for you to give us the exact numbers but we would certainly like to have a rough idea. This would enable us to keep a tab on how many people are going to turn up. Please E-Mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or you can call Muthamma who is now in Delhi on the following telephone numbers: 011-26265647 / 26265848 / 26265739

A significant concern for us is that it is going to be very, very, very cold in Delhi. As of now the evening/night temperatures vary from 9-11 degrees centigrade. They are expected to plummet even further as we move to December. The India Gate area as you are aware is all in the open. Therefore, each of you must ensure and I sincerely request the leaders of the delegations to doubly ensure that each member should be fully and totally protected from the cold. Those of you who are travelling from warmer areas must be especially careful. Please do carry shawls, sweaters, mufflers, blankets, jackets, caps etc. to keep you warm. As this is a sit in vigil, you must also make sure to carry durries, mats, sheets, blankets etc. to spread on the road.

I would like to reiterate that neither the Disabled Rights Group nor the National Association of the Deaf are in a position to provide transportation.  We have said this before and I am stating it again so that there is no scope for any miscommunication.  We presume that most of you will be coming by train. The distance between the New Delhi Railway station and India Gate is approximately 5-7 kms. There are about 15-20 buses that ply regularly from the station to India Gate. Autorickshaw charges are approximately Rs. 40/-, whereas hiring of a taxi would cost approx. Rs. 100 – 150/-. There are pre-paid taxi and autorickshaw booths at the station.

We request you to please bring placards with slogans, banners of your organization, banners carrying messages of disability rights, the UNCRPD and the XIth Five Year Plan. Carry yellow and blue flags and loads of candles. Even if each one of you carried 5-10 candles each, it would amount to a lot of candles! It would be nice if there was a riot of colours too; 3-5 p.m. would be daylight and it would be a very festive atmosphere albeit charged with emotion and determination to have our demands met. Please bring music and songs, along with dholaks and any other musical instruments that you may want to carry with you. Music and dance will ensure that the spirits are kept high and enthusiasm abounds.

Before I sign off, I would like to bring to your notice that there is a good possibility that we may have a resolution to the issues we have raised either by the 3rd of  December or on the 3rd itself in the process of the candlelight vigil. Therefore in such a scenario wherein there is a resolution or if the Government deputes someone to meet us and listen to our voices, then logically speaking, we will need to call off the candlelight vigil. This could happen at anytime during the course of the vigil.

Therefore, if you can, please arrange for some temporary accommodation for the night, be it homes of family and friends, hotels or hostels. For those of you who have no such arrangements, a good alternative would be to go back to the Railway station which is better in terms of the amenities provided – the waiting rooms, the warm cups of tea/coffee and things to eat etc. This would be far better than spending the night out in the open.

This situation will arise ONLY IF we have a satisfactory resolution to our three demands. I am sure all of you will agree that the purpose of this entire campaign is to get results and if we get the desired results, it is better to disperse and stay warm rather than risk the cold and any health complications.

I hope you will understand and appreciate the sentiment behind this communication. I made an appeal to you and most of you have responded extremely enthusiastically. I feel responsible. I am deeply humbled by the trust that you have reposed in me. Let’s all hope for the best and pray for our success. I look forward to meeting you here in Delhi very soon.

Best wishes and regards,


Javed Abidi
Convenor, DRG
26-11-2008