3. Discussion of Findings - Responses to Abuse and Discrimination

Despite experiencing many forms of discrimination, abuse and violations of human rights, very few Interviewees did speak out that they responded in ways that they could, whether they distanced themselves from the incidents of abuse or took some form of action by reporting or even resisted the discrimination meted out on them, in one way or the other.

The concept of Karma or ordained fate, is very strong in the Indian ethos and this is seen to manifest itself the most where any form of vulnerability, be it social or physiological / psychological is concerned (meaning, be it being born a woman, being born into a poorer class/caste or being born with a disability). Given this factor, it was found in the study that the persons with disabilities, be it from the Urban, Semi-Urban, or Rural areas, across the age groups, sexes as well as economic conditions have expressed that it was their fate that they were born with a disability, that God had willed it and there was nothing either they or others could do about it, that in fact the others were justified in abusing them because they had a disability. For example one Interviewee said,

They call me a lame duck, and say hey check out that cripple who is crawling by. I then think, after all they are not saying anything new, I have this disability so they will talk about it.

Or another person, who said,

I feel bad but what can I do, I have lost the use of my arm so I guess I deserve to be called with all kinds of names.

Another Interviewee puts the blame for having their disability on God thus,

This is my life. I am not supposed to have a wife and children, a family for myself. God is making me live this life for so long, a life like a dog’s and I really do not know for how long more I need to live like this. I cry every moment of my life that I am living now.

A reaction that comes close to acceptance is distancing oneself from the pain being inflicted by the others because a person is born or acquires a disability. As this Interviewee expressed,

I have come to the conclusion that instead of blaming each and everyone of the non-disabled persons for giving me this kind of treatment, it is better to change my own opinion about them and keep away from them as much as possible.

Or as another Interviewee put it,

So now I have decided that I will not go anywhere, why do I have to bear all this pain, it is better that I do not go at all, even though my relatives or friends do ask why I did not come to the functions.

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