Life, they say, is a theatre where each one of us plays our part. Mostly, one role can't be distinguished from another, but, at times, there come along individuals who break the mould. Like Patna's Noor Fatima for whom theatre is her lifeline—she strives to rekindle faith in the lives of hundreds of uncared-for, physically challenged children. Says this veteran stage personality: "Theatre helps me extend help, opportunity and a scope to interact with hundreds of deaf, dumb, blind and mentally weak children of our society. It makes my work easier to convince them that there is much more to life than self-pity." The stage thus is Fatima's karmabhoomi, where, through her plays, she tries to educate differently-abled children the virtues of education, hygiene etc, among many other things, in her effort to make them counted in the society as equals.
Fatima still remembers the day when she met Dr Ajith Sinha, a renowned eye-specialist and a social worker, who introduced her to this concept of educating handicapped children through theatre. That was eight years ago. Says she: "The sheer pleasure of working with these rejects of the society is today the sole purpose of my life. Even if I am able to make one child self-sufficient, I can die a satisfied death. There won't be anything more for me to achieve in this life."
In 1993, Fatima formed Ekta Manch, a cultural group, with some of her artiste friends. Today, the group has 15 other like-minded members, who visit schools and special institutions and perform their plays. Says Fatima: "In the beginning, I had to understand their body language and only then could I interact with them. Everything was possible only through signs and it was difficult initially. But all these children are highly receptive and very soon we realised that they can learn many things if the one who is teaching is dedicated and patient. Most of these children have many hidden talents, which is only waiting to be nurtured and guided. We inspire these children never to quit and that is where the secret of their success lies."
Ekta Manch first performed in a school in Bihar's Koderma district where it had gone for a programme to raise funds for Kargil war heroes. The group also worked with the students of a blind school in Patna and since then it has been regularly travelling, putting up their plays in special schools and institutions. With a number of prestigious citations like the Ramchatur Mallik (1992) and the Bihar Gaurav awards for her contributions to society, Fatima is a well-known name in the theatre world—she also played a frightened girl's role in Richard Attenborough's film Gandhi.
But more than all the awards that have come her way, Fatima's most valued possession is a card presented to her by Julie, a 17-year-old deaf and dumb girl. "Julie has written that it was only because of her Fatima didi that she realised her potential, her individuality and her interest in life. This is the most precious award for me and I don't need anything else now," exclaims Fatima. She adds: "Wherever we go with our plays, by the end of the day, most of the children become so attached to us that it is very difficult to leave. All these children are so intelligent and emotionally attached that they are just waiting for that one gesture from someone. That would make all the difference in their life."
Says Vandana Kinni, MD, women development corporation in the state welfare department: "She is doing a great service to these children by rekindling a zest for life in them. She is their only hope to fight all the challenges ahead in their life." But Fatima is not sated by all these accolades that have come her way. Even after all these years since its beginning, she has refused to register her group. "That would give a reason for many to think that I am doing all this for money and fame. Ekta Manch is above all these things. For us, the only recognition is to see a child stand up on his own in the society and compete with the others without any disadvantages." Ekta Manch can be contacted at: Ms Noor Fatima, 123, Ekta Manzil, North Anandpuri, Boring Canal Road, Patna-800001. Ph: 0612-262688, 272448.