Hum Bhi School Chale (video) 

Voice over : Deaf-blindness is a unique dual disability. It is a combination of visual and hearing loss that varies from person to person. Types of deaf-blindness may vary from totally deaf with partial vision, totally blind with partial hearing, partial hearing, and partial blindness, and totally deaf and totally blind.
Voice over : In this film, Sandeep has severe hearing loss and total blindness, while Meraj has moderate to severe hearing loss and night blindness.

Voice over : Sense India presents

The scene opens with silhouettes of two individuals communicating with each other. The voice overs are in two voices, representing Sandeep and Meraj.

Voice over (female voice) : I’m ready to fly.
Voice over (male voice) : Soar, unstoppable. Radiant, just like the sun.
Voice over (female voice) : I want to move ahead, reach my goal. Live my dream. Win every heart.

Against a black background, the title card appears – Hum bhi school chaley
Sandeep and Meeraj are introduced. The visual begins with a close up of Sandeep’s hand reading braille. Their voices are overlaid on visuals of their daily lives in their respective villages. Sandeep is in school. The teacher is teaching a class full of students, asking them questions.

Voice over (male voice) : This is where I discover myself.
Voice over (female voice) : I have made wonderful memories here.
Voice over (male voice) : This is where the road to my dreams begin.

A medium close up of two girls listening to the teacher. Followed by a wide shot of the entire class.

Voice over (female voice) : Here come my friends. We play, learn and grow together.

Sandeep’s close-up on screen.

Voice over (male voice) : They are now a big part of my world.

Meraj’s close-up on screen followed by a wide shot of her in a classroom with other students and a teacher.

Voice over (female voice) : You must be wondering who we are.
Sandeep’s teacher is leaning next to him and explaining something to him. Next is a medium shot of Sandeep sitting at his desk.

Voice over (male voice) : I am Sandeep Padchav from a beautiful village called Devali in Maharashtra.

A medium close-up of Meraj intently listening to her teacher.

Voice over (female voice) : I am Meraj Bose from a small village called Saila in Gujarat.

Meraj is getting ready to go to school, combing her hair, moisturizing her face, wearing her spectacles then shoes and finally entering her school while a school bell rings. We then see her in her classroom, responding to her teacher.

Voice over (male voice) : It has shaped my mind, taught me to be confident, and have self-respect. I feel empowered.

There is an intercut of visuals from Sandeep and Meraj’s classroom.
The teacher is teaching Meraj in sign language while she responds enthusiastically as she understands what is being said.

Voice over (female voice) : This is where I weave my dreams.
Now, we are at Sandeep’s house. There is a close up shot of a lock then his folded cane that is kept on a cupboard. Sandeep wears his shirt then his hearing device. He takes out his cane and starts walking out of his room.

Voice over (male voice) : I was born in darkness. I had no vision. Four years of my life had passed by living like this, and things had begun to get intensely complicated. I don’t know how, but my hearing began to give way. My troubles grew. My movements were restricted because I kept losing my sense of direction.

Turns out,  he is at his hostel. He is now eating at the mess with other visually impaired children.

Voice over (male voice) : I was living in a hostel for the visually impaired, but after turning deaf, I became a target, bullied by my classmates and some friends too.

Meraj’s silhouette is visible. She is closely reading a newspaper. In the next shot, she is doing her school work, reading and writing in a notebook. Then, she packs her back pack.

Voice over (female voice) : When I was born, I couldn’t see or hear. People around me called it deafblindness. Because of this, my family and I faced many problems. I lived like a caged bird until I was 8 years old. Completely dependent on people and my surroundings. A small corner at home became my world, my universe.

The scene cuts to children on a swing set going back and forth. Sandeep is hanging out with his friends in Sense India’s school’s playground. There are four children, including Sandeep.

Voice over (male voice) : My first memories of Sense India are wonderful. They understood me and my issues with empathy and immediately began working on solutions. They arranged for me to have a hearing aid and trained me on using it too. This helped me tremendously.

Sandeep is touching the leaves of a tree and feeling them .
 
Voice over (male voice) : Although I have just begun my journey, I’m walking ahead with confidence. No matter the challenges that come my way, I will give my best, reach my goal.
 
Meraj is sitting with a man and a girl around her age, closely looking at something on the phone. The woman is also wearing a hearing device.

Voice over (female voice) : When I was seven, my family and I learned about SENSE International India, a unique organization that helps deaf-blind children like me live, learn and thrive. From identification, assessing the degree of deaf-blindness to education and even vocational training, Sense India helps us live a better life.

Now, Meraj and the girl are sitting together, reading the newspaper.

Voice over (female voice) : But initially, my parents were apprehensive. They were worried about opinions from family and the community and flatly refused. But Sense India never gave up and convinced them.

There are shots of Meraj learning essential skills and performing household tasks. She is peeling and chopping onions and cooking in the kitchen while her mother watches over her.

Voice over (female voice) : When I was 10 years old, the training and guidance I received from Sense India’s partner organization, Ashirwad Trust, helped me make remarkable progress. In such a short span, I transformed from a burden to a boon for my parents. Household chores like cutting vegetables, boiling milk and even mopping the floor were now easy tasks for me. I began contributing to life.

Meraj is now at a local grocery store, conversing with the shopkeeper and buying groceries. She is with a young girl. After collecting her groceries, she walks back.

Voice over (female voice) : Welcoming guests at home, participating in events in my village helped strengthen the bond between my community and me. This boosted my confidence. I now understand the local dialect spoken in my village and attentively respond to my teachers. I even enjoy participating in events organized by Sense India at a national level too.

Sandeep is now playing cricket with his friends.

Voice over (male voice) : Life has carved new roads for me. I have found new reasons to live. I’ll soon explore the world beyond my fingertips. I’m strong. I go to school.

Sandeep gets ready, packs his bag, takes out his cane and leaves for his school. He is sitting in the classroom, interacting with his teachers and then playing with his friends at the school field. All of them are laughing and the environment is of general enthusiasm and excitement.

Voice over (male voice) : Ever since I got my hearing aid, life is a wonderful new experience. No matter the challenges, I now find the courage to face them head-on. I was thrilled when Sense India’s partner organization NAB Maharashtra’s educators surveyed my school and even discussed the classroom seating arrangement. I now sit right at the front. This helps me learn and understand better. I scored higher grades too. My teacher and friends now share in my job. I can access the hostel easily and am no longer a target. I am respected. The bullies now help me out whenever necessary.

The video now takes us to Sandeep’s home in Debri where he is working at the field with his family and contributing effectively. He is cutting their harvest and pours water for his mother in a glass and gives it to her.

Voice over (male voice) : Back home in Debri, my parents are overjoyed with my progress. They have immense gratitude for Sense India because I now have a new identity and a ton of self-confidence.

The video is back to Meraj’s school where she is exercising with her classmates. They are being led by a teacher.

Voice over (female voice) : Being admitted to a school is an incredible achievement for me. Almost unbelievable to attend school like any other child.

Meraj is sitting by herself in a part of school and doing her classwork while two girls sitting beside her are talking to each other. A montage of Meraj learning from special educator plays. She is conversing with them and learning sign language. Similarly, her other classmates are also learning the same thing and copying the teacher’s movements.

Voice over (female voice) : I am in the 10th grade now and my school isn’t too far from where I live. I really enjoy my days here.  A special educator visits my school and guides and consults with my teachers. At times we face difficulties but my teachers always find innovative solutions and my friends are always ready to help me out. You know although my parents may not be highly educated. Watching me progress gives them immense joy. They are now extremely supportive of my teachers and me too.

Sandeep is playing with water colours with his friends.

Voice over (male voice) : I want to be a teacher who inspires. who initiates change and brings progress to the lives of many deafblind children like me. I am determined I will get there soon.

Meraj is playing a tag game with her friends in an open field.

Voice over (female voice) : Today, my parents and special educator are proud. Because of their guidance, I have found my way. And I know this is only the beginning. I have to do whatever it takes to fulfill my dream of being a police officer. I am confident.

Screen fades to black. Text in white reads :

Voice over : You can see. Deaf-blindness is not a barrier to education. With access to the right opportunities, children with deaf-blindness can also go to school.

Sense International India’s logo appears.
Credits roll with acknowledgments.

 “Life has carved new roads for me.”
“I have found new reasons to live.”
“I’ll soon explore the world beyond my fingertips.”
“I’m strong.”

Scene 9 – [Timestamp: 10:55 – End]

Actions:
The documentary concludes with inspiring visuals of Sandeep and Meeraj at school.
They discuss their aspirations for the future.
The screen fades to black with a call-to-action message.

Dialogue:
“I want to be a teacher who inspires.”
“Who initiates change and brings progress to the lives of many deafblind children like me.”
“I am determined I will get there soon.”
“Today, my parents and special educator are proud.”
“Because of their guidance, I have found my way and I know this is only the beginning.”
“I have to do whatever it takes to fulfill my dream of being a police officer.”
“I am confident.”
“Sense International India – Working with deafblind people. www.senseindia.org.in”

End of Transcription