Irattaipulavar
(meaning The twin poets) were brothers born in Alandurai of Chola Nadu during
14th century. The elder, called
Mudhusuriyar 'Old Sun' was born lame; the younger, Ilanjchuriyar 'Young Sun,'
was blind. They went about as wanderers, the blind man carrying his lame
brother on the shoulders, complementing each other in poetry as in life, one
man completing extempore what the other began. They were contemporaries of
Kalamega pulavar and were known for the ‘pun-filled poems’. So people can
achieve greater things together, in a partnership.
Jia Haixia is blind in both eyes and Jia Wenqi, is a double amputee – at 53
together what they can achieve ?
In an atmosphere where a BBC
documentary tried to highlight that in India - girls
being tormented, raped, killed or treated like a doormat in one way or another,
there are brighter things in life too. A tiny village – Piplantri in Rajasthan's
Rajsamand district is quietly practicing its own, homegrown brand of
Eco-feminism and achieving spectacular results. For the last several years,
Piplantri village panchayat has been saving girl children and increasing the
green cover in and around it at the same time. Here, villagers plant 111 trees
every time a girl is born and the community ensures these trees survive,
attaining fruition as the girls grow up.
Over the last six
years, people here have managed to plant over a quarter million trees on the
village's grazing commons- inlcuding neem, sheesham, mango, Amla among others. There
was the Chipko movement, through the act of hugging trees protected them from being felled. In legend, this
practice began with Amrita Devi while protesting against a King's man who
wanted to cut a tree. In khejarli village 363 Bishnois sacrificed their lives
in 1730 AD while protecting green Khejri that are considered sacred by the
community. Bishnoi are followers of 29 principles given by Guru
Jambheshwar. Guru Jambheshwar gave the
message to protect trees and wildlife more than 500 years ago, prophesying that harming the environment
means harming the society.
Now read
about this wonderful partnership of Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi.
Mr Haixia blind in both eyes and Mr Wenqi a double
amputee- both 53, have planted 10,000
trees in Hebei, China. MailOnline has an
impression report on this unlikely duo - especially for something as physically
demanding as planting trees.
Jia Haixa and Jia Wenqi embarked on their heart-warming partnership 10 years ago after finding they were unable to secure jobs due to their respective impairments. Together they have created their own unique way of working that has allowed them to transform a three-hectare stretch of riverbank, according to The People's Daily online. In the last 10 years the friends have become the eyes and hands for each other in the rural village of Hebei, China. 'I am his hands,' said blind Mr Haixia. 'He is my eyes. We are good partners.' The 53-year-old was born with congenital cataracts which left him blind in his left eye. Then in 2000, due to a work accident, he also lost the sight in his right eye. Mr Wenqi, also 53, lost both arms in an accident when he was just three-years-old. In 2001, unable to secure work elsewhere, the eco-warriors leased a large stretch of the river bank from the local government in a bid to plant trees for future generations. The proud pair also hoped to earn a modest income from their work from government funding and help protect their village from flooding in the process.
Each
day the dedicated pair leave their home at 7am armed with only a hammer and
iron rod. Before they can start their work Mr Wenqi has to carry his blind
companion across a fast moving river. Without money to buy saplings, they then
have to collect cuttings. This is no easy task and involves Mr Haixa scaling
large trees. Without the use of his eyes, he is guided by his armless companion
as he hauls himself through the branches. Back on solid ground, he then creates
a hole and plants the new shoot. It then becomes Mr Wenqi's job to water the
saplings. It hasn't been fast work, but now the three hectare site is covered
with trees that attract a large number of birds. In total the duo believe they
have planted 10,000 trees in a decade and have no plans to stop.
'Though
we did not accomplish much in a dozens years, we recognize our effort,' said Mr
Haixia. Mr Wenqi added: 'We stand on our own feet. The fruits of our
labour taste sweeter. Even though we are gnawing on steam buns, we find peace
in our hearts.'
The
inspirational pair have refused to let their individual disabilities hold them
back ~ great job indeed and such people deserve all the focus and attention of
the society.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar.
14th Mar 2015.
