Recently, PM Narendra Modi drew flak for his apparently insensitive comments about dyslexic people, which he made while addressing college students during the Smart India Hackathon 2019.
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disorders that affects 3-7% people, (traits in upto 17-20%). It is genetic (heritable) that affects reading, writing & hence learning skills but not a marker for intelligence. Poor judgement by the PM to mock a neurological condition pic.twitter.com/lJczhocUYV
— Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh (@Neurophysik) March 3, 2019
Many people took to social media to criticize his comment, including former MP Shahid Siddiqui. However, for Siddiqui, PM Modi’s comments impacted him personally, and he strongly related to how insensitive the remark really was.
This guy has no sensitivity or feeling for dyslexic people or differently abled people. He is worst then Trump. In any other part of the world PM would have had to apologise to the nation. https://t.co/X4VJ895T7f
— shahid siddiqui (@shahid_siddiqui) March 3, 2019
Because Siddiqui is not just a former DU professor and the Chief Editor for Nai Duniya, but also the loving and protective father of a daughter who is dyslexic. In a series of tweets, he shared his personal experience of raising a child with dyslexia and how he wouldn’t allow anyone to look down on her.
My daughter Tania is a special person and I am proud of her,she is doing her best to coop with learning disabilities& I won’t allow anyone to look down upon her,however exalted that person may be. I fought for the rights of differently abled as a MP & continue to do so pic.twitter.com/iFU5oCR4cz
— shahid siddiqui (@shahid_siddiqui) March 3, 2019
He further added that parents of such special children constantly fight the world on their behalf, because these children are not always in a position to defend themselves. But the anguish and helplessness that the parents go through can never be masked.
Thank you everyone for your concern&love for Tania but the issue is not my daughter, it’s those who make fun of these children who can’t defend themselves. Who don’t know what is religion but God resides in them. PM should speak up for all these & provide shelter homes for them
— shahid siddiqui (@shahid_siddiqui) March 4, 2019
It’s no surprise that the world today is a harsh place for specially-abled people. But Shahid Siddiqui’s message brings into stark focus the pain that parents go through when their children are subjected to harsh and insensitive mockery. Like he rightfully comments, this world needs more love, not apathy.
