Sign language explains Corona to Rajkot’s handicapped

Rajkot: ‘Harshe Corona Ane Jeetashe Rajkot’ (‘Corona will be defeated and Rajkot will Win’). However, the importance of this positive message in a city fight a fresh battle against the dreaded virus would have gone amiss for the hearing and speech impaired, had it not been for Hiren Pandya, a deaf and mute person, who took it upon himself to help others like him understand the underlying meaning in sign language.
“I have made several videos using pantomime in sign language sensitizing the deaf and mute viewers to the evils of Coronavirus as well as teach them about the precautions to be exercised to avoid infection,” said Pandya in sign language, which was interpreted to TOI by Hina Padia from Gujarat Information Bureau.
Pandya has been teaching at Shri Virani School for Deaf and Mute since 2009. “Encouraging him in his efforts, his school has provided him with with a movie camera, lighting and tripod and bore the expenditure of his videos,” Padia said.
“In his videos, Pandya tells his special viewers how to safeguard themselves using face masks, sanitizers and also about the need for social distancing. He also describes the roles of frontline Covid warriors such as doctors and para-medical staff, sanitation workers and police exhorting his viewers to respect these people who risk their lives for everybody,” Padia added.