This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.
Hi, my name is George Abraham and welcome to Eyeway Conversations. My guest today is the Taha Haaziq from Goa. He is Secretary, Office of the Commissioner of Persons with Disability, Government of Goa. Welcome, Taha.
Thanks a lot, George. Thanks a lot. It's great being here.
So Taha, you just coming off a very successful Purple Festival. It was a wonderful event. I was privileged to be part of that. So, what actually inspired the organizing of such an event?
Frankly, George, I remember still the end of July, wherein I and our State Disability Commissioner, Mr. Guru Prasad Pawaskar had just you know, conversation and we both had a thought, and he was very much intrigued towards doing some good conference in the state of Goa which the Government of Goa could host or the State Disability Commission could host which could probably have a beautiful impact towards sensitization and awareness of the life of persons with disabilities. So, it just started there. And, you know, when we started speaking, slowly we started speaking to more and more people in Goa, and across the country. You know, we had various ideas which came in, very innovative ideas came in and finally, we had the Purple Festival right from the 3rd of January to 8th of January 2023.
What was some of the happenings at the Purple Festival?
If I could tell you we started with the unified beach cricket. Now, this unified beach cricket was and had happened on the 3rd of January. That was our first pre event, and it happened at the Miramar Beach Panjim and it was first played in Sri Lanka before Covid. It is a very wonderful thing. And it is not only limited to play by persons with disabilities, but it can be a very inclusive play. And we have got, you know, six team members either side and they need to play a form of cricket. It's a wonderful thing. On the same day, we had the inauguration of the accessible e-rickshaws, six in number and the floating wheelchairs, five in number. So we started there with a big bang. And you know, just to tell you, my heart till the morning of 3rd, I and the Commissioner you know we're at really in...ek fikar thi hume ki itni jo cheez hum logo ne parallely plan kiye hai vo kis tarike se hongi events toh hai lekin kya lok rahinge, kya utna audience hume milenga lekin that third event gave us a big boost. Because the kind of audience we had, the kind of participation we had, that first half was really really boosting to the whole team. I would actually add one more thing here is, this festival wouldn't have been possible without the you know, tastic and motivating support of our ministers Subhash Phal Desai, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Goa and our dynamic Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant. I still remember when we went with the ideas to both of them, it was we need to do this and we need to do this at a much much bigger scale and a scale which you know, people should be aware that persons with disabilities should get a space there. Plus, persons with no disabilities should be coming there and experiencing the life of persons with disabilities. So coming back to your question George, as I said, we started on 3rd. 4th, we had the deafblind convention, the 4th, 5th and 6th with the collaboration of Sense International. Then we had the Access India which started on 5th. We had the blind cricket there were seven states which played here in the inter-state blind cricket championship. On the 6th, we had our main venue, the Entertainment Society of Goa which had started from the morning itself. We had more than six experience zones, right from the jaagruti mela to Museum of possibilities to the Purple weekend Film Festival to the audio-described, the sign language interpretation movies. We had the live art gallery which was there the whole day, live paintings and everything related to art was happening. And there was some displays also kept, including the 3D ones. We had the exhibition which frankly, we were anticipating not more than 50-55 George, finally we ended up having 90 stalls there. And plus outside if y'all would have noticed, we had the counter for the edit that was a limbo who was sitting there. Plus, there were four national institutes who were sitting there, the National Institute for visual impairment, the National Institute of Mental disabilities, the audio version, and the multiple disabilities. So these four people were absolutely there. I tell you, we had these think tanks sessions, which happened on Saturday and Sunday, that is the 7th and 8th. We had a wonderful industry session which happened Saturday evening at Taj Vivanta which was in collaboration with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries, which gave a wonderful space for us to you know, create that impact ki persons with disabilities can work. They don't require sympathy, they require empathy. And there are a lot of possibilities in the corporate sector for their employment. The best part here George, was we had all the 21 disabilities at one platform, interacting with each other kahi pe bhi koi yeh nehi tha ki nehi yar meh inse kis tarike se baat karunga. The deaf and deafblind both had their sign language interpreters and tactile interpreters. I should absolutely mention here volunteers were more than 800 what we had.
When I came to go out on the 7th, right from the airport to the city and the hotel, everybody seemed to be talking about the Purple Festival. So there was a lot of very effective publicity that you managed to give the event. Now, you know, you spent a lot of money, you put in a lot of effort. There were a lot of people who came in, there were a lot of powers that be that came in. Now how do you see this event impacting our community going forward?
A wonderful question indeed. What we have done now George, is we are in the process of having a whole detailed documentation of the whole event activities- where did it start from, which were the organizations who were a part of it, what were the sessions and recommendations coming out of the think tank sessions that is your employment, inclusive education, sports. Recommendations coming out of the purple dialogue wherein we had eight variety of wonderful panels, who actually sat there and discuss right from parenting to sex education to gender to social, just everything. Plus, we had some of the press conferences. So we are, you know, in the process of getting the recommendations on one paper. And this will be presented by the Disability Commission Office to the state government and the central government both.
I also believe that the Honorable Prime Minister had included the Purple Festival in his latest Mann ki baat.
Yes, the whole event was recognized by the highest body of the country. Recognized in a very dignified manner and his vision towards the persons with disabilities in the country, I believe, has given again us a boost to go ahead as a holistic team to achieve the inclusion what we require.
If you know of anyone with vision impairment, who needs guidance on living life with blindness, please share the Eyeway national toll free helpline number 1800-532-0469 The number is 1800-532-0469.
So Taha, you seem to be born for the civil services. What prompted you to actually attempt the civil services?
I started my career right from teaching in the National Association for the Blind as a computer trainer and music trainer. And then I further migrated to the Poona Blind Men's Association, the Technical Training Institute from the year 2012. And I was heading the library there and we were producing the Daisy audio books. I was there for more than one and a half year. Worked in a wonderful team headed by Dr. Homiyar. And after that, I got an opportunity with the Directorate of Art and Culture government of Goa. I was very, you know, a blessed to have a dynamic director at that time Mr. Prasad Lolayekar, IAS and he said on my first day, he specifically called me. We were almost 40-45 people who got employed together lekin he called me specifically and said, "For me this case is different. You are a person with blindness, but I want you to work". I said, very good. And he said, whatever you need, you tell me. So I immediately told him okay aap computer laga do. It happened and he finally placed me into the central library which came into him and he made me the in charge of the resource center jaha pe we again started creating a lot of awareness. I started working towards making Konkani audiobooks and all those kinds of things. Kept me busy. Finally 2015 meh yeh Goa civil services ke ad thi in the Goa Public Service Commission and somebody told me aap apply karo. I said okay fine, I'll apply, what's there. Apply ki written exam thi ek. Written exam dene ke baat, the letter came in the department saying this person has been selected. They called him and he said ke yaar what have you done? I got a bit skeptical kya hogya esa, bole ke ye esa esa letter aya GPSC se. Bole why didn't you tell us. I said I did not feel and I did not know ki I had to tell or it is a procedure. Bola, I don't know. What you don't want to go for this? I said, sir, I'm really happy working with the library, why do I really going on for this. Bole you will be the most foolish person if you're not accepting this. And I will see to it to you're going. Within one hour, he prepared my NOC, he sent it to the Goa Public Service Commission, spoke to the Secretary there and told me you go there. In next two days, I had my interview. And after next one or two days, we got the result. And he was the first person who gave me this information saying Taha, you have been selected. And he gave me this information ki I'm the first 100% visually Impaired civil servant in the state of Goa. So he was extremely happy with that. My first posting was as the OSG Social Welfare Member Secretary, Sanjay Center for Special Education. However, approach was very different in both the places. Social welfare might not have that response. In the center, I had that response. So I was here till the time I got relieved in 2017. And that one and a half way in Social Welfare for me was very difficult because that trust, I couldn't see in anybody there. And you know, that 2017 December se 2019 January, February, it was very difficult for me. Har din subha me sare no baje I used to come. Paanch, sare paanch baje I used to go, aur kuch nehi hota tha mere saat. Toh kahi na kahi I had really gone in a frustration mode ki whether I should continue this civil services or not. And finally, I got a chance with working with the Chief Electoral Office. And that time, it was the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The then Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Kunal IAS, he's currently in Delhi as Joint Secretary Sports, Government of India. A wonderful person to work with, very very proactive, very open to ideas. Again, slowly slowly, I started gelling up, I started working and boosting my own self. And uske baat phir, my civil services life went ahead. 2019 mein I got certain responsibilities from the Social Welfare department itself. 2020 mein they made me the Deputy Director for the admin. And they also made me the in charge of the special cell for empowerment of persons with disabilities, wherein we were able to recruit a lot of people in many categories more than probably 180 people under me we recruited and we had a wonderful ADIP camp, offering equipments to more than probably 2500 people in the state of Goa and after that I got promoted to the senior scale head, which is at the level of the joint secretaries and the directors MD has come into Goa. In the December 2022, I landed up here as the Secretary Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Goa.
To support our work with the blind and visually impaired, you can visit the donate page on our website, www.scorefoundation.org.in. Please note, www.scorefoundation.org.in
You were actually born in Mumbai, your parents were in Mumbai. What has been the journey, your initial journey as a blind little boy?
I was born in the year 1984 and childhood me hi detect hogya tha ki I have got retinal pigmentosa and the vision would be there for some years and then it gets deteriorated slowly. That was very well clearly told by the doctors. And I'm really blessed with wonderful parents who never made me dependent upon anybody. I only remember my pre primary when I was there in a special school that is Happy Home. 1st, 2nd and 3rd standard was in a school named IES English Medium Primary School Matunga and I still remember the teacher there by the name of Bastika. And she was the one who used to really boost me up and say ki thik hai, karna hai, aapko karna hai, you have to do it. It's not gonna be okay. You cannot see properly so you are not doing it. You have to do it. And uska George, you will be very aware ke, you know, late 80s mein technology ka naam toh kuch bhi nehi hua karta tha. It was just the approach which was very important to take people ahead. And in 1993, we shifted to Goa because of my dad's business. He came and set up certain things. He wanted to set up certain things in Goa for his company. So we as family shifted here. I joined my 4th standard, schools's name is Saraswat Vidyalaya in Mapusa, North Goa. I did my 4th standard there. I did my 5th to 10th in the St. Britto's High School, again one of the pioneer schools in North Goa. And then I had my higher secondary in the St. Xavier's College, higher secondary again in Mapusa Goa. I had my graduation done in the Hindustani classical vocal. And simultaneously in the year 1998, I used to sing and thora passion huwa karta tha toh usme my mother said ki there's a institute named Kala Academy here. So she took me there and I got interviewed and I joined that institute. And still my guru of music sarva Shri Mahesh Kumar VC. He...khali esa nehi tha ki I have learned with him for more than 14 years with the Kirana Gharana. Isme music toh me zaroor sikha hoon, George unse lekin music ki alaava there's a lot of things which I've gained from him, right from patience to the listening skills which I really feel gives me you know, a five star being in the civil service because the more you have a better listening skill, the more you will be able to perform better. That is what I really feel because the more you become impatient in life, the more probably you would end up taking wrong decisions.
The exposure was more than music. It was also life skills.
Absolutely because I remember sitting with him, khali esa nehi tha ki ek khanta hum class lete the. I used to sit with him for the whole day. I used to go to his house, subhe me tin tin baje utke hum log riyaz karte the for almost 4 - 5 hours each day. So it was... us period me I believe I used to stay home less and I used to be with him more. So that was the thing. And then finally technology came in my life 2000 -2001 meh JAWS vagera aagya, cheeze aagya, started playing with it. Went to Enable India to do my master training into teaching computers to visual impairment. It was two parallel things what I was carrying together.
Do you still sing or music is now a part of history?
Nehi, history toh nehi hua hai. Thora bahut hai George lekin it is not that jo hua karta tha. Mera riyaz itna regular nehi hai. I need to get back now. I need to get back again.
Yeah, I think music is something if you are skilled and you have the talent for it. I think it'll be a sad state of affairs if you had to give it up.
No no no, I haven't. And I will be again taking it up very soon. That's my plan now.
I believe you have married a foreigner. And what's the story behind the romance?
No romance. Family ne bola ke ye badi pyari laadki hai. Meh bola thik hai. So we met first time on Skype. Why on Skype because my wife is a Pakistani. And that was the only way where we could meet each other. And the best part is she is also having retinal pigmentosa. It is not ki we have married each other because we both are blind aur zindagi meh aur koi options nehi hai, vaisa nehi hai. We both understood each other very well. I still remember thori phirbi story bi hai again lekin we first spoke in the month of May 2011. And December mein when her whole family came down here in India. The plan was ki they are coming down and we are getting married. So it was just two days before marriage. We actually met each other amne samne, otherwise vo chah sat mehne toh hum khali vo virtual chittiyo pe baat kar rahe the. So it was Skype, it was everything. A wonderful life partner I have, very very understanding you know. Frankly, where I am now it is again due to her support. And we both are not only husband and wife, probably we are much more than best friends so you know jab tab ki raat mein before sleeping din bhar mein jo kuch ho raha hai, we absolutely share with each other nehi toh uski bagair neend nehi aati hai. So it's that kind of relationships. It's more than 11 years now.
You also have a child right. Tell us about your child.
Right. My child named Burhanuddin born on 31st December 2015. But only the thing is, he is anticipated also to be a case of retinitis pigmentosa. We are in touch with Sankara Nethralaya Dr. Rajiv Raman and let's see aage kya hota hai. At present toh he is completely into inclusive setup. The school where he is going is having a lovely support to him kahi pe bhi yeh nehi ki thik hai aapko kuch issue hai. School is Spring Valley Chubby Cheeks, it's an area in Porvarim in Goa. Wonderful approach right from the Principal to the teaching and non teaching staff because we from the day one did not want him to go into any special setups. We wanted to go usko dalna hume yehi tha ke koi inclusive setup ho and uske saat saat overall approach should be very good. Toh we are very lucky to have that. We are very lucky to have the overall support. My cousin is actually helping for his studies. And wonderful thing, I've got my bhabhi who's really helping us out in many things. I and Jamila, my wife are you know, putting a lot of efforts to see to it ki kahi pe bhi ye na ho ke he's kuch kaam lag raha ho. The best part is he also understands ke usse dark lights meh he is not comfortable. He has absolutely accepted it in a very great spirit. He knows both of his parents cannot see, I cannot see completely. Jamila can see a bit so he understands kaha pe kya karna hai, kis tarike se karna hai. He's just seven now. He's understanding his own things and our own things. So we as three team is up till now going wonderful. Hopefully aage bhi kafi aacha hona hai.
I guess your son's retinitis pigmentosa is basically because this condition is genetic right, it's genetically past on.
Quite possible.
How does Taha Haaziq relax ? You seem to have a very busy schedule morning till evening.
Okay, so two things what I generally follow is when I'm out of the office I generally prefer being out of the office. Kuch urgent chiz aagiya alag baat hain, lekin when I'm at home, I try to give maximum time to them. It may be my wife, it may be my son, it may be my parents, my brothers, sister-in-law, their children. It's a good nine member family what we have, so we have wonderful time with them. Plus, I and Jamila have a passion to go out exploring various things chahe we go out walking, chahe we go out there's a nearby mall hai jinke hum woha chale jate hai. Sometimes we go out dining, sometimes we go out watching movies, or we take our son to the nearby garden or somewhere. Toh it is basically giving more and more time to the family and friends.
Well Taha, it's been a pleasure talking to you and also getting to know you. And I'd like to wish you and Jamila and your son and the entire family the very best.
Thanks George.
This podcast was brought to you by Score Foundation.
