PICTURE SPEAK

HAND OF FRIENDSHIP: Deshpande (right) with special friends at Sadhana Village

Vasantrao Deshpande is the strong, silent type. A former English professor in Sangli, he led a contented life in the nondescript hamlet till tragedy struck some 20 years ago: his eldest daughter lost control of her mental faculties because of a mysterious infection. Deshpande searched all over the country for a home that would treat his daughter with sensitivity.

The search was futile. But a visit to Camphill Village in Copake, New York, which allows the mentally challenged to lead as normal a life as possible, inspired much hope. Deshpande decided to create a similar community in India for adults with developmental disabilities or "special friends" as he calls them. After nearly 10 years of scraping around for funds, Deshpande's Sadhana Village came into being in 1993. Situated in Kolwan Valley, about 40 km from Pune, Sadhana Village is a little community comprising three functional brick houses, 20 special friends and a support staff of 10. Between 18 and 50 years of age, Sadhana's occupants are looked after by house parents, who are qualified social workers. While the special friends are intelligent and skilled, they suffer from mental disorders ranging from severe epilepsy to schizophrenia. Many were prone to violence and fits of anger when they came to Sadhana. "They are doing much better now," says Deshpande. "Yoga sessions, daily chores and evening walks channelise their energy." As do other innovative techniques like drum therapy sessions.

The most novel aspect of Sadhana Village, however, is its integration in the life and activities of over 3,300 rural families in the valley. Water conservation, milk collection, candle-making and rice packing are some of the activities Sadhana Village engages in to provide employment for its special friends and the local community besides training villagers in goat-rearing and poultry farming. But despite all the schemes, Sadhana Village, a registered trust, faces an income deficit every year.

Deshpande, now 72, often travels from Pune, where he lives with his wife, to Sadhana Village. He recalls the hostility he had to face initially from the rural folk: "They thought we were imposing ourselves on them." But a decade in the valley changed that perception. Besides generating employment, Sadhana Village has added much value to the lives of the villagers. Deshpande's dream of gaining acceptance for his special friends is also on its way to being fulfilled.

Index