Turning Point

With a new team of deaf office bearers, committed and dedicated to the Association, in office, 1985 ushered a turning point in the Association's chequered career. Though the initial few years were devoted to setting the house, in order, some achievements, particularly on the rehabilitation front were recorded.

It was after Mr. Hari Krishna Shastri, M.P., then Secretary of Congress Parliamentary Party, took over as Chairman, that Association's numerous activities gathered momentum. 15th Delhi Games for the Deaf were held at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, (January 12, 1985) with Mr. H.K. L. Kapur, Lt. Governor, Delhi as Chief Guest.

Free two week long Holiday Camps at Pahalgam attended by 40 and 30 members respectively were organized in June 1985 and 1986. Two free educational South India tours were organized in Dec. 1985 and February 1988 attended by 40 and 30 members respectively, Seminar was organized on June 27, 1987 as a part of 37th Anniversary Celebrations at Indian International Centre and a host of other activities were conducted.

The most memorable achievement of this period under Mr. Hari Krishna Shastri's Chairmanship was the taking over the possession of the plot C-12 Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi to house Association's Research & Rehabilitation Centre for the Deaf on 8th Jan. 1988.

Dr. Surya Prakash N. Puri (1985-86)
The youngest Member of Parliament then elected, he came to Association via New Delhi Deaf & Dumb Club which he headed from 1970 onwards for several years. A product of London School of Economics and member of Senate and Syndicate of Magadh University to which he had donated 350 Bighas of prime land, he was particularly interested in education and rehabilitation of the deaf. His association with the deaf welfare lasted right up to his sad death at a relatively young age in 2002.

 

Mr. Hari Krishna Shastri (1986-1990)
Son of the late Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri, Prime Minister of India, Mr. Hari Krishna Shastri was elected Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for a number of terms. He was Secretary of Congress Parliamentary Party for a number of terms and was finally made Minister of State, Union Ministry of Agriculture. Being a keen sportsman himself, sports promotion was his forte.

 

 

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New Impetus:
With Dr. Bansi Dhar, Chairman and Managing Director, DCM Shriram Industires Ltd., taking over as Chairman in the year 1991 and bringing along with him Shri Rajendar Kumar Gupta, Association's activities found a new impetus and new activities were introduced and scope of existing activities expanded. Their contribution has been most valuable to the growth of the Association.

Dr. Bansi Dhar, Chairman (1991-2001)
Doyen among industrialist, a former President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and closely associated with a host of educational institutes and organizations of trade and industry, Dr. Bansi Dhar has been evincing a keen interest in welfare works, many of which he has himself launched and funded.

The results achieved during his tenure as discussed above speak for themselves. It is enough to add that though extremely busy with his diverse interests and activities, he was readily accessible and took an active part in all activities whether it be sports or games or socio-cultural functions organised by Association.

A little known fact is that he provided stipend to dozens of deaf to under go training in operating mechanized looms in his textile unit and subsequently gave them gainful employment with remunerations at par with normal workers.

In bringing along Mr. Rajendra Kumar Gupta as Vice Chairman, he did a great favour to the Association for it was largely Shri Gupta who acted as the vanguard for all the activities launched during the above period. After serving Association devotedly for over a decade, he resigned on health grounds.

Mr. Rajendra Kumar Gupta (1991-2001)
A many faceted personality -industrialist, politician, statesman, social worker educationalist, Mr. Rajendra Kumar Gupta has distinguished himself in many fields. An ex. Mayor of Delhi, after joining Association, he won election to Delhi Legislative Assembly and in due course became Minister of Transport, Excise etc. in Government of Delhi, but still remained at the beck and call of the Association.

As an M.L.A., he headed the Monitoring Committee constituted by Government of Delhi to monitor functioning of Govt. Lady Noyce Sec. School for the Deaf, New Delhi. He readily placed at the disposal of the Association a specious Hall at 2 Jain Mandir Road, New Delhi, a central location, to conduct Sunday School for the Deaf, which has benefited over a hundred deaf children.

However, it was in the field of resources mobilization that he gave a really scintillating performance by raising over Rs.18 lacs (Rs.l.8 millions) for construction of Association's building. It was a sad day for the Association when he resigned not because he had lost any interest in helping the deaf but due to some mis-understanding.