Emergence of a Phoenix: a Probe Into the Life of Nick Vujicic

Emergence of a Phoenix: A Probe into the life of Nick Vujicic Project submitted to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in partial l recognition of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. (Model II – Teaching) Anumol Poulose Register Number: 170021017765 Sixth Semester Department of English St. Paul’s College Kalamassery 2017-2020 Declaration I do hereby declare that this project “Emergence of Phoenix: A Probe into the life of Nick Vujicic “is the record of genuine research work done by me under the guidance of Dr. Salia Rex, Assistant Professor and Head of the department of English, St. Paul’s College, Kalamassery. Anumol Poulose Certificate This is to certify that this project “Emergence of a Phoenix: A Probe into the life of Nick Vujicic” is the record of the original work carried out by Anumol Poulose under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Salia Rex, Assistant Professor and Head of Department of English, St. Paul’s College, Kalamassery. Dr. Salia Rex Head of the Department Department of English St. Paul’s College Kalamassery Acknowledgement I would like to thank Dr. Salia Rex, The Head of the Department of English who helped and gave suggestions throughout the completion of this project. I would also like to thank all the other teachers of the English Department who gave their opinions as well. Anumol Poulose Contents Page number Introduction 1 Chapter 1 6 Chapter 2 13 Chapter 3 16 Conclusion 20 Work Cited 23 1 Introduction Disability is a part of human condition which is complex, dynamic, multidimensional and contested. People read the life of people with a different physical appearance that is different from their conception of normal appearance with pity. Aren’t we all different? Such a question is worth of discussion because all are lacking in one way or another. Literature has always found a way to portray the life of people with disability and such different lives inspires millions because they are not ready to hide themselves under the label of ‘disabled’. The study on Nicholas James Vujicic, an Australian Evangelist and famous Motivational speaker born with a rare disorder, Tetra-amelia syndrome on December 4, 1982 is intended to validate the unlimited powers of a human being who has no arms or legs except for his small foot with two toes to become a beacon of hope and motivation for the entire world. The attempt is to trace the varied phases of Vujicic’s personal growth from a man of limitations to become the author of his biography ‘Life Without Limits: Inspiration for A Ridiculously Good Life ‘in order to find out the sources of his inspiration. Nick has revealed his life to the public as an example of the potential of disabled people and has discovered how similar disable people really are to non-disabled people and how a disability can motivate a person to lead their life to the fullest and achieve heights that exceeded the expectations of non -disabled people by far. 2 People with disabilities often experience prejudice and discrimination comparable to what is experienced by people of colour and other minority groups, and they are therefore socially marginalized and disadvantaged in similar ways remains sadly true that people whose bodies are different from “a society’s conception of a ‘normal’ or acceptable body,” even when it causes “little or no functional or physical difficulty for the person who has them, constitute major social disabilities” (nondisabled people are often uncomfortable, even fearful, around people with disabilities, as if the disabling condition might be contagious. Robert Murphy thinks that all too many nondisabled people view people with disabilities as a “fearsome possibility”. They displace their fears that the “impairment could happen to them” onto the other person. In this way, “the disabled person becomes the Other—a living symbol of failure, frailty, and [for men] emasculation; a counterpoint to normality; a figure whose very humanity is questioned”. (Introducing Disability Studies; p.7) Disability studies is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry that includes representation from the social sciences, the humanities, and the medical, rehabilitation, and education professions which is vital to an understanding of humankind. It is a way for people with disabilities to stare back at those who have stared at them to turn society’s gaze back on itself and point out the things that nondisabled people don’t seem to notice because, as Davis observes, they “see themselves as living in a mirage of being normal” (Introducing Disability Studies p:3). In Disability Studies, discussion of definitional issues typically begins with a distinction between impairment and disability.Impairment refers to a biological or physiological condition that entails the loss of physical, sensory, or cognitive function and disability refers to an inability to perform a personal or socially necessary task because of impairment. The conceptual distinction between impairment and disability does not ignore the fact that it may be a 3 ‘personal tragedy’ to have impairment. In order to identity various barriers disabled people face, some knowledge of their impairment related is essential. Disability Studies in academia emerged at the same historical moment in the UK and USA. In UK, the movement began with the publication of the Fundamental Principles of Disability by the Union of the Physically Impaired against Segregation a disabled people’s activist group. British Sociologists who theorized the social model of disability in which disability is primarily understood as a result of oppressive social arrangements. Society by and large has had a very negative and unfavourable attitude to the disabled. They are at times treated as a strange species altogether. They are regarded as inferior not only with regard to the specific disability but also as total beings. Victims of disease, deformity or accident they are further victimized by the peculiar and irrational attitudes of the society. History of social attitudes towards the disabled, the maimed and the crippled has been full of harsh and 7inhuman treatment. A study of religious scriptures, literature and folklore reveals the prevalence of fairly negative and crippling attitudes towards the disabled. Spread of education, scientific awareness and emphasis on positive 8religious ideals has not completely eradicated the unfavourable bias and prejudice towards the disabled. In the mind of very many common people even now 'a crooked body is generally associated with a crooked mind. Internationally, the World Health Organization (2011) reported that in 2010 there were more than one billion disabled people around the globe, about 17 per cent of the world’s total population. Other international data indicate that disabled people are more likely than nondisabled people to live in poverty, as is true in the United States, although poverty in less developed, non-industrialized countries is more severe. About 80 per cent of the world’s disabled 4 population lives in such countries, where just 20 per cent of the world’s health-care dollars are spent. In many places around the globe, war and armed conflict are major causes of disability. Today, there are millions of disabled refugees and displaced persons in places such as the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia (Albrecht, Seelman and Bury). As per 2001 census, 21.9 million or 21,906,769 people are disabled in India, who constitutes 2.13 per cent of the total population. Out of the 21,906,769 people with disabilities, 12,605,635 are males and 9,301,134 are females. This includes persons with visual, hearing, speech, loco motor and mental disabilities. Seventy five per cent of persons with disabilities live in rural areas, 49 per cent of disabled population is literate and only 34 per cent are employed. (Disability, it’s issues and challenges: Psycho Social and Legal Aspects in Indian Scenario; p.195) There are some factors which responsible for disability, such as : Poverty and Disability There is a high correlation between disability and poverty but very few studies have investigated how poverty and disability influence each other and with their combination create new forms of barriers. In general, people with disabilities are estimated to make up to 15 to 20% of the poor in developing countries Inequitable economic and social policies have contributed to large numbers of people living in extreme poverty. Poor families often do not have sufficient income to meet their basic needs. Inadequate shelter, unhygienic living conditions, lack of sanitation and clean drinking water combined with poor access to health facilities lead to disability. Malnutrition and Disability- Malnutrition in its various forms is a cause of disability as well as a contributory factor in other ailments that increase susceptibility to disabling conditions. Inadequate shelter, unhygienic living conditions, lack of sanitation and clean drinking water combined with poor access to health facilities lead to disability. Malnutrition and Disability- 5 Malnutrition in its various forms is a cause of disability as well as a contributory factor in other ailments that increase susceptibility to disabling conditions. (Disability its Issues and Challenges: Psycho Social and Legal Aspects in Indian Scenario, p: 195) The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, protection of Rights and full Participation) Act 1995: provides 3% reservations for disabled people (blind or low vision, hearing impairment and loco motor disability or cerebral palsy in poverty alleviation programs, government posts, and in state educational facilities, as well as other rights and entitlement). The specific objectives of the Act are: Prevention and Early Detection of Disabilities, Education – all Government educational institutions reserve more than 3% seats for disabled. Employment – with 3% reservations the disability vacancies not filled up to be carried forward for next three years and after that the vacancy will be filled by a non-disabled person.

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