Lawrence Sheikhs in Mastana

It was a good entertaining mood. It was a splendid moment of climax of a dance competition on stage for a TV program. The judge for the day came to the stage to express thanks (That judge is a top film choreographer in South India, and he is also a hero in few films). He says…

“…I have seen days when I used to go by walk, then by bicycle, then by bike and now by car. But all through these days one common sight that used to haunt me are the beggars using children for begging. Those children are in no way related to the beggars who use them. The money you give to beggars would not reach to children. I hate these inhuman beggars…”

This choreographer was none other than the Lawrence. The program was Sun TV’s ‘Mastaana Mastaana’. Lawrence didn’t stop there… He introduced us one fine example of self respect. Sheikh Abdulla from Dindigul District of Tamilnadu was brought to the stage with a very emotional moment created by Lawrence. The Sheikh Abdulla’s both legs were non-functioning. Lawrence told the background of this disabled person’s life and struggle…. It’s really captivating….

Lawrence had first spotted Sheikh Abdulla during the shooting of a movie in Dindigul. He instantly got curiosity over this unassuming person. He collected information about that person…. Yes… Sheikh Abdulla was a born disabled person. His disability was just physical. Abdulla is mentally a strong character. Anyone in the place of Abdulla, would have easily been into begging in roadsides. But Sheikh Abdulla didn’t get shake a bit. He paid and earned self respect. He sold different items to make his living for his family. A wife and two children made for his family. The two children – one boy and one girl - are the core purpose of his long struggle. His wife, playing a great partner for Abdulla’s innings, is no less warrior. She, being a lady without any physical disability, gave life and inspiration for Abdulla. She says that Abdulla is her first child. What a moment!

Abdulla and his wife want their children to come up in life with dignity. And so also the children expressed their desire to come up. Lawrence brought all of them in the stage. For few seconds I was stumbled and my hands automatically clapped themselves. Though Lawrence used a dramatic way to bring emotion into the moment it was really encapsulating. Hat’s off to Lawrence. Hat’s off to Sheikh Abdulla, his wife, and his two children for showing a great way of self respecting to lakhs of disabled persons in this country.