The Chashmish Perspective

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Lucky are those who wake up in the morning and can see the world in 1080hp resolution. As for us, a category of ‘chashmish’ entities in this world, we are stuck in the middle spot from being labeled disabled to being absolutely ‘normal’. Our first instinct, when we wake up, is to fumble and find our ‘beloved’ chashmas, even before we open our eyes.

For reasons unknown to medical sciences (or just to my parents), I have been a loyal chashmish for the past 18 years. And this is the coming of age story of my tryst with the chashma.

Disclaimer: This is a guide for the ‘normal’ population out there and a homage to all my chashmish fellows.

1.   Our chashma is our ‘frenemy’

If you think wearing specs all day long is fun, let me tell you, no kind human, IT IS NOT. We almost have a love-hate relationship with our chashmas. It is our friend and foe at the same time. We hate it for being such a constant annoyance (much like our sibling). But we know we cannot live without them. Next time you want an example of a necessary evil: the chashma!

2.   Calling us names is borderline harassment

‘Single power double battery’ is not a phrase folks; it’s a term of ‘endearment’ that has adorned all our school lives. Chashmish is honestly a toned down version which has been so ingrained in us that we don’t mind it anymore. It is like a ‘dalit’ learning to identify their caste as a symbol of identity and power.

3.   Our chashma does not define or complete us

This entire rant stemmed out of a single comment I have received countless times before “You don’t look good without your specs on.”

The problem in this statement can be proven by visualizing another situation. What if we were not born with weak eyesight? Would someone still ask us to wear a ‘chashma’ in order to look good? Would someone murder us (mentally) if we don’t?

To say the way we are born does not make us beautiful to behold or worthy of life is absolutely outlandish.

We all can understand the gravity of this situation by comparing it to the recent unrest in the USA over the blatant murder of George Floyd. Sure, being chashmish might not get us killed. But every little form of prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping can lead to detrimental effects to our society.

My aim here was not to glorify the chashmish cult, but to use the chashma as a metaphor to reiterate that All Lives Matter. All of us are born with different types of chashmas; some by virtue of our social identity and some by virtue of our physical features. Put your chashma in context and read the article once again and you will know.

I hope and pray that as the world transforms to become better each day, may we all learn to judge a person by their actions and intentions and not by their appearance or identity!

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