The ‘sound’ of silence
It is way past lunch-time that the father and son walk into the Sunday Times offices in Colombo 2 but not a murmur arises from 11+ Akindhu, unlike other children of his age who would grumble and fuss for want of food and drink.
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Akindhu, however, knows that his beloved “Thaththe”, Asoka B. Gamage, has undertaken a task which seems like an impossible mission to give hearing to him, while juggling a job, attempting to pay back a loan for their small home in Malagala, Rambutangas Handiya in Padukka, and also keeping their home fires burning.
It is only Akindhu, his twin brother, Anuge, and their not-so-well mother, Vajanthamala, who are privy to the toil and trouble that Asoka undergoes. Working at the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) as a Public Management Assistant, the only thing that Asoka has not resorted to is going around with a begging bowl.
Wracked by worry about Akindhu, Asoka sleeps only two hours each night, with his daily routine seeming like a nightmare for any other person. Waking up at the crack of dawn, along with his wife, he prepares breakfast for the two boys and also lunch, and leaves home for work. It is a one km walk before he is able to board a bus for a nearly-six km journey to the Padukka Railway Station, then a train-ride to Maradana, from where he walks to his workplace on Deans Road, about another km. Morning and evening, rain or shine, this his travel schedule, as he cannot spare a few extra rupees even on bus-fare.
There is no time for a catnap on the train because Akindhu is always on his mind and with Asoka engaging in photography and videoing in his hardly-available free time, he makes an effort to secure small jobs while also selling CDs with pirith.
From the day of Akindhu’s birth in 2003, the family has had to face many challenges that life has thrown in their path, which they have accepted with stoic resignation. Akindhu was one of triplets, but only he and one brother survived the entry into this world. While his brother did not have complications, Akindhu with a low birth-weight was compelled to live his first few days in an incubator. Later diagnosed with a brain infection, he had been pulled back from the brink of death with much difficulty and lots of medications.
Akindhu with father Asoka. Pix by Indika Handuwala
As the beleaguered family was recovering, another challenge confronted them. Just two years old, Akindhu was diagnosed with bi-lateral hearing loss, with the necessity being cochlear implants.
Generous donations in 2007 made a cochlear implant for the right ear possible, with Akindhu beginning his lessons at the M.D.H. Jayawardene Vidyalaya in Udumulla and continuing at the Padukka Siri Piyaratne Maha Vidyalaya. But the family, with only Asoka being the bread winner, was left reeling with post-operation treatment expenses. “Akindhu needed regular changes in the magnets and batteries of the cochlear implant,” says Asoka, explaining the hardships the whole family underwent to support him.
The hurdles kept recurring with the first device becoming inactive in 2009. By 2011, Akindhu underwent a second surgery, with the implant being fixed, but having to await the outer device which he got only in 2013.
Asoka is ever-grateful for the unstinting support from the Health Ministry, the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and the MSD.
This was while Akindhu shone as a young artist at the State Children’s Art Festival and another competition held by the Wickramarachchi Institute.
“Akindhu began hearing well for the first time in 2013,” says Asoka, while the boy seated opposite me in the office, looks on earnestly not uttering a word, oblivious to the sounds of a busy working environment including the shrill ringing of the telephones.
The simple euphoria the family including Akindhu enjoyed in 2013 was short-lived, as by March this year the implant packed up, temporarily also ending Akindhu’s lessons as a ‘side effect’. Asoka has paid Rs. 10,000 to the hearing-aid agent to send the unit for repair to Australia but needs much more funds for Akindhu to get back to normal life and also his lessons.
Back at square one is Akindhu and his father is running around to mobilize support to give his son his hearing once again.