Deaf in Delhi: A Memoir

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Acknowledgments ix 1. Silent Morning 1 2. Panic 4 3. Looking for a Cure 7 4. Other Cures 15 5. Home Remedies 23 6. Schooling 29 7. My Childhood Before Becoming Deaf 32 8. Working on the Farm 47 9. Back to Study 55 10. The High School Examination 58 11. Travels and Other Adventures 61 12. Careers or the Lack of Them 71 13. My First Camera 75 14. Becoming a Sadhu 81 15. Moving to Delhi 87 16. Why Are They Flailing Their Hands? 96 17. New Discoveries 102 18. Visit to a Deaf Club 109 19. Making Deaf Friends 112 20. Me, a Teacher! 116 21. Working in the Photo Studio 120 22. Learning about Leadership 124 23. Life Becomes Busier 133 24. Goyle’s Death 137 25. Changes in School and Work 141 26. Have Tongue, Will Speak! 146 vi contents 27. New Teachers 150 28. Adventures in Signing 156 29. The Interview of a Lifetime 160 30. Getting Engaged 166 31. The Air-Conditioned Darkroom 170 32. Working with Hearing People 175 33. What Is Gallaudet? 179 34. Working at the NPL 182 35. Looking for a New Career 185 36. Marriage 189 37. Wedding Ceremonies in Lohara 195 38. Back in Delhi 201 39. The Elusive Visa 205 Epilogue: Life in America 211 To my parents, Hakim Rai and Sandhya Devi, for their love and faith in me ...