छोटे कलाकार | chhote kalakaar | little artists

Retinoblastoma Awareness Day – 14th May

Retinoblastoma is the most common childhood eye cancer, originating in the retina – the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. 80% of cases are first detected in patients under 3-years-old. Throughout the week, training and patient awareness activities were conducted across the secondary centres.

I was able to take part in an event at SCEH on the last day of Retinoblastoma Awareness Week. Over 40 children – retinoblastoma patients aged 4-10 attended with their parents, arriving in a never-ending stream, invoking a feeling akin to swimming against a strong tide – anyone who has hosted a children’s party has experienced this. I began second-guessing whether the tasks I had prepared would be engaging enough across the couple of hours ahead.

The party kicked off and I took the stage with my gracious volunteers. These children who have had such a difficult start to life, now sat patiently and with their heads tilted up expectantly. The first project involved a collection of 32 sheets containing abstract shapes I had outlined, which the little artists were tasked to paint as they wished. In spite of my earlier worries, the children were so remarkably careful and controlled, intuitive and inventive with their approach. When assembled, the sheets create a portrait of SCEH’s founder, Dr Sorabji P. Shroff.

Dr Sorabji P. Shroff

The second project was suggested by Dr Chhavi Gupta, a consultant at SCEH. A brilliant idea to paint the eyepatches often worn by patients after surgery. Again, the little artists painted their own designs on the 200 eyepatches, which will assemble as one large piece. The results were wonderful. When we ran out of eyepatches, some children cried as they wanted to carry on painting so we continued on paper. I could have brought 400 eyepatches.

The doctors know the children by name and know their particular conditions. You could sense they’ve become attached. I didn’t witness one moment of bad behaviour, instead the children demonstrated qualities which went further than simply politeness – an authenticity that will stay with me. The little artists danced, sang and laughed with some parents joining in. A day marked by incredible creativity bursting from hardship’s grip. Marked by beauty arising from darkness.