RAVI SINGARAM
To visually impaired 72-year old Mohan Narayanasamy, Deepavali is a festival that still brings light to his life.
Having lost his vision gradually over the past eight years due to retinitis pigmentosa, his world is full of shadows, as he cannot distinctly make out features or faces.
Yet, that does not stop Mr Mohan from soaking in the festive atmosphere and using the occasion to thank those who have stood by him through thick and thin.
For Deepavali, he bought murukku and gave some to his peers at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) day care centre.
He also gave murukku to his neighbour, barber Arend Seah and the staff at the SAVH Mobile Massage team, a group of qualified, visually-handicapped masseurs.
This Deepavali was extra special for Mr Mohan as he attended Mediacorp’s Amarkala Deepavali Show, thanks to the family of Mr Vishnu Vardhan, one of the performers, who gave tickets to him and his friends.
He was also invited to construction firm Hanshika Engineering’s Deepavali celebrations, where he was given a special ticket to Innisai Sangamam, a concert on Nov 4 that featured visually impaired singers Vaikom Vijayalakshmi and Irwin Victoria.
“This was the first time I attended such concerts after losing my eyesight, and I really enjoyed myself,” said Mr Mohan. “For a long time, I had wanted to go for such events, but the thought of taking up someone’s time to accompany me deterred me.”
Another surprise for Mr Mohan was when he reconnected with his former workplace manager, with whom he had lost touch eight years ago.
“We talked for half an hour and reminisced about our days working at the airport,” said Mr Mohan, who, from 2012 to 2014, worked in managing logistics at Changi.
Mr Mohan left his job before his contract ended as his eyesight deteriorated.
“I did not want to keep asking my colleagues for help, or just sit and earn,” he said. That’s just not my style.”
His wife, a nurse for 40 years, had been a great source of support to him over the years, before she died of cancer in 2015.
“In 2021, my mother also passed away,” said Mr Mohan. “If they had all been around now, my Deepavali would have been even more special.”
He is hesitant to get a guide dog as he is worried about the maintenance.
“A big dog is not the same as a Maltese,” he said, referring to his pet Maltese dog that died in 2013.
So, he gets around with his cane and memory of streets.
These days, Mr Mohan is always on the lookout for opportunities to meet new people. He frequently takes part in SAVH programmes to keep himself upbeat.
His future Deepavali wishes include going on a cruise or a trip to Malaysia, and attending karaoke sessions and concerts.
“What we have today may not be there tomorrow, so we must maximise the joy we can give others and think positively.”
