Vivekananda Rock

Vivekananda Rock may be considered as an inaccessible even by the able-bodied people. But it is the most wheelchair-friendly place that I have been to in recent times. It was during Pooja Holidays last year (October 2004); I went to visit my brother Manish who works in Kovalam. He planned to take me to the place on a weekend. Though he is supremely confident of carrying me (he had taken me to the tip of the Suicide Point in Ooty just a few months earlier), I could notice that he was very nervous.

The place is off the coast of Kanyakumari in the Indian Ocean. It takes a few kilometers of ferry ride to reach the spot. We had hired a fulltime taxi, so we could take my wheelchair anywhere we went.

We arrived at the ferry jetty at around 2 PM. The authorities, on seeing the my chair on the carrier of the car, told Manish to inform the office that he had a wheelchair-user with him and take tickets for the ferry from there itself to avoid standing in the queue. Manish virtually jumped with joy as he had crossed the first hurdle (wheelchair rarely gets such cordial reception in India). They also quashed his worries about not being able to take the wheelchair into the ferry and then onto the Rock (wheelchairs are not allowed beyond a point in religious places).

When we reached the ferry, two persons who were there to help the passengers, whisked the chair inside with expert ease. On landing, one of them pointed to the inconspicuous ramp. Manish, who had feared the worse, was happy that he could take me on the top. And, to our surprise we found a ramp along with every flight of steps or even on the rocky terrain. Only the Meditation Room and a couple of small bookshops were inaccessible.

This was my third trip to the Rock (first with the wheelchair). I should say I had the time of my life, with Manish, my sister-in-law, three year old nephew Jai and my mother for the company.

The place where one of the celebrated spiritual leaders of modern time attained enlightenment (or awakening), also prove that to create a barrier-free environment you just need the intent and little civic sense, and nothing out of the ordinary.