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“Both of us love birds and animals. Our biggest dream is to start an animal farm”

The myna bird is capable of imitating the human voice. It is a treat to watch Sabir Ahmed (17) and Samim Ahmed (15) striving to make their pet myna talk, says their mother Paritunissa (42), laughing fondly. Both of them are deaf-mute but they are determined to teach speech to their pet through sign language! “They move their lips, trying to show the myna how to speak,” said Paritun. “Such love and patience!”
 
The seven-member family lives in Gora Gram village in Assam’s Cachar district. “When Sabir was four and Samim was two and a half, I noticed they would not respond to sounds or calls and didn’t utter a single word,” says Paritun. The boys were taken to the government hospital in Silchar where the doctors prescribed hearing aids. Apparently their ears became “red, swollen and painful” and so they junked the devices. (Clearly they received no speech therapy and perhaps no instructions on how to use and maintain the aids either.)
 
Paritun’s husband Sahabuddin Choudhury (43) is a hawker who travels from village to village buying and selling broken metal goods. Their eldest son Nasiruddin (21) is a mason, their older daughter Sapna Begum (19) has finished her education and is due to get married next year while the youngest, Sana Begum (13), is still in school. Paritun, besides taking care of the household, weaves bamboo cane mats, a craft that Sapna is skilled in and Samim is quickly picking up.
 
Sabir and Samim have developed a vivid, expressive sign language unique to their family. For example when they want tea they form a circle with their thumb and index finger and mimic stirring with the other hand. To indicate bathing they wrap a towel on their head and pretend to pour water. “At first, we struggled to understand them,” Paritun explains, “but as a mother, I knew what they needed even before they expressed it. I learnt their signs and taught my husband and children as well. Soon, the whole family became fluent in our own silent language.”
 
Both boys were eager learners, excelling in their studies until Class 5. But their dreams were crushed when the high school principal refused to admit them. “It’s a school for normal students,” he told their mother. “We don’t have a setup for the deaf-mute.” For two years Paritun tried relentlessly to secure their admission but her pleas fell on deaf ears. “Samim scored well in the entrance tests,” she recalls tearfully. “If only they had given him a chance, he could have built a bright future.” The only special school was too far from their home, making daily travel impossible. Forced to abandon their formal education, the boys turned to learning in their own way.
 
Sabir and Samim’s world is filled with animals. They adore goats, ducks, hens and other birds, often buying them with their pocket money from the local market. They also watch YouTube videos about pet care. Their biggest dream is to own an animal farm one day, where they can raise birds and livestock to support their family. “They have big plans,” says Nasiruddin. “They see their disabilities not as barriers but as possibilities.” Both he and Paritun supply them with pocket money now and then. While Sabir is more lavish with his share, often spending it on treats for Sana, Samim meticulously saves for their future. “They call me the one who fulfills their dreams,” Nasir says proudly. “I gifted them smart watches on Eid and the joy on their faces was priceless.”
 
Sabir and Samim enjoy festivals immensely and Eid is their favourite time of year. “They help us prepare everything,” says their mother. “From making Pithas, Sewai, and Papads to setting up decorations, they are always eager to contribute.” The boys especially love Narikol Pitha, a special Assamese sweet made of rice flour, coconut, and honey. They also enjoy fishing in the village pond, catching fresh fish daily. Although the family restricts them from attending large gatherings at the mosque for safety reasons, they perform namaz at home with deep devotion. “They may not hear the prayers but they feel the faith,” says Nasir. Another festival they cherish is Shab-e-Barat, when they light candles around their home and the mosque, ensuring everything is beautifully decorated.
 
“They are my pride,” says Paritun. “People think they are different, but to me, they are just as complete as any other child.”