Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam’s love for the mentally challenged children of Central Institute on Mental Retardation (CIMR) here is well documented. He had visited the institution twice as President and towards the end of his tenure had even gifted two well-bred horses to it with the help of the Army.

On Thursday, Kalam was back at CIMR on his third visit, this time as ex-President, to attend a demonstration by inmates of the newly launched Freedom Centre at Kovalam.

The students who had cognitive disabilities sang and danced and even played the sitar almost like normal children. For instance Arun, 17, and Ummer, 21, gave a sterling performance in both Odissi and Kuchupudi. The audience comprising Kalam was surprised to hear that Arun could not speak and Ummer could neither speak nor hear.

Kalam said the freedom centre for which he had laid the foundation in 2000 should strive to free the children from the sufferings induced by their disabilities.

“Dance and music will stimulate the brain and improve their thinking capacity,’’ he said. Kalam also enquired about the two horses he had contributed and how the students were picking up therapeutic riding lessons.
Father Thomas Felix, a pioneer in special education who set up the CIMR, invited the former President to visit the therapy classes and have a first hand feel of its progress.

Fr Felix said the freedom centre would offer residential facility to 20 mentally challenged persons from all over India for undergoing training in various art forms. It has three classrooms, a state-of-the-art auditorium and an art gallery to exhibit the works of the inmates. Short term course were also being offered.

Father Thomas Felix who set up the CIMR said the freedom centre would offer residential facility to 20 mentally challenged persons from all over India for undergoing training in various art forms. The Centre has three classrooms, a state-of-the-art auditorium and an art gallery to exhibit the works of the inmates. Short term course were also being offered.