Vikas Khanna - January 16, 2006
At the 10th World Conference of SATH in Miami I was able to put my 3 years of hard work into a major project. I believe that all the world wonders were created equally for generations to enjoy, the most important word in the sentence being 'equally'. For years I was trying to figure out a way to help make all these places accessible for people with disabilities.
Many years ago when I used to work in the kitchens of Hotel Mughal Sheraton, Agra, one of my dearest friends could not climb the steps and touch the Taj Mahal because of his heavy wheelchair. That feeling of helplessness has not left me till today.
As the recipient of the prestigious “Access to Freedom Award – 2005”, I feel that this is the opportunity to make the voice of my heart heard.
Creating awareness for the cause and raising money to make it happen was our next step. So by grace of God and the support of lots of friends we are able to start a new project “New York Chefs Cooking for Life – The Living Pyramids”. A once in a life time gastronomic event in which New York City’s Top Chefs will cook for one evening under the pyramids. All these Chefs will be selected by people voting on my website for their favorite chef. http://www.nyccl.com/LivingPyramids.htm
100% of the money raised through the sale of the tickets, auctions and from sponsors will be donated to SATH. (Society of Accessibility Travel and Hospitality). Which inturn would be used in creating accessibility in Egypt.
A BBC documentary, “Beyond Boundaries” was a series about 11 people who went for a trek across Nicarcagua. What set this documentary apart was the fact that these 11 people were people with disabilities.
Looking for a piece of the action 26/09/2005
http://www.enable.net.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=enablenet.news.full&article=1198The above mentioned article talks about the growing demand for accessible travel, i.e. people with disabilities. Many would love to travel to the wonders and feel the souls of these wonders.
A study conducted by The Open Doors Organization (ODO) and Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) states that more than 21 million adults with disabilities traveled for pleasure and/or business between 2002 and 2005.
Keeping our hearts in place and facts in mind, please help me with more thoughts about this.
Special Thanks to my team and supporters
Mira Berman
Omayma El-Husseini
Arlyn Blake
Mallika Chopra
Angela Lindo
Amy Krakow
Julia Moskin
Hari Nayak
Niriti Nagpal
Manish Khanna
Jani Nayar
Joe Morsellino
Meghan McCormick
Gary Ackerman
Tegy Thomas
Vitaly Kurbatsky
Juana Clipper
Taniya Khanna
Dao Tran
Nicholas Poletto
Anthony Galbo
Meghann Etter
Jenna Constantino
Artist Brahma Rangoju
Susannah Monty
Radhika Khanna
Saman Mahmood
Jason Livanis
Spencer Marcus
Barry Teitelbaum
Ann Curry
Meera Gandhi
Aimee Mullins
Don Cappa
Lorenzo Polegri
Dhyan Coelho
Gary Walia
Scott Linquist
Zeenat Ayesha Khan
Walter D'Rozario
Nadia Raja
Richard Neham
Jehangir Mehta
Hamid Idrissi
Michael DeGeronimo
Gurjinder Pal Singh
Karan Sandhu
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Posted by Vikas Khanna at January 16, 2006 08:33 AM
That is really cool, Vikas! It's as if you are having a big celebration to honor people with disabilities. But not in a way that sets them apart. In a way that includes them where they might otherwise be excluded just because of their need for a wheelchair, etc., to get around.
I love music and the images in the ad. Who wouldn't want to go to Egypt and celebrate like that!
Love, Kristin
Vikas,
I have sent you an email. Check it out.
Susan
Hello Vikas.
Thanks you for sharing your work I love what you
are doing.
I would love to explore further as to how we
can support your work and at the same time give a tour as our technologies are
built for people with Dissabilities.
If you can please email me to
ashie@heartinaction.com
and i will send you all my contact information.
peace
Ashie
Vi,
You have a beautiful heart...extending your skills and talents to others for the betterment of those less able is deep and touching.
That your post comes on a day like this...Martin Luther King Day, the word rings out clearly "EQUALLY" and to see it take on so many countless forms is GREAT! Co~connect with sharing globally.
Wishing you all the best for a successful project and making it a reality for so many around the world.
Blessings be...to thee,
Cinda
Dear Vikas, YOU and your friends, are the 8th wonders of the world! Many smiles upon each of you; for feeling a depth of human frailty to such a compassionate degree; which inspired your hearts to action! Amazing man, you are; with amazing friends!! Vive la difference!
North
all the very best....God bless..
I met you duringthe classes at New York Public Library lecture series and I knew it even then that you are not an ordinary person....too too extraordinary. You are a impossible dreamer.yes that is what you are. Some sit and talk and some close their eyes to see inside....but you see it all differently. I really pray for the mother you gave birth to you. And wish we had more vikas in the world. I am praying for your venture and will speak to as many people I can to support you.
if you guys have not see his website, please visit http://www.vkhanna.com
Peace
J
Vikas: Ditto to the above responses you've already received.
What a unique resume' you have regarding such enterprisinly creative ways to become a living Saint! Dave
David - We are all very fortunate to live in the same times in which Vikas is living. God bless his soul and passion
David,
Thank you for your email, just sent you one.
Vikas is amazing wow.. I love his work and
really believe in what he is doing. Our organization is very much involved in making a
difference in the lives of people in the developing countries and youth.
Alliance for a New Humanity is about organizations like Vikas
peace and love
Ashie
Vikas,
I spoke with someone today who has been to Egypt and I told him about your project and he thought it was great. I think it would be quite awesome if he ended up joining you there!
Love, Kristin
Thank you so much for all your support. I have already got the space donated and working for tickets and ofcourse sponsors. We will wish to see this vision coming to life.
Sincerely
Vikas Khanna
Hi Vikas
Great work! I am an architect from Mumbai. I met Jani Nair from SATH at a conference on Universal Design held in Rio de Janeiro , 2004.
I have started a small design consultancy group consisting of a forum of designers, engineers and people with disability. Its called DRDG ( Disability Research and Design Group). I will be setting up the website soon for people to see.
Let me know if we could collaborate on some projects where you could need some architectural consultancy in the field of Universal Design and Accessibility.
Warm Regards
Abhishek Ray
DRDG
Mumbai
You can't be 34355 serious?!?
You can't be 28836 serious?!?
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Hi Vikas
Great work! I am an architect
Thank you so much for all your support. I have
Vikas,
I spoke with someone today who has
What a beautiful thing you are doing! With so many causes out there, it often seems like some of the "smaller" things (as in not curing a fatal disease or wiping out world hunger) get overlooked. It really touches my heart that there are people who have the power to make a difference also realize the importance of bringing simpler joys that most of us often take for granted to thoes who would otherwise miss out on.
Blessings to you :)