Who is Disabled? by Tony Wong - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

Who is Disabled? 

By Tony Wong

If you fail to see the person

But only see the disability,

Then who is blind?

If you cannot hear

Your brother's

Cry for justice,

Who is deaf?

If you do not communicate

With your sister

But separate her from you,

Who is the mentally handicapped?

If you do not stand up

For the rights of all persons,

Who is the crippled?

Your attitude

Towards persons with disabilities

May be our biggest handicap.

Vocabulary List

All (The whole of) [সব], Attitude (A settled way of thinking or feeling) [মনোভাব/দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি], Be (Exist or occur) [হওয়া], Biggest (Largest in size, amount, or importance) [সবচেয়ে বড়], Blind (Unable to see) [অন্ধ], Brother's (Belonging to a male sibling or fellow human) [ভাইয়ের/সহমানবের], But (Except; yet) [কিন্তু], Cannot (Unable to) [পারে না], Communicate (Share or exchange information) [যোগাযোগ করা], Crippled (Unable to walk or move properly) [পঙ্গু], Cry (A loud utterance expressing strong emotion or pain) [আর্তনাদ/কান্না], Deaf (Unable to hear) [বধির], Disabilities (Conditions that limit movements, senses, or activities) [প্রতিবন্ধকতাসমূহ], Disability (A physical or mental condition that limits movements) [প্রতিবন্ধকতা/অক্ষমতা], Do (Perform an action) [করা], Fail (Be unsuccessful in achieving a goal) [ব্যর্থ হওয়া], For (In favor of) [জন্য], From (Indicating separation or source) [থেকে], Handicap (A circumstance that makes progress difficult) [প্রতিবন্ধকতা], Handicapped (Having a condition that restricts ability) [প্রতিবন্ধী], Hear (Perceive with the ear) [শোনা], Her (Objective case of she) [তাকে], If (Introducing a conditional clause) [যদি], Is (Third person singular present of be) [হয়], Justice (Just behavior or treatment) [ন্যায়বিচার], May (Expressing possibility) [পারে/হতে পারে], Mentally (In a manner relating to the mind) [মানসিকভাবে], Not (Used to express negation) [না], Only (And no one or nothing more besides) [শুধুমাত্র/কেবল], Our (Belonging to us) [আমাদের], Person (A human being) [ব্যক্তি/মানুষ], Persons (Plural of person) [ব্যক্তিগণ], Rights (Moral or legal entitlements) [অধিকারসমূহ], See (Perceive with the eyes) [দেখা], Separate (Cause to move or be apart) [আলাদা করা/বিচ্ছিন্ন করা], Sister (A female sibling or fellow human) [বোন/সহমানবী], Stand (Have or maintain an upright position) [দাঁড়ানো], Then (At that time; therefore) [তাহলে/তবে], The (Definite article) [টি/টা], Towards (In the direction of) [দিকে/প্রতি], Up (Towards a higher place) [উপরে], Who (What or which person) [কে], With (Accompanied by) [সাথে], You (Second person pronoun) [তুমি/আপনি], Your (Belonging to you) [তোমার/আপনার].

Verse Paraphrase and Translation

English Verse	Paraphrase	Bangla Meaning
If you fail to see the person / But only see the disability,	If you are unable to recognize the humanity in someone and only focus on their physical or mental limitations,	যদি তুমি একজন মানুষের মনুষ্যত্ব দেখতে ব্যর্থ হও এবং শুধুমাত্র তার শারীরিক বা মানসিক অক্ষমতাটি দেখো,
Then who is blind?	Then aren't you the one who is truly lacking vision and insight?	তাহলে প্রকৃত অন্ধ কে?
If you cannot hear / Your brother's / Cry for justice,	If you ignore the pleas and sufferings of your fellow human beings asking for fairness and equal rights,	যদি তুমি তোমার সহমানবের ন্যায়বিচারের জন্য করা আর্তনাদ শুনতে না পাও,
Who is deaf?	Aren't you the one who is truly unable to hear?	তাহলে প্রকৃত বধির কে?
If you do not communicate / With your sister / But separate her from you,	If you refuse to interact with your fellow human and instead isolate them from mainstream society,	যদি তুমি তোমার সহমানবের সাথে যোগাযোগ না করো বরং তাকে তোমার থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন করে রাখো,
Who is the mentally handicapped?	Aren't you the one whose mind and sense of empathy are truly impaired?	তাহলে মানসিকভাবে প্রতিবন্ধী কে?
If you do not stand up / For the rights of all persons,	If you fail to defend the fundamental human rights and dignity of every individual in society,	যদি তুমি সকল মানুষের অধিকারের পক্ষে না দাঁড়াও,
Who is the crippled?	Aren't you the one who is morally paralyzed and unable to take righteous action?	তাহলে প্রকৃত পঙ্গু কে?
Your attitude / Towards persons with disabilities / May be our biggest handicap.	The negative, prejudiced mindset of society toward disabled people is actually the greatest obstacle to human progress.	প্রতিবন্ধী ব্যক্তিদের প্রতি তোমার (বা সমাজের) নেতিবাচক দৃষ্টিভঙ্গিই হয়তো আমাদের সবচেয়ে বড় প্রতিবন্ধকতা।

Summary

Tony Wong's poem "Who is Disabled?" challenges society's conventional definition of disability. It argues that true disability is not a physical or mental impairment, but rather a severe lack of empathy, morality, and social awareness. The poet uses a series of powerful rhetorical questions to expose the hypocrisy of prejudiced people. He asserts that a person who only sees another's physical limitations and ignores their intrinsic humanity is the one who is truly "blind." Similarly, someone who ignores the cry for justice is "deaf," one who isolates and marginalizes others is "mentally handicapped," and one who fails to defend universal human rights is morally "crippled." Ultimately, the poem delivers a profound message: the biggest handicap in our world is not the medical condition of disabled individuals, but the negative, discriminatory, and apathetic attitude of so-called "normal" people towards them. The poet urges us to practice true inclusivity and recognize the inherent dignity of all humans.

[টনি ওং-এর "হু ইজ ডিজেবলড?" কবিতাটি প্রতিবন্ধকতার প্রচলিত সামাজিক সংজ্ঞাকে চ্যালেঞ্জ করে। এটি যুক্তি দেয় যে প্রকৃত প্রতিবন্ধকতা কোনো শারীরিক বা মানসিক ত্রুটি নয়, বরং সহানুভূতি, নৈতিকতা এবং সামাজিক সচেতনতার অভাব। কবি কিছু শক্তিশালী আলংকারিক প্রশ্নের মাধ্যমে কুসংস্কারাচ্ছন্ন মানুষের ভণ্ডামি তুলে ধরেন। তিনি বলেন, যে ব্যক্তি অন্যের শুধু শারীরিক সীমাবদ্ধতা দেখে এবং তার মনুষ্যত্বকে উপেক্ষা করে, সে-ই প্রকৃত "অন্ধ"। একইভাবে, যে ব্যক্তি ন্যায়বিচারের আর্তনাদ শোনে না সে "বধির", যে অন্যদের বিচ্ছিন্ন করে সে "মানসিকভাবে প্রতিবন্ধী", এবং যে মানবাধিকার রক্ষায় ব্যর্থ হয় সে সামাজিকভাবে "পঙ্গু"। পরিশেষে, কবিতাটি একটি গভীর বার্তা দেয়: আমাদের সমাজের সবচেয়ে বড় প্রতিবন্ধকতা প্রতিবন্ধী ব্যক্তিদের চিকিৎসা সংক্রান্ত অবস্থা নয়, বরং তথাকথিত "স্বাভাবিক" মানুষের নেতিবাচক, বৈষম্যমূলক এবং উদাসীন দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি। কবি আমাদের প্রকৃত অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক আচরণ করতে এবং প্রতিটি মানুষের জন্মগত মর্যাদাকে স্বীকৃতি দিতে আহ্বান জানিয়েছেন।]

Theme

The central theme of the poem is the redefinition of disability and a strong critique of social prejudice and moral apathy. It emphasizes that physical or mental limitations do not make a person disabled; instead, it is discrimination, lack of empathy, and the failure to uphold human rights that constitute true handicap. The poem passionately advocates for humanity, inclusivity, and compassion, highlighting that society's negative mindset is the greatest barrier to equality.

[কবিতাটির মূলভাব হলো প্রতিবন্ধকতার পুনর্সংজ্ঞা এবং সামাজিক কুসংস্কার ও নৈতিক উদাসীনতার তীব্র সমালোচনা। এটি জোর দেয় যে শারীরিক বা মানসিক সীমাবদ্ধতা কাউকে প্রতিবন্ধী করে না; বরং বৈষম্য, সহানুভূতির অভাব এবং মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠায় ব্যর্থতাই হলো প্রকৃত প্রতিবন্ধকতা। কবিতাটি আবেগপূর্ণভাবে মানবতা, অন্তর্ভুক্তি এবং সমবেদনার পক্ষে কথা বলে, এবং তুলে ধরে যে সমাজের নেতিবাচক মানসিকতাই সমতার পথে সবচেয়ে বড় বাধা।]

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Tony Wong redefine the traditional concept of "blindness" in this poem? 

Answer: The poet suggests that physical blindness isn’t nearly as severe as "spiritual" or "social" blindness. He argues that if you look at a person and only see their physical or mental limitations instead of seeing the actual human being inside, then it is you who lacks true vision. To Wong, being unable to recognize someone’s humanity and worth is the most profound form of being unable to see.

2. What does the poem suggest about the "deafness" of society? 

Answer: Wong uses deafness as a metaphor for a lack of social conscience. He points out that if a person can hear physical sounds but chooses to ignore a "brother's cry for justice," they are effectively deaf to the needs of the world. This implies that true hearing isn't just about processing noise; it’s about listening with empathy and responding to the suffering and pleas for fairness from those around us.

3. Why does the poet link the act of "separating" or isolating someone to being "mentally handicapped"? 

Answer: The poet makes the bold claim that isolating a "sister" or a fellow human being rather than communicating with them is a sign of a mental or emotional impairment. In this context, being "mentally handicapped" refers to a mind that is so closed off or prejudiced that it cannot interact with others on equal footing. He suggests that a healthy mind is one that embraces connection rather than division.

4. What is the symbolic meaning of being "crippled" according to Tony Wong? 

Answer: In the poem, being "crippled" is not about a lack of physical mobility, but a lack of moral action. Wong argues that if you have the physical ability to stand but refuse to "stand up" for the rights of all people, your soul and your morality are effectively paralyzed. He views the failure to take a righteous stand for human dignity as a much greater "crippling" than any physical condition.

5. How does the poet justify the claim that our "attitude" is the biggest handicap? 

Answer: The final lines of the poem deliver its most powerful message: that the medical condition of a person is not the primary obstacle to their progress, but rather the biased mindset of society. A negative or discriminatory attitude creates more barriers—like isolation, lack of justice, and exclusion—than the disability itself ever could. Therefore, the poet views our collective apathy as the greatest "handicap" we face as a civilization.

6. What is the significance of using "Brother" and "Sister" when referring to people with disabilities? 

Answer: By using familial terms like "brother" and "sister," Wong emphasizes the universal "inextricable connectedness" of all human beings. He is reminding the reader that those with disabilities are not "other" or separate; they are family. This language choice is designed to strip away labels and force the reader to see the shared humanity and rights that bind us all together.

7. How does the poem function as a critique of so-called "normal" people? 

Answer: The poem is essentially a mirror held up to society. Through a series of rhetorical questions, Wong exposes the hypocrisy of people who consider themselves "able-bodied" while suffering from severe moral and emotional defects like prejudice, indifference, and a lack of empathy. He suggests that these "normal" people are often more impaired than those they pity or marginalize.

8. What role does "Justice" play in Wong’s definition of a functioning society? 

Answer: Justice is presented as the "cry" that we must be able to hear if we want to call ourselves "whole". The poem argues that a truly inclusive society is one where the rights of every individual are defended. To ignore the call for justice is to fail as a human being, as it represents a total breakdown in our moral "hearing" and our ability to "stand up" for what is right.

9. In what way does this poem advocate for Environmental and Social Justice? 

Answer: Much like the concept of "Environmental Justice," this poem links the way we treat marginalized individuals to our broader commitment to human rights and equity. It bridges the gap between seeing a person's limitations and recognizing their inherent "dignity and rights". It pushes for a future where "benefits and burdens" are shared fairly across all of humanity.

10. What is the ultimate "call to action" that Tony Wong leaves with his readers? 

Answer: The poem is an urgent plea for a change in perspective. It asks us to look past physical and mental impairments and focus on "true inclusivity". The poet wants us to realize that the world’s biggest problems aren't medical; they are ethical and social. He calls on us to fix our own "blindness" and "deafness" so that we can collectively build a society where the rights and dignity of every person are respected.

Multiple-choice questions based on the poem:

1. According to the poet, you are "blind" if you only see —

• A) The sky and the rainbow.

• B) A person's disability instead of the person.

• C) Your own reflection in a mirror.

• D) The path while you are walking.

2. Who is "deaf" in this poem?

• A) A person who cannot hear music.

• B) A person who cannot hear a car horn.

• C) A person who does not hear a cry for justice.

• D) A person who likes quiet places.

3. If you separate your "sister" from you and do not talk to her, the poet calls you —

• A) A lonely person.

• B) A blind person.

• C) A mentally handicapped person.

• D) A rude brother.

4. The poet says you are "crippled" if you do not —

• A) Walk fast every day.

• B) Play sports with your friends.

• C) Stand up for the rights of all people.

• D) Exercise your legs.

5. What does the poet say is our "biggest handicap"?

• A) Not being able to walk.

• B) Not being able to see.

• C) Our attitude toward people with disabilities.

• D) Having a physical illness.

6. Who wrote the poem "Who is Disabled?"

• A) William Wordsworth.

• B) Tony Wong.

• C) Robert Frost.

• D) Jibanananda Das.

7. In the poem, "Your brother’s cry" is a cry for —

• A) Food and water.

• B) Justice.

• C) Help to cross the road.

• D) Money.

8. When the poet says "stand up," he means —

• A) Rising from a chair.

• B) Supporting and defending someone.

• C) Being tall.

• D) Stopping from sitting down.

9. The poet uses "brother" and "sister" to show that all humans are —

• A) Living in the same house.

• B) Connected to each other.

• C) Looking exactly the same.

• D) Born on the same day.

10. The main message of the poem is that we should —

• A) Be kind and respect everyone's dignity.

• B) Only help people who can see.

• C) Study how the human eye works.

• D) Move away from people who are different.

Detailed Summary of "Who is Disabled?"

"Who is Disabled?" by Tony Wong is a provocative and humanitarian poem that challenges the conventional ways society defines disability. Through a series of sharp rhetorical questions, the poet argues that true "handicap" is not a physical or mental impairment, but rather a lack of empathy, social conscience, and moral courage.

1. Redefining Blindness The poem opens by challenging our sense of sight. Wong suggests that if we look at a person and only see their physical disability while failing to recognize the individual human being behind it, then it is we who are truly "blind". Real vision, according to the poet, is the ability to see the inherent dignity and humanity in everyone.

2. The Deafness of Indifference Wong equates physical deafness with a refusal to acknowledge social injustice. He asks that if we are unable or unwilling to "hear" a fellow human’s cry for justice and fairness, then who is actually deaf?. To the poet, ignoring the pleas and sufferings of others is a much more severe form of deafness than a lack of physical hearing.

3. Handicap of the Mind In a striking reversal of labels, the act of isolating others is called a "mental handicap." Wong argues that when we refuse to communicate with a "sister" and instead choose to separate or marginalize her from mainstream society, our own sense of empathy and social awareness is what is truly impaired. A healthy mind is one that seeks connection and inclusion rather than division.

4. Moral Paralysis The poem redefines being "crippled" as a failure to take righteous action. If a person has the physical strength to stand but refuses to "stand up" for the fundamental human rights of all people, they are effectively morally paralyzed. For Wong, the inability to defend human dignity is a far more debilitating "crippling" than any medical condition.

5. The Ultimate Handicap The poem concludes with its most powerful assertion: our collective "attitude" is the world’s biggest obstacle. The poet suggests that negative mindsets, prejudice, and apathetic views toward people with disabilities are the real "handicaps" that prevent human progress and equality. True inclusivity requires us to fix our own social and moral shortcomings.

কবিতার বিস্তারিত সারসংক্ষেপ

টনি ওং-এর "Who is Disabled?" কবিতাটি প্রতিবন্ধকতা বা অক্ষমতার প্রচলিত সামাজিক সংজ্ঞাকে এক বড় চ্যালেঞ্জ ছুঁড়ে দেয়। কবি এখানে দেখাতে চেয়েছেন যে, প্রকৃত ‘অক্ষমতা’ কোনো শারীরিক বা মানসিক ত্রুটি নয়, বরং সহমর্মিতা, নৈতিকতা এবং সামাজিক সচেতনতার অভাবই হলো আসল প্রতিবন্ধকতা।

১. অন্ধত্বের পুনর্সংজ্ঞা: কবি আমাদের প্রচলিত দৃষ্টিশক্তির ধারণাকে প্রশ্নবিদ্ধ করেছেন। তাঁর মতে, আমরা যদি কোনো মানুষের শারীরিক সীমাবদ্ধতাটিকেই বড় করে দেখি কিন্তু তার ভেতরের ‘মানুষ’টিকে দেখতে ব্যর্থ হই, তবে প্রকৃত অন্ধ আমরাই। কবির দৃষ্টিতে প্রকৃত ‘দৃষ্টি’ হলো প্রতিটি মানুষের জন্মগত মর্যাদা ও মনুষ্যত্বকে চিনতে পারা।

২. বধিরতার নতুন অর্থ: কবি বধিরতাকে সামাজিক উদাসীনতার সাথে তুলনা করেছেন। তিনি প্রশ্ন তুলেছেন, আমরা যদি আমাদের সহমানবের বা ভাইয়ের ন্যায়বিচারের আর্তনাদ (cry for justice) শুনতে না পাই বা তা উপেক্ষা করি, তবে প্রকৃত বধির কে?। অন্যের যন্ত্রণায় বা ন্যায্য দাবিতে সাড়া দিতে না পারাই হলো সবচেয়ে বড় শ্রবণ অক্ষমতা।

৩. মানসিক প্রতিবন্ধকতা ও বিচ্ছিন্নতা: কবিতাটিতে অন্যকে সমাজ থেকে আলাদা করে রাখা বা যোগাযোগ না করাকে ‘মানসিক প্রতিবন্ধকতা’ হিসেবে অভিহিত করা হয়েছে। কবি বলতে চেয়েছেন, আমরা যখন আমাদের সহমানবীকে (sister) আমাদের থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন করি, তখন আসলে আমাদেরই বিবেক এবং সহমর্মিতা বিকল হয়ে পড়ে। একটি সুস্থ মন সবসময় বিভেদের বদলে সংযোগ এবং অন্তর্ভুক্তি কামনা করে।

৪. নৈতিক পঙ্গুত্ব: কবির দৃষ্টিতে পঙ্গুত্ব কেবল শারীরিক চলাফেরার অক্ষমতা নয়, বরং অন্যায়ের বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদ করতে না পারা। যারা সকল মানুষের মানবাধিকার রক্ষার পক্ষে রুখে দাঁড়ায় না, তারাই আসলে নৈতিকভাবে পঙ্গু এবং সঠিক কাজ করার ক্ষমতা হারিয়েছে। মানুষের মর্যাদা রক্ষায় নিষ্ক্রিয় থাকাই হলো প্রকৃত পঙ্গুত্ব।

৫. সবচেয়ে বড় বাধা বা প্রতিবন্ধকতা: কবিতার শেষ বার্তাটি অত্যন্ত শক্তিশালী। কবি বলেছেন যে, প্রতিবন্ধী ব্যক্তিদের প্রতি আমাদের যে নেতিবাচক দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি বা কুসংস্কার, সেটিই হলো আমাদের সমাজের সবচেয়ে বড় প্রতিবন্ধকতা। তথাকথিত ‘স্বাভাবিক’ মানুষের বৈষম্যমূলক এবং উদাসীন মনোভাবই আসলে সমতা ও অগ্রগতির পথে প্রধান অন্তরায়।

এই কবিতাটি আমাদের প্রতিটি মানুষের জন্মগত মর্যাদাকে স্বীকৃতি দিতে এবং একটি প্রকৃত অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজ গঠন করতে উদ্বুদ্ধ করে।