Why do people from India avoid disabiled people?

Question

I was wondering why people from India avoid handicap people. I am a disabled lady and I noticed that they will not make eye contact or look at me. I was just curious if they had some type of believe or something like that about a person with a disability, that way I would understand.

Thanks,

Pat

Answer 1

with such a large population, u will meet ppl with different attitudes. Maybe unfortunately, u met the wrong kinda ppl. I have tried to help disabled ppl whenever i can esp the blind. Maybe ppl dont wanna hurt u by looking at u directly thinking u might feel they are staring at ur disability. Dunno the reason for sure, but ppl in India... well, they are ppl and each individual will behave in his/her own way.  

Answer 2

unacceptable argument.  we are always kind enough with them.  you are coming here after believing some false news.  you say  people will not make eye contact or to look the disabled.  in this issue also you are mistaken.  if we see them, they will think something and not to make room and also not to make them feel  and some one might have behaved like this and not by all. This is universal problem and only to india.  

Answer 3

I don't think it's just Indians.  Many people do that.  Sometimes they feel sorry for disabled people and don't want to think about it because it makes them sad, so they don't look.  Other times they just don't know how to react.

Answer 4

Don't believe the first answer. It has nothing to do with Karma or anything. It is a social issue.

They probably look away to avoid offending you. They might think that looking at you will mean that they are giving unnecessary attention to you (and your disability) and hence prefer to look away.

They just try to act normal with you but unfortunately everyone acting 'normal' becomes abnormal.

If I were you , I would not mind and would not think deeper. India is not a very disablity friendly country like west but sure, it is NOT a social taboo as well.

Answer 5

I think it's sort of unfair for the person with the first answer here to say that it's all because of karma. I honestly believe the reason is a lot simpler than that. A lot of people, regardless of their race, are uncomfortable around disabled people because they don't know how to react to them. I feel that in countries that are more "disabled-friendly" (ie, have more wheelchair ramps, and chair lifts and other kinds of ammenities) people have been exposed enough to the disabled to know that they're people like any other and deserve to be treated as such. Unfortunately, India is not one of those countries yet and the attitude of some Indians is reflective of that.

Basically I think it's more of an issue of exposure than karma or any such things. I know my parents (both Indian) used to be uncomfortable around disabled people until they lived in a country where they met such people on a daily basis, and now it's completely a non-issue.

Answer 6

it has to do with reincarnation and karma, They believe that anyone born into a lower caste, or with physical defects is being punished for evils of a past life.... They are the 'untouchables' and contact with them may effect your own karma in a bad way.