Alaka Hudlikar, a name that changed thousands of lives over 60 years! She was a name that meant “God” to the deaf children and their parents and a threat to those who were in the business of speech therapy and hearing aid business. I first saw her when she was 70! Short brown hair, flawless complexion, face that radiated… perhaps from her inner beauty and the self confidence! I was awestruck and also nervous. I wasn’t too sure about a 70 year old being capable of teaching us in today’s times! But time proved me wrong and I am so happy!
A little about her that I remember she telling us about her growing up years! She lost her mother at a very young age. Her father was very progressive and he encouraged her to learn horse riding besides many other things back then! She was raised by her aunts and had a very modern upbringing that defied the times for girls back then!
How did she get into speech therapy? There is an amazing story behind it. I loved the way she told us about it. Uncle was in Mumbai as he worked for Air India! She said she had two boys who started schooling! She wasn’t the type to just keep looking pretty or bake cookies for her husband and kids. Opposite their home, there was an institute called EAR! It was started by a lady from the UK to train deaf children in auditory verbal therapy. She was good at art and making charts and so she went to offer help in making some posters etc at the deaf school! She was offered to study speech therapy and audiology! She took it up and history was made!! She graduated with the highest marks in phonics which till the institute lasted, no one could beat her record! She was a topper, am I surprised? No! She was a winner born in an ordinary world! She was laser sharp in her thoughts and actions! She then worked in Mumbai (Nair Hospital)for a while before moving to Pune! Here she started her own speech therapy classes from home. One thing to mention was, she NEVER advertised and people came from far and near just through word of mouth! She was a messiah to the deaf babies and soon became a threat to practicing audiologist whose mission was to make money and wronged people! I was one of them too, so I know! They disliked her as she worked for the betterment of the deaf babies for a small fee! I joined her at 300 Rs a month for 8 classes which was just nothing for the knowledge we received. Her passion and drive became a name across Maharastra and soon people came to her from far and near! Have you seen or heard of people like her? She was a legacy in the making when she studied that! We parents were the lucky ones to get the best of her! Isn’t that amazing?
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