Dhadkai (also Dhadkahi) is a village in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, known as the "silent village of India" due to the high prevalence of hearing and speech impairments in the community.[1]
Dhadkai
Dhadkahi | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Country | India |
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Doda |
| Tehsil | Gandoh (Bhalessa) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 1,774 |
| Demonym | Gujjar Muslims |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Location
editDhadkai is located in the Gandoh (Bhalessa) Tehsil, approximately 70 kilometers from Doda and 220 kilometers from Jammu.[2]
Population
editThe village has a population of around 1,774 people, comprising 970 males and 804 females.[3]
Hearing impairments
editA significant portion of the population is affected by a congenital disorder that causes severe hearing and speech disabilities. The first reported case of hearing and speech impairment in the village dates back to 1901.[2][4]
Local sign language
editThe villagers use a local sign language to communicate with each other. This language is based on gestures commonly used by the hearing population, facilitating communication between hearing and non-hearing villagers.[3]
Genetic basis
editResearch has identified mutations in the OTOF, CLDN14, and SLC26A4 genes as major causes of hearing loss in Dhadkai.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "India's "silent" village of deaf-mutes". Reuters. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b "'Silent Village Of India' Finally Gets Special School". Kashmir Observer. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b Kathuria, Dr. Sunita Joshi; Sharma, Saroj (14 November 2022). "The Noisy Silence of Deaf villagers of Dhadkai, Jammu, India: A Case Study". Qeios. Qeios Ltd. doi:10.32388/sd6bee.
- ^ a b Pandey, Nishtha; Rashid, Tabassum; Jalvi, Rajeev; Sharma, Meenakshi; Rangasayee, Raghunath; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal; Anand, Anuranjan (2017). "Mutations in OTOF, CLDN14 & SLC26A4 genes as major causes of hearing impairment in Dhadkai village, Jammu & Kashmir, India". The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 146 (4): 489–497. doi:10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_635_15 (inactive 2024-11-01). PMC 5819031. PMID 29434063.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)