Within the walls of the Institute For Blind in Sector 26, more than 170 children shine their light through a world of darkness. To commemorate October as World Blindness Awareness Month, The Indian Express delves into their world where their resilience shines brilliantly despite the absence of sight.

Elante Mall is merely “a big shop” to them; a mobile phone is a box from which various sounds emanate when they navigate it in a specific direction; a computer, which they may have never seen, is a colossal machine producing sounds; and a page, which might seem blank to us, is filled with dots that they decipher in their quest to understand others.

While many of us grumble if a reel on Instagram glitches or if a power outage disrupts our evening, there are resilient young warriors who have been navigating the darkness for years, all with a radiant smile on their faces and ambitious dreams in their hearts.

These children may lack sight, but they possess an unwavering vision. Here, let’s meet some of them:

For most of us, Elante Mall is a place to dine, shop, or party, but for Romit, it’s simply “a very big shop.” In a world where we often take the little things for granted, for visually impaired individuals like Romit, every detail represents a monumental effort—a journey to perceive and understand the world in darkness.

During a vacation, Romit’s brother took his hand and introduced him to Elante Mall for the first time. While the mall was bathed in light for others, it remained entirely dark for Romit. Romit has been attending school since class I and, for his convenience, resides in the hostel while his family lives in Nayagaon. Only during vacations does he return home.

In a conversation with The Indian Express, Romit described his Elante Mall experience, saying, “Elante is a very big shop, right? Many people are there.” Throughout his visit, Romit relied on his brother’s guidance, experiencing the mall through his sibling’s eyes. His brother described the shops, directed him in the mall, and even led him to the gaming zone, where Romit listened intently to the thrilling sounds.

Known as the “hasmukh” (cheerful) student of the school, Romit spreads smiles wherever he goes. When asked about his aspirations, he responds with unwavering optimism, “I’m living life to the fullest right now…we’ll see about the future later,” leaving a profound message about embracing the present.

Romit’s journey began when, six months after his birth, his parents discovered his visual impairment, a moment that shook their world.

A future scientist who wants to give sight

Vansh’s life took a challenging turn when he survived retinoblastoma, a deadly eye cancer, only to lose his eyesight due to its relentless spread. Undeterred, he aspires to become a scientist, driven by the hope of finding a cure for blindness and the very cancer that altered his life.

At the tender age of one, Vansh’s parents received the heartbreaking news of his cancer diagnosis. A decade later, the same cruel disease struck their three-year-old son, reopening old wounds and intensifying their struggle.

While his parents grapple with their younger son’s treatment, Vansh quietly occupies a corner in his classroom at the Blind school, wearing a resilient smile. He nurtures grand ambitions to make a profound impact by becoming a scientist dedicated to restoring sight to blind children.

“I want to invent a cure that allows everyone in the world to see. I don’t complain; I just want to do something for children like me, so that my parents can lead a stress-free life,” says Vansh, who nurses a deep love for mathematics and science.

While we binge-watch seasons on OTT platforms, Vansh’s “new season” begins immediately after the final episode. His parents spend most of their time in the hospital due to his brother’s treatment, leaving their six-year-old sister to assist Vansh with daily tasks, including eating and other activities.

An acid victim, she aspires to be a bureaucrat

At the tender age of 3, Kafi’s life took a tragic turn as she fell victim to acid attackers, forever losing her eyesight. While Kafi fought for her life in hospitals across the country, the perpetrators were released from jail after just two years.

Today, Kafi harbours a powerful aspiration: to become an IAS officer. Currently, she is pursuing arts in her Class XI at the Blind school, having already achieved the top rank in her Class X board exams, a result announced just a few months ago. Her determination sends a resounding message to everyone around her that no disability can quell her indomitable spirit.

To identify callers, Kafi relies on a feature that speaks out the caller’s number or name on her phone. While we carry out our daily tasks, Kafi navigates her world by meticulously counting her steps to reach the washroom or her room. In unfamiliar places, the guidance of her family and teachers becomes her compass.

“The accused were released after two years, but doctors have told me that they cannot restore my eyesight as my optic nerve is irreparably damaged. Many people tried to help, but the verdict from doctors remains the same—I won’t be able to see again. I want to convey to people that if they claim life is tough, I invite them to step into our shoes for a moment; they might rethink their complaints about life’s trivialities,” Kafi bravely asserts.

Kafi resides in Manimajra, where her parents relocated from Hisar to Chandigarh to provide her with the opportunity to study at the Blind school. Their journey is not just one of raising two children, Kafi and her younger brother, but also a relentless pursuit of justice—an appeal in the High Court to reopen the case, ensuring that the perpetrators face the appropriate consequences for a crime that forever disabled and blinded their child.

The little cricket fan

Palak’s journey began when she was just a few days old, left outside an orphanage home in Mohali. From that moment, the dedicated staff at the orphanage became her family, and as she grew, they made the decision to enroll her in a specialised Blind school when she turned six.

Unlike most children her age who eagerly anticipate vacations, Palak doesn’t share in that excitement. When the school closes for breaks, her only destination is the familiar surroundings of her orphanage. During these times, the school authorities coordinate with the Prabhasra management to ensure her care.

As Palak fumbles to find her water bottle for a sip, her true source of excitement lies in the upcoming festive month. While she may not see the festivities and lights, she feels their joy through the cheerful atmosphere created by people around her.

For Palak, it’s not just Diwali and other festivals that hold her interest; it’s also her birthday. This special day brings the joy of tasting a slice of cake, and the orphanage goes all out to celebrate this little one’s birth.

“When it comes to Diwali, all I can feel is the happiness we experience when we dance at our orphanage. We may not see the lights, but we feel the festive cheer and merriment. Festivals are a time for us to dance to our heart’s content,” Palak enthusiastically shares.

Despite her blindness, Palak is an ardent cricket enthusiast. She has never seen the game, but her teachers have patiently explained its rules and strategies. Listening to cricket commentary on television sometimes makes her imagine the thrill of the sport, and she wishes for the opportunity to learn how to play cricket despite her visual impairment.

These brothers light up their lives with music

Kuldeep, now in class XII, has found a source of light in his world of darkness through his beautiful classical singing. His parents made the move from Orrisa to Chandigarh to provide a better life for their two sightless children.

For Kuldeep and his younger brother, Sandeep, who is also visually impaired and currently in class VIII, their father made a profound sacrifice by taking voluntary retirement from his job to dedicate the rest of his life to their care, as informed by a teacher at the school.

Living in Zirakpur, the family’s commitment to Kuldeep’s education in the Chandigarh Blind school led his father to make this life-altering decision. Kuldeep’s dreams extend far beyond his disability; he aspires to participate in Indian Idol and other singing reality shows, despite the challenges posed by exams.

“Due to exams, I couldn’t pursue the reality show dream, but one day I will definitely try to make it. I want to show my parents that I can make them proud too. My brother is also exceptionally talented in classical singing. Life is a beautiful blessing, and we should never take it for granted,” Kuldeep shares, expressing his aspiration to venture into software development as well

A visionary principal

Dr. JS Jayara, the dedicated Principal responsible for over 170 children, carries a remarkable story of resilience. He himself has been blind since infancy due to a medical injection at the age of three months, a fact that few people are aware of.

Reflecting on his early years, Dr. Jayara credits his father for unwavering support. His father not only faced the loss of his wife after Dr. Jayara’s birth but also raised him, undeterred by his disability. Dr. Jayara received his education in Uttarakhand, and from there, his journey has been one of constant progress.

I have served as the Principal of this school for 26 years, and I will continue to guide my students because I can show them how to perceive the world with a unique vision—one that sets us apart from others,” Dr. Jayara passionately asserts.

The Blind school, established in 1972 in Chandigarh, has been a beacon of hope and education for visually impaired students.

Dr. Jayara also emphasises the transformative impact of technology on the lives of blind children. Advancements such as WhatsApp and other communication apps enable them to send voice messages effortlessly, making written communication just one of many options. These students adapt to technology rapidly, gaining access to knowledge, entertainment, and education, broadening their horizons and capabilities.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/institute-for-blind-...