EENET asia Newsletters : Fifth issue 4th Quarter 2007 / 1st Quarter 2008

Mahesh's Passport to Success ... BRAILLE

Shweta Chooramani

On Saturday, May 3, Mahesh Sharma, 12 years from a small village of western Rajasthan came out with flying colors as his school results declared him the topper in class sixth. Mahesh, an irreversibly blind child has created ripples and has been the talk of town ever since he has scored highest marks in his final exams among his sighted peers. Mahesh sees this as a result of willingness to learn, for others he is a role model in true sense.

Mahesh’s irreversible nature of blindness since birth has left his father anxious about his future, whose first and last wish was to study. Nonetheless Sightsavers supported the unit run by Urmul Marusthali Bunkar Vikas Samiti [UMBVS] came as ray of hope in Mahesh’s directionless life three years ago. Mahesh was included in the Programme where Bheem Singh Shekhawat a specially trained Itinerant teacher taught him to read, write Braille, use Brailler and Taylor Frame. Now, the undeterred hard work, determination and perseverance of Mahesh and his itinerant teacher has given them a reason to celebrate.

He learnt English and Hindi alphabets orally and exercised on Braille script as well. He was taught to carry out mathematical calculations on the Taylor frame as well as abacus. He is so confident that he professes to continue to do better than the other students in his studies in the future too.

For Laxman Sharma, the proud father the sense of satisfaction seeing his son becoming independent is incomparable to any other joy. Mahesh has proved that for thousands of blind and visually impaired children who use those dots to connect themselves to the fascinating world of imagination around them, Braille is their passport to success.

Looking at the smiles on the faces of Mahesh Sharma and his family, there is no way of quantifying the happiness and quality of life that the Community Eye Care programme brings to the most unreachable parts of Rajasthan. Laxman Sharma now describes his son as the most able member of his family.

You can contact Shweta Chooramani via email on ssiindia@sightsavers.org in or post:
A-3, Shiv Dham
Plot No. 62, New Link Road
Malad (W)
Mumbai 400 064
India

EENET asia Newsletters : Fifth issue 4th Quarter 2007 / 1st Quarter 2008