Enlightened souls

G, Sriraksha shares her experiences of being at the Louis Braille day celebrations in Hampinagar on 20th January 2008

On 20th January 2008, a sunday quite unlike any other, the public library in Hampinagar was bustling with unprecedented activity. Hundreds of visually impaired enthusiastic young people directed their minds and hearts to participate in the various competitions that were to be held there. While melodious voices set the tunes during the singing competition, the aspirants for Braille reading and writing competitions paid ‘literal’ tribute to Louis Braille.

For 20th January is the ‘Louis Braille Day’!

Tens of young visually impaired children started engraving words dictated by a coordinator into dotted Braille script in one such competition. The atmosphere was vibrant with the spirit of the young people who had come from various schools for visually impaired from across Bangalore as well as from rural areas of Karnataka.

This event was the organized by Sahana charitable trust, an organization committed to aiding the visually impaired and empowering them with education.


Sahana charitable trust, an organization started by 5 people, some visually challenged themselves, aims to create study materials like textbooks and literature in Braille. Printed textbooks and other precious literature dyed by ink worthless to those whose eyes cannot comprehend; these are translated into dots of Braille by and for those undaunted spirits who just believe that the visually impaired have every right to be literate and educated as the visually endowed are!

1 print page gets translated to 4 Braille pages - So, hundreds of pages encompassing books from 1st standard school syllabus to Pre University are converted to thousands of Braille pages. The entire activity is driven by 6 braillies (visually challenged themselves) and comprise 3 employees, 1 manager and 1 coordinator. The staff is aided by 8-10 volunteers who contribute time to read out from printed script so that the content can be translated into Braille. Each month 10 such books are churned out, each book comprising about 200 Braille pages. These books are then distributed free of cost.

Dignitary Vijayanagar MLA Krishnappa, who supports this noble cause and was the Chief Guest of the occasion. Lakshmi N, an indomitable spirit, one of the creators of Sahana and currently the managing trustee gave her heartfelt opinion on the occasion. “Nowadays there are so many, means and the technology which can and should be used to overcome obstacles. The visually impaired should be aware of such opportunities so that they don't crumble down in underconfidence. For this, on one hand the facilities should reach them and on the other hand awareness should be created in every such person that they can and should reach out to get the qualification they need." Visually challenged herself, she lives her words and her spirit inspires many.

The Chief in-charge of Sahana, Mr. Narasimhaiah has fought the darkness in his eyes to enlighten many a life. In his words “ Sahana creates Braille script which cannot be bought in shops. It also creates employment among the visually impaired. We need more volunteers. Volunteering matters.”

While computerization has made the lives of visually impaired easy (Softwares like ‘Jaws’ convert letters to sounds and enable them to type) , there are however practicalities like the rented house for running the institution, employing people and dearth of volunteers that Sahana is fighting to cope with.

Sahana, the organization, tries to create awareness among the visually impaired, encourage Braille in the true sense and thus inspire hundreds. May these words reach the right volunteers, philanthropists and generous souls to further their cause of providing education to everyone.

If you want to share such experiences with us, please write to us at sattva dot ezine at gmail dot com