Dr.G.Jayaraman – a brief profile

Dr.G.Jayaraman 

– a brief profile

                                                           13.05.1934 – 25-09.2012

[Dr.G.Jayaraman, retired Professor, Department of English, Madras Christian College, Chennai & Founder-President, Welfare Foundation of the Blind]

Visually as well as orthopaedically challenged since his childhood, yet with grit and determination and with the able support of his father Dr.G.Jayaraman had educated himself, doing well in his studies, thereby showing others that visually handicapped could indeed study well and become contributing citizens of the society.

Born as any normal child he lost his eye-sight at the age of eight due to some ailment and at the age of fourteen he lost his leg in an accident. Yet, realizing the need for education his father arranged for his being taught at home and then studying VIII Std at Poonamallee and passing the University matriculation Course he then joined the Madras Christian College and completed PUC, BA and MA. After securing an M.A in English from the prestigious Madras Christian College in Tambaram, Chennai he went to the Perkins Institution affiliated to the Boston University for undergoing the Special Teachers’ Training for teaching the visually challenged.

He was the first one in the whole of India to serve as Supervisor in a Rehabilitation Centre for a period of three years and then got a job in Madras Christian College.

He served in Madras Christian College for more than two decades, teaching English and it was during his tenure that he brought into being the Readers’ Service Wing which tried its best to bridge the gap between the sighted and the visually challenged by enthusing the sighted to learn Braille and write at least one printed book in Braille.

Dr. Jayaraman had always been instrumental in bringing into being many innovative initiatives towards creating awareness about the plights and potentials of the visually challenged.

He had been instrumental in bringing into being several Organizations Of and For the Visually Challenged.

In 1991 he founded the WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND  which has educated visually challenged persons holding key posts in t and the Organization has been conducting awareness exhibitions and seminars and also publishing books by way of highlighting the plights and potentials of the visually challenged.

Some of the books penned by Dr.G.Jayaraman are:

1] Schools for the Blind in Madras State.

2] Distance Education in the Education in the Education of the 

    Blind[for IGNOU Project]

3] Vision[a short novel]

4]Kaanaadha Ulagil Kelaadha Kuralgal[Unheard Voices of the Non-Seeing World] – Two volumes in English and Tamil, comprising essays highlighting the problems and challenges faced by the visually challenged since the time of birth.

5] Kannoettam[Viewpoint] – a collection of short-stories in Tamil

6] Mozhipeyarppin Savaalgal[The Challenges of Translation] – Co-translator of essays on the various aspects of translation – from English to Tamil.

Dr. Jayaraman was very much interested in writing tales for children. When he was a young boy he had won prizes in short-story competitions for children conducted by the magazine called KANNAN. More than fifty stories written by him had been published in the same magazine and in 1956 he won the First Prize in the novel competition held by the same magazine.

In the recent years too he had penned a few books for children. MY DEAR CHINNOO is one such having his pet-dog as the chief protagonist! SANDAI VENDAAM NANBARGALE – DON’T FIGHT, BE FRIENDS  has little stories written by him both in English and Tamil, which thus proves useful for learning how to translate a piece of work.

Can the visually challenged be creative writers? Can they write literary works? This was the theme of Dr.Jayaraman’s P.hd dissertation. Based on extensive research and documenting them Dr.Jayaraman had succeeded in proving in his P.hd dissertation titled THE EFFECT OF VISUAL HANDICAP ON CREATIVE WRITING that the visually challenged could excel in literary field.

A friendly, unassuming person, kind-hearted and socially conscious Dr. Jayaraman was wel-versed in Carnatic Music and in playing Flute. In the year 1992, in recognition of his  yeomen service the Government of India had bestowed on him the prestigious National Award under the category ‘Best Handicapped Employee.

His beloved wife Mrs. Vasantha has always proved to be his pillar of strength and support and so do his two daughters and a son.

Dr.Jayaraman had great vision of a better tomorrow for the visually challenged and he worked towards realizing it throughout his life with passion and dedication.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE AND MAY HIS DREAM COME TRUE.