k.raghuraman's column POINTS TO PONDER - 2

k.raghuraman’s column

POINTS TO PONDER – 2

IS MAN A MERE SLAVE TO MACHINE?

Now- a- days, people tend to become more and more mechanical. They don’t want to use their full potentials to the fullest extent. For example, they store the contact numbers their close relatives, even their own personal number and birthdates in some equipment so as to remember correctly.

But, the Memory Space in one’s brain is limitless. In fact, it is an endless treasure house from where one could both draw and deposit immense invaluable.

This useful gift was properly used by our ancestors and that is why our past education system was based on listening where the student was more attentive to Gurus words in order to assimilate and reflect on what he had learnt.

Although this system does not give much emphasis on writing skill, the student was very much in a position to be more proficient in his subject and thereby moulded his character by himself in due course of time. But, in contrary to this valuable practice, today our present education system has become rotten in the hands of so called learned educationists who give more importance to marks rather than to our discriminatory and comprehension faculties. In short, we are keen in quantity than on quality.

This sad state of affairs exists because of our lack of sensitivity towards our younger generation and that is why youngsters rely more on cheap ‘notes’ to reach that magic pass mark somehow or the other.

Even technology has done it’s best to ruin the morall of the students. For example, even in lower classes students are allowed to use calculators for simple Mathematical calculations. As a result, as they grow older, they depend more and more on the use of Computers. In fact, they have forgotten that even the Computers are invented only by a man’s mind.

To conclude, man has become a slave to machines which are actually made by him. This article is only to rekindle our thoughts in order to raise against all these evils which are introduced in the name of progress.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed;

But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

K. RAGHURAMAN'S COLUMN -_INDIANS AND ENGLISH - POINTS TO PONDER

ENGLISH AND INDIANS – POINTS TO PONDER

Written by
K.Raghuraman(E.C. Member –WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND)
P.G.Assistant in English
LADY WELLINGTON SCHOOL
CHENNAI

{* Mr.K.Raghuraman was born in the year 1979. He had his schooling in St.Louis School for the Blind and did his Post-Graduation Course in Englsih Literature in Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai. He has an SLET (State Level Eligibility in Teaching) Degree also to his credit. He is doing his M.Phil now.

He was the Literary Secretary for one year while studying in XII Std.He writes articles and poetry, mainly on topical issues. He has penned poignant articles on various issues that afflict the society and a handful of his articles have now been compiled into a book titled ‘Samudhaayathil Naam’(We in the Society) , released on the occasion of the 18th Annual Day Celebrations of Welfare Foundation of the Blind, along with two collections of short-stories, one authored by the Founder-President of WFB, Dr.Jayaraman and the other by Venkatesan, a Tamil Teacher.

Listening to Music is Raghuraman’s favourite pastime and he also enjoys playing Drums. He teaches Spoken-English and with adequate resources he plans to do it on a large scale and on a regular basis.

WE NEED EMPATHY; NOT SYMPATHY is what he wants to drive home emphatically.}

* In the photograph Mr.Raghuraman is in the middle

*

It is a well-known fact that India is a land of diversity. From Language to Religion everything is different. Still, in spirit we are Indians.

As people in each state speak different languages, It becomes a nessecity to have a common language that connects every Indian for the purpose of communication. In this context English plays a vital role.

During the period of colonisation by the Britishers, English was introduced for the purpose of communication. But, as time went on people were forced to learn English and this led to the spread of English in India.

After the independence of India in 1947, the Indian Government decided to retain English language for the next 15 years so as to find an Indian language as the linking language all over the country. But, no fruitful effort was taken in this regard and hence English continued it’s dominance in our soil. Though Hindi was made the national language after a long struggle, it did not find place in the hearts of the people. As a result of this, English gets rooted in every corner of the society. In fact, from the position of a link language English has become a godly language. People have started to equate English with knowledge, respect, dignity, high status, holiness, so on and so forth. To testify this statement, we could site the example of how people degrade a person wearing dhoti and shirt and revere the same man when wearing a pant and shirt. Though India is rich in philosophy, they have failed to understand that “appearances are always deceptive.”

The reason for this slavish mentality is that we Indians fail to find and accept any of our languages as the link language. We feel proud to clash with ourselves and thereby give room for an alien to dominate us.

We are not here to degrade English language as such but we are here to point out the wrong attitude that we have towards English. As a matter of fact, English has attracted a few scholars who have penned their writings in English which in turn has flourished into a new branch of study called Indian Writing in English. In this context one should understand that English is used only as a tool of our expression of our uniqueness. But, this is not the case today because the appreciation and status that Indian Writing in English enjoys is not being shared by the Literatures in regional languages. In fact, we have gone to the extent of equating English with literacy. In other words we are gradually destroying our inner self by giving room to an alien who really does not match our nature. In reality, a human being can develop well only when he/she thinks and speaks in his/her mother tongue. But, we feel proud to hear a small kid speaking in English at the initial stage itself. This attitude and habit will surely make us lose our real identity.

In fact, even this article is written in English only out of compulsion. And, people accept anything in English as a valuable and a valid one. This shouldn’t be the case. Atleast from now onwards people should try to realize the uniqueness of their respective Mother tongues and live accordingly. At the same time, they should not be fanatic. Instead, we should join hands to explore the possibility of choosing and accepting any of our Indian languages as the link language that help us communicate and interact with each other.







O

INSIGHT introducing two visually challenged poets in tamil

Insight
( Introducing 2 visually handicapped Tamil Poets)

Poems rendered in EnglishbyLatha Ramakrishnan
(writer-poet-translator)
“All too strong an iron-wall
That cannot be shaken at all.
You are on the other side
Here, we are
As the bridge that connects –
Our autumnal dreams”_ Poet. G.Kannan

Is it proper on my part to underline the fact that the four poets, whose select few verses I have translated into English and have published as a thin volume captioned Insight, are visually handicapped..? This query persists…

And, I keep telling myself that such highlighting has to be done for enabling one get an insight into all the additional efforts the visually handicapped have to garner to shape themselves into poets and so acknowledged by the society.

Down the ages we have had several eminent creative-writers who were visually handicapped. As all the sighted persons cannot be avid readers and quality writers, so also, it is but natural for some visually handicapped persons to be discerning readers and distinguished writers. But, the fact remains that lack of aids and accessories, support and assisstance and also awareness on the part of the societyin which they live, prove a veritable block to them, more often than not.

Also, more often than not the sighted, both readers and writers, tend to evaluate the writings of the visually handicapped from a pedastal. This is not proper, nor required, to say the least.

I have given here, in my English Translation, five poems each of two of the visually handicapped poets, Mr.G.Kannan and MU.Ramesh, from the said volume, to enable the readers have a glimpse of, if not an insight into their creativity, literary sensitivity, power of imagination and reactions to various social issues and also to the treatment that they receive at the hands of the society. I personally feel Poet G.Kannan and Poet Mu.Ramesh who keep updating themselves with the current trends of the various branches of Tamil Literature have the salient characteristics of neo-Tamil Poetry in their verses. As I believe that each poem has a ‘writerly text’ and a ‘readerly text’ and there is no one absolute method of translating a text ( all the same, the translator has to be sincere to the text in question, meaning, he or she should not try to convert it into a platform for their whims and fancies) I can only say in all humility that my translations can at best reflect the ‘readerly texts’ which the poems have offered me. I thank the poets G.Kannan and MU.Ramesh.

With thanks and regards
Latha ramakrishnan

1) POET. G. KANNAN:

Oesaigalin Niramaalai ( The Spectrum of Sounds) is the first poem-collection of Mr.G.Kannan who has a Doctorate to his credit. Despite losing his eye-sight very early in life, he, with the help of his parents, acquired an M.A in Tamil and went on to become the first ever visually handicapped person in the whole of Dharmapuri District in Tamil Nadu, to get a Doctorate in Tamil. His P.hd Dissertation was on the theme,The theme of Generation Gap in Contemporary Tamil Novels (Thamizh Novelgalil Thalaimurai Idaiveli). It was published by one of the reputed publishing houses of Tamil Nadu called Kaavya. In the foreword of this book itself Mr.Kannan has highlighted the various problems and hurdles that he had to face in collecting materials for his dissertation. Interested in the contemporary literary trends of Tamil, especially Poetry, whenever he gets a chance Mr.Kannan makes it a point to attend literary seminars and gatherings. He, with the help of his friends read the vrious contemporary poem-collections of Tamil on a regular basis and hence his Poesy reflects and adopts these trends. And, Mr.G.Kannan’s poems too deal with the conflicts, chaos, moments of ecstasy and happiness, solitiude, alienation, anguish, composure of the inner world and the problems that confront them in their day-to-day existence, both as ordinary human beings and as visually handicapped. This year my fellow-writer and the editor of Navina Virutcham, a literary quarterly which is there for two decades, has brought forth the second poem-collection titled ‘Mazhaik-Kudai Naatkal( Rain_Umbrella Days) of Mr.G.Kannan which is receiving good response. Poet G.Kannan’s address: Dr.G.Kannan, Senior Lecturer, Department of Tamil, Government Arts College,
Dharmapuri
Tamil Nadu
Pincode – 636705
Phone 04342 262845 / cell : 94437869211) The Cup of Friendshipa glass cup this is,
with the juice of ancience brimming…
be careful.
if the stone of discord
touches it slightly _
it would break.
if the hand of comraderie
loosens its grip a little
it would go splinters2) imprintsOur predecessors had
penned Classics and became
immortal.
Our ancestors were
said to have exposed the emptiness
of that arrogant fellow
who treated us with abject indifference.
Our ‘spiritual guru’ fought for our
access to Education and Knowledge
for more than sixty years
in a non-violent manner,
turning victorious and world famous.
Despite having all the three doors shut
our beloved old lady
learnt the length and bradth of the world
with her fingers
proving the wonder of all wonders.
Today our brethren
leaving their imprints atop Mount Himalayas
undertake journey
through the Antartic Land.
Though we sit on par with our fellow-men
we are still portrayed as
street-singers with begging-bowls.
We are still displayed as exhibits
in the show-rooms of the Society.
While this is going on
where to go seeking and retrieve
our own, real imprints and identity?

3) The Fragrance of Father
As like the ‘coat-of-mail’ and ‘ear-rings’
of the mythological Karna
it must’ve been born along with
my father.
Which cannot be washed away
even by the waters of Ganges
where we had our sacred dip.
And, my father has never polluted it
with artificial scents and perfumes.
Before the sound of father’s footsteps enter the ears
as like the elephant-bells
it would get into the nostrils
and stay on.
That which warms my heart-
the fragrance of my father is something
unique, noble,
having especial significance,
revealing the real meaning of labour
in any Thesaurus whatsoever.
With full of the smell of Earth,
immersed in soil, is the scent of my father.


4) the spectrum of sounds
Sounds are so full of illumination,
so they are pregnant with meaning.
Sounds are so full of characteristics,
so they lend flavour to Life
Sounds have their own fragrance,
so they are stylish and refined
Sounds have shades of colour
For Laughter that scatters – Green
For murmurs of love that makes one
quiver in ecstsy – Blue
For beauty that tires one out – dense Yellow
For the blabberings of a child – flowery White
For the sweet song of koel – Indigo
For raging roar – blood Red
For the sacred sound of bells – magical Violet
Sounds have shades of colours
for the thunder ,
rain-drop,
chirping of birds,
call of animals
There are visions anew
of Tongue incomprehensible.
The Spectrum of Silent Rainbow _
The Sounds.
5) queries that devovour answersTo Meera with Love _
Curse your Kannan…
Let me drop dead
at your feet.
You loathe as a jarring sound
the Music of my flute
that softly floats in the air.
Shut your ears tightly.
You try to extinguish the Music
by burning the Flute.
Can you?

II Poet Mu.Ramesh
The Height of Night That Cannot Be Comprehended In Words) (Vaarthaikkull Sikkaadha Iravin Uyaram) is the first poem-collection of Poet.Mu.Ramesh, though while in college he had brought forth a thin volume comprising 20 poems. A post-graduate student in Tamil who has completed his M.Phil also, Mr.Ramesh is all set to pursue his P.hd in Delhi. Published in the year 2005, the very title given above and also the poems therein reveal the poet’s firm grasp on the language of Tamil and also the distinct characteristics of neo-Tamil Poetry, being open-ended, metaphorical, ambiguous, having layers of meaning and interpretation that demand the active participation of the reader. As is the general trend of almost all poets, Mr.Ramesh too writes poems that deal with his inner, personal life and also the life he leads as part of the Society and the interactions and confrontations between his inner and outer selves which ofcourse are inter-related. Against all odds, Mr.Mu.Ramesh makes it a point to acquaint himself with the changing trends of the various branches of Tamil Literature, especially poems. Sad that more often than not these poem-collections are not given their due by the seeing community. In Chennai BookFair 2008, held in the month of January , heeding to my request Mr.Ravichandran of Pudhupunal Publications brought forth the second poem-collection of Mr.Ramesh titled ;Mazhaiyil Nanaiyum/Karaiyum Iravin Vaasanai( The fragrance of the Night that is getting drenched/dissolved in the Rain).the address of Mr.Mu.Ramesh is given below:

Mr.Mu.Ramesh
c/o Mr.S.s.Kannan
35/18, West C.I.T Nagar
Chennai – 600 035
Phone : 9942197838


(1)

In my bedroom
the blanket spread and the pillow
in that glow
a shape that seemed
absolutely hueless
attempting to grasp it
I switched off the light
with all getting displaced
the shrunken sheet
and the pillow lying in
one corner
the all-pervading lightness
now, crumbling down
where I stand
I search for the
Light alone

(2)

the earth would sway
a little
looking above
raising the hand
and touching the drums
fire
the iron doors moulded
a long time ago
would refuse to move
deeming soil to be their
very boundary
lying immersed
the roots
longing for nutrition from the five
primal forces
still.


(3)

the simple lesson
taught by Yama-
the god of Death _
is atonce understood
by
Chitraguptha

E =MC2

(4)

hail Lord Shiva
my pranams to your
goodself
as my folded hands
stretched
the white cane might
have come into contact
could’ve been that noise
where is the grave-digger?
Where is the grave-digger?
The eerie voice
ever-above
hovering
I probed
my hand could feel the heat
indeed afrozen skeleton
what could’ve been
my response?
I would go tomorrow.


(5)


In my night
you are the light
the night that allows
day never rests
light is just a
guidance
night alone is
the End unending.

A TRANSLATION WORKSHOP FOR THE VISUALLY CHALLENGED

A Translation Workshop
for

the Visually Challengedby latha RamakrishnanTreasurer,

Welfare Foundation of the Blind

"My eyes that read in the dark
Are my index-fingers "

These lines of poet G.Kannan’s poem so precisely and poignantly highlights the significance of Braille in the lives of the visually challenged. In six dots Louis Braille had changed the life of the visually challenged from darkness, i.e. ignorance to light i.e. Education which paves the way for one’s emancipation. Today, the visually challenged excel in various fields such as Teaching, Medical Transcription, Computer Operation etc., thanks to the pioneering efforts of stalwarts like Louis Braille.

And, to highlight this exemplary service of Louis Braille, especially at a time when all over the world the Bi-Centenary year of Louis Braille is being celebrated the WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND, jointly with the TAMIL TRANSLATORS’ ASSOCIATION had organized a Translation workshop for the Visually Challenged with a view to give expression to their potentials as translators and also to help them find avenues to make use of their skill in translation as a possible means of livelhood. The Translation Workshop was held on the noon 12th of October 2008 in Chennai.

The Founder-President of Welfare Foundation of the Blind, Dr.G.Jayaraman ( who had worked as an English Professor for more than two decades in Madras Christian College, Tambaram and who has penned several books on the plights and potentials of the visually challenged), Mr.V.Sivaraman, one of the Secretaries of Welfare Foundation of the Blind a lecturer in English in Presidency college, Chennai who is very keen to impart the knowledge of computer operation to the Visually Challenged and on whose efforts there was a session on computer and the demostration of the skill of the visually challenged in handling computers, in the Annual Day Celebrations of WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND which was held in the month of June 2008.

Several visually challenged students and also teachers along with some sighted students took part in the Workshop.Mr.Raghuraman ( He teaches English in a Higher Secondary School; A prolific writer whose articles on various topical issues are awaiting publication), Mr.Udhayaraj, a visually challenged student of Presidency college, Chennai, Dr.G.Jayaraman, founder-President, Welfare Foundation of the Blind, Mr.V.Sivaraman, (one of the secretaries of Welfare Foundation of the Blind. He works in Presidency college and his is the Convener of the Joint Committee for Louis Braille Bicentenary Year Celebrations, Tamil Nadu) were also among the participants of the Translation Workshop.

Articles on the life and works of Braille and also on the various aspects of Braille were chosen for translation. There were volunteers to read out the articles to the visually challenged participants and to write down their translations. Several dictionaries were placed in the hall and it was said that the participants could consult each other in matters of translation. The participants and volunteers formed themselves into groups of three – the visually challenged participant, the scribe and the reader – and at the end of the Translation workshop the participants and those who formed the panel of evaluators sat in a circle and discussed the various aspects of translation and shared the difficulties and challenges they they had encountered while translating in the Workshop.

The President of Tamil Translators’ Association Professor R.Sivakumar, who is also a renowned translator having a number of translated works to his credit, Thiru. Kochadai, former presidetn of Tamil Translators’ Association and also another noteworthy translator of Tamil, Mr.Tha.Ve. Natarajan, a social activist who has always been a pillar of support to the initiatives of Tamil Transaltors’ Association right from the day of its inception, Dr.G.Jayaraman, Founder-President of Welfare Foundation of the Blind formed the panel of evaluators and they gave valuable suggestions and advices to the participants of the Translation workshop. Before setting forth to translate a text the translator should ask himself or herself the questions Why the translation work is being undertaken, how it is to be done and who are the target readers etc and only then he or she should start translating. Mr.Kochadai said that when translating in Tamil one should take care to use proper Tamil words and that one should translate in harmony with the language and culture of the target readers. Mr.Sivakumar said that when we set out to translate no theory of translation would come to our help and that only through vast reading and hardwork and sheer practice one can evolve into a good translator. Amarantha, a noteworthy translator of Tamil who has wrked hard for the formation of Tamil Translators’ Association and who is the present treasurer of it had sent her best wishes for the success of this pioneering initiative as she was out of station.

The students who took part in the Workshop observed that it would prove very helpful to them if such workshops would be arraged at regular intervals.


The Students of AMET University, belonging to the Marine Technology Department and the Department of Naval Architecture took part in the Translation workshop as volunteers and contributed significantly for its success. Captain Rajesh, Students Affair-in-Charge of AMET, contributed to the success of the Workshop a great deal by sending his students to thelp the visually challenged participants and by his direct participation as volunteer in the workshop. It is worthy of mention here that he, a reputed Rotarian and his father served as the scribe and reader for Dr.Jayaraman, in the workshop!

Students from the Department of English of Presidency college also need to be applauded for their active participation in the workshop.

We take this opportunity to thank all those who help us in our cause of serving the cause of the Visually Challenged!

introducing WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND

Registeration No. 193/91 Ph : 22750896 / 22751402
WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLINDNO. 7, ISWARAN KOIL ST, KILAMBAKKAM, URAPPAKKAM POST
PIN CODE 603202

A group of visually challenged friends met on a holiday in January 1991 and discussed what they could do to help their visually challenged brothers and sisters. They felt that a strong foundation is needed in matters of Awareness, Individual Help and Total Co-operation . Thus WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND came into being, to provide for these needs.

The Founder-President of W.F.B is Dr.G.Jayaraman.

The Chief Patron is His Excellency, the Governor of Tamil Nadu.

We are affiliated to ALL INDIA CONFEDERATION OF THE BLIND and

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND (INDIA).

Aims and Objectives:

1) To create awareness about the Plights and Potentials of the Visually Challenged.
2) To close the divide between the Sighted and the Sightless.
3) To provide counselling and Guidance to the Visually Challenged.
4) To create Integration, Co-operation and Co-ordination among all the Organizations For and Of the Visually Challenged.
5) To work in unison and to co-operate with the Government in uplifting the visually challenged.
6) To provide platform for the creative talents of the visually challenged.

Activities :

Working towards realizing our aims and objectives we have undertaken and are undertaking various activities which we hope would bring positive changes in the lives of the visually challenged.
Some of our important and on-going activities are :
I We have conducted Seminars on the following topics:
a) Self-Employment for the Visually Challenged.
b) The Role of the Visually Challenged Women in Welfare work.
c) Exploring New Areas of Employment.
d) Some Psychological Problems of the Visually Challenged.
e) Music as a Profession for the Visually Challenged.
f) Literary Introduction to the Visually Challenged.

Altogether, we have so far conducted around 20 Seminars.

II We have conducted ‘Awareness Exhibitions’ highlighting the Plights and Potentials of the Visually Challenged. Twice we have participated in Informex Exhibition conducted by the Students Career Guidance Bureau in 1991 and 1993 and on both the occasions we have won First Prize for the Best Stall.

III We have so far conducted two Study Projects which are :-

1) A Home for the Visually Challenged Senior Citizens.
2) ) An Integrated Training Programme for the visually Challenged and Poor Rural Women.
_This Integrated System has created the much-needed awareness in working with the ‘seeing’.

IV Awards and Prizes:-

1) We have instituted two prizes for the Visually Challenged students of the Chennai-based three Schools for the visually challenged and another for Education and Training.They are:
a) Sundararajan Memorial Award
b) b) Manikandan Memorial Award.

This year, as a token of our love and respect for Prof.Vishnu Bhatt, who recently passed away and who had done a lot for the cause of the Visually Challenged, we are going to institute Prof.Vishnu Bhatt Memorial Award which we would be giving every year.

2) We have given Awards to the following:

a) Outstanding Workers Award for the Visually Challenged.
b) Nine Gems Award representing nine Visually Challenged persons engaged in non-conventional job activities and they include an Astrologer, a Businessman, an L.I.C Agent, a small Industrialist, a Gas Agent, a Lawyer, a Music Composer and so on.

This has created the much needed positive feeling that no profession is beyond the reach of the Visually Challenged, if there is determination in them and if proper opportunities are provided.

We have honoured ten couples of whom one is Visually Challenged for leading a successful married life for a period of twenty years.
c) Seeing parents who have properly settled their three Visually Challenged children were honoured by our Organization.
d) Visually Challenged writers were honoured.
e) ‘Friends of the Blind’ Awards are annually given by us to those who are of constant support to the cause of the Visually Challenged.

Publications:
n order to create the much needed awareness about the Visually Challenged we have published several works on and by the Visually Challenged. They are :
· THE UNHEARD VOICES OF THE NON-SEEING - a collection of essays on the various stages of the Visually Challenged starting from Birth. This book is written by Dr.G.Jayaraman.
· KAANAADHA ULAGIL KELAADHA KURALGAL The collection of essays
mentioned above in Tamil.
· MARUPAARVAI _ a collection of brief life-sketches of twenty Visually Challenged persons.
· A COLLECTION OF TAMIL SONGS SET TO TUNE- by Mr.Venkatasubramanian, a Visually Challenged Music Teacher.
· OESAIGALIN NIRAMAALAI a collection of Poems in Tamil written by
Prof.G.Kannan, a Visually Challenged poet.
· OOTRUKANGAL A collection of prize-winning short-stories penned by Visually Challenged students and adults. The competition was conducted by Welfare Foundation of the Blind.
· THE STATE OF SCHOOLS FOR THE VISUALLY CHALLENGED IN MADRAS STATE – written by Dr.G.Jayaraman.
· THARKAALA THAMIZH KAVIDHAIGAL – a collection of some 50 contemporary Tamil Poems in Braille.

Apart from our own publications we have also been instrumental in getting the works of several aspiring visually challenged creative writers, printed. Thus, PUDHUPUNAL PADHIPAGAM has published the poem-collection of poet Mu.Ramesh and VIRUTCHAM VELIYEEDU has published poet.G.Kannan’s second poem-collection ‘Mazhaikkudai Naatkal’. We have several other manuscripts with us and hopefully we would get them published soon.

We have also arranged for discussions on some current topics like Computer-Sentitization, The Rights of the Disabled, the Visually Challenged in particular, the double-burden of the Visually Challenged Women etc.
We have so far attended three National Conferences arranged by ALL INDIA CONFEDERATION OF THE BLIND in the years 2000, 2003 and 2007. In 2003 when we went to Delhi for the purpose of attending one such National conference, on invitation we had an audience with the then President of India, Dr.Abdul Kalam who received us warmly and spent sufficient time with us despite his busy schedule.

We want to improve and increase the activities already undertaken and to achieve our goal of Total Integration of the Visually Challenged with society at large. And, for this we look forward to your continued support.

With profound regards

Yours, in the service of the Visually Challenged,

Dr.G.JAYARAMAN

FOUNDER-PRESIDENT
WELFARE FOUNDATION OF THE BLIND.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE !

Nothing is Impossible!

by

B.Venkatesh Babu

(Secretary, Welfare Foundation of the Blind)

Senior Medical Transcriptionist

Healthsoft India Private Limited

I am not boasting but I say in right earnest - Nothing is Impossible for the visually challenged, provided he or she has the grit and determination to go on. Till my 12th years of age I was having sight and was attending normal school, but afflicted with Retinitis Pigmentosa, I started losing my eyesight gradually. I couldn’t read and write and the realization that I had to live my life as a visually challenged with residual vision hit me with full force.

I began to shape my life accordingly. I learnt English Braille and mobility. With determination and hope I finished my BBA and M.A in Business Administration through Correspondence Course.

Now, for the past eight years I have been working as a Medical Transcriptionist in Healthsoft India Privaet Limited. After undergoing training in the field of Medical Transcription in National Institute for the Visually Challenged, on appointment I was also given intense training in our esteemed Concern for six months.

Now, I hold the prestigious post of Senior Medical Transcriptionist in our office. I should thank our M.D Thiru K.C.Anand and my colleagues for their support and positive approach to the visually challenged. Apart from me there are eight more visually challenged working in our office. As we work under a friendly and encouraging atmosphere we are able to work on par with our sighted counterparts and even better!

We will have to listen to the Doctor’s case-sheets which would come to us in voiceoral text format and transcribe them in written form, using the computer. To transcribe a one hour dictation it would take seven or eight hours for the medical transcriptionist and as he or she gains experience in the work they can work more efficiently, transcribing more in briefer span of time.

Awareness should be created among the general public regarding the plights and potentials of the visually challenged. More so, in the case of persons with low vision or who become visually challenged midway in life. They should be made aware aware of the fact that there is no need to feel ashamed of the onset of blindness in them and that it is not going to help them if they refuse to accept the fact and continue to hide it from the world and from their own selves.
True, the loss is great and very painful but it is not the end of Life. Realizing the importance of learning Braille and Mobility and equipping them with those skills they can get along with their lives with renewed hope and interest.

And, with grit and determination, with a friendly nature and amicable disposition and the willingness to learn we can go a long way in making our presence and potentials felt! We should see to it that we work hard and deliver goods to the satisfaction of everybody concerned. By working efficiently we can enable many more visually challenged to find suitable employment opportunities and placements. This is my sincere hope.

I am sure we wiill be able to achieve a lot independently. Let us achieve!

FREEDOM ON FINGERTIPS! a poem by g.kannan

PPoet g.kannan

senior lecturer,

dept of tamil,

govt arts college

Dharmapuri

Freedom on Finger-tips!

a poem on louis braille by g.kannan

‘The course of the revolving earth could change;
the direction in which the sun rises could become different;
but, can the hapless state of the visually challenged
change for the better?”
- so our forefathers would have felt deeply anguished
then.

‘Sinners with two wounds in the place of eyes;
bound to beg for their survival…’
So, the countless humiliations, hardships,
sorrows and sufferings
that the visually challenged used to face
day-in and day-out…
to relieve the visually chalenged from all these
and to liberate and emancipate them
Louis Braille came to be-
As the morning star and beacon-light!

Thanks to him
With just six dots
The whole world has come closer;
Well within our reach!

He knew well our aching hunger for Knowledge!
Ploughing his heart, sowing the seeds of Hope,
Watering it with hardwork
Removing the weeds of opposition
He broughtforth the rare blossom called Braille!
So,our dreams for justice and equality
Started turning into veritable reality!

Hail LOUIS BRAILLE
who has made possible
FREEDOM ON OUR FINGERTIPS!