Onkyo Braille Essay Contest 2006 -- International Section (Middle East, Central and Southern Asia) ” International Runner-Up "How Braille Has Changed My Life" Mr. Manish Jaiswal (India: 17-year-old) |
It was a moment of utter dark despair when, during my childhood, I lost sight in both my eyes, as a result of wrong medication. The distinction between day and night ceased to matter for me. There was utter darkness all around me, and in this darkness I aimlessly groaped for a meaning and identity for myself. It is said that every night is followed by a dawn; the darkness of my life also turned into the light of dawn when I encountered Braille. It was quite a while after I became blind that I began to learn Braille. My parents spent a great deal of their time and money in trying to get my eyes treated, but to no avail. After a while they lost all hope and began to worry about my future. Their despondency indicated to me that I would never be able to see again. I began to spend my entire day at home, and would have perhaps got used to spending a meaningless life, had I not come to know about a school for the blind. This organization is in Delhi and is known by the name of Akhil Bhartiya Netrahin Sangh. My father decided to send me to this institution. I came to Delhi with my father. When I stepped into the premises of the school, I was full of anxiety and uncertainty, little knowing the fact that when I would re-enter the same premises again, I would be brimming with self-confidence. I went to the class the day after I joined the school. There I received my first introduction to Braille. A smile came on my face as I touched a page of the Braille book and felt the tingling sensation of Braille dots. In the beginning all this seemed strange to me, and at times, rather irritating; but my visually impaired teacher had told me that Braille is sight for a blind man, and my two hands would now have to function as my two eyes. He had said that I would now see the world with the power of these two hands. With personal efforts and owing to appropriate guidance from my teachers, I gradually came to learn Braille. First I learnt the Hindi Braille, and then, as I came to higher classes I learnt grade two (contracted) English Braille. By the time I came to standard six, I could easily read books in Hindi, English and Sanskrit Braille. As I got immersed in this new world of books I realized that this world was not limited to textbooks alone. I longed to encompass the entire knowledge of the world into the six dots of the Braille script. To fulfill this longing I became a member of the Delhi Public Library, and, from time to time, also borrowed books from my school library. By now, the dark clouds of despair had left me for ever. I gradually came to realize many changes in my innerself as well. After becoming blind, the script through which the sighted read had become meaningless for me, and I often wondered how, in the absence of a script would I be able to express my thoughts. However, this became possible for me by learning the Braille script. Excited by this newly discovered treasure, I used to read and write a lot. I even started corresponding with individuals and institutions in Braille. It was a moment of inexpressible joy when for the first time in my life, an organization replied to my letter in Braille. Braille had also started to influence my mind and attitude. When I went home during the summer vacations, everything at home seemed more familiar and as belonging to me. This was so because, perhaps, Braille had instilled positive thinking in my mind. When I fluently recited the gHanuman Chalisah (a famous and lengthy Hindu religious verse) to my family members, everyone rejoiced in this achievement, and blessed me heartily. At that moment, I felt as if the pain of my parents, caused by my blindness, was somewhat relieved. Thanks to Braille, I realized that I was now capable of leading a normal life. After I became visually impaired, I had developed a strange kind of reserve, and hesitated to meet new people. But, now, I looked forward to such meetings with excitement. Even my neighbours were happy to see me in this positive frame of mind. I returned to my school after the summer vacations and got busy with my studies once again. To dream about a golden future is a part of human nature. When I was sighted and used to study in a sighted school, I often dreamt that when I grew up I would become a successful businessman like my father and earn lots of money. Such dreams had been shattered when I became blind. Not to talk of dreams, even the thought of living a simple ordinary life became difficult to conceive of. My entry into my school and acquiring the power and the light of Braille has made this scenario very different now. Braille has obliterated darkness from my life, making me capable of living a normal life once again. I have again begun to weave dreams about my future life. Somehow my life appears to have found a new sense of purpose. Not that I do not want to become a businessman, but, along with it I also want to do something for the disabled persons of society. Those suffering from blindness must never think that all doors of life have closed for them, because life is full of infinite possibilities. All one needs is a ray of hope; and this ray of hope in my life was kindled by Braille. The knowledge of Braille added new dimensions to my thought processes, for which I am grateful to Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille Script. I am deeply indebted to my teachers who familiarized me with Braille, which changed the direction of my life altogether. |
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