Biographies of eminent personalities in braille soon

Biographies of eminent personalities in braille soon
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Highlights

At a time when blind students find it difficult to access books, Dr A Saibaba Goud, founder chairman, Devnar Foundation for the Blind, is planning to bring out a series of biographies (earlier in July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the Braille version of the biography of Sardar Vallabhai Patel) on eminent personalities.

At a time when blind students find it difficult to access books, Dr A Saibaba Goud, founder chairman, Devnar Foundation for the Blind, is planning to bring out a series of biographies (earlier in July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the Braille version of the biography of Sardar Vallabhai Patel) on eminent personalities.

  • Biography of Patel was released in July by PM Modi
  • More biographies of Paramahamsa, Vivekananda, Tilak, Phule by December

"If the students know about personalities who shaped India they would be able to make a difference to society. The trials and tribulations of the men and women in history would inspire the students to become achievers," avers Dr Saibaba.

PM Narendra Modi (left)  releasing the biography of Sardar Patel in Braille, prepared by Dr A Saibaba Goud (centre), in New Delhi. Also seen is BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya (right)

In Telangana, there are close to 5,000 blind students but just about 1,000 get education. With just four government run blind schools; two in Hyderabad and one each in Karimnagar and Mahbubnagar, the lack of schools is a problem and the unavailability of textbooks in braille compounds the problem. The Devnar School in Hyderabad provides textbooks from LKG to Intermediate and the printing cost per set (a set of textbooks for each class is printed) is Rs 35,000. A senior employee of Devnar School says, "The students are very much interested to read Sardar Vallabhai Patel's biography and are looking forward for more books on the lives of other great personalities."

In December, the Devnar Foundation is planning to come out with biographies of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Swami Vivekananda and Jyotirao Phule. Dr Saibaba Goud says that the books will be distributed free and the foundation will be printing 500 copies each.

Dr Saibaba says, "Biographies of great men can do wonders in lifting the spirit of children. Even if a few get inspired and aspire to make it big, it will be worth the effort."

While the government is still mulling over the printing of textbooks this year, the students of Devnar school cannot wait to lay their hands on the biographies.

In 2004, Dr Saibaba rendered the Bhagavad Gita into Braille and now he is eager to take his mission forward to empower blind students by bringing light into their lives through the biographies.

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