The inability of blind eyes to relish the sense of reading a book or a newspaper article is more than what one can term as unfortunate. Although, instead of only settling for terming this as something merciful, Blind People’s Association had set out for a mission to resolve this problem of the blind in May 2016.
The association’s Head of the Technological Department, Mr. Ranchod Soni strongly looked for an alternative for these blind eyes that could allow them to overcome their helplessness while willing to read. Hence, he came up with the concept of audial readings for the blind with the assistance of technological attributes and reader volunteers who are willing to read and record any text for them. The entire concept was to incorporate reading in the lives of blind people by making them listen to recorded articles, magazine write-ups, comics, novels and biographies.
The association has volunteers from various parts of the country including Surat and Mumbai. These readers record various newspaper articles, books and other texts in their voices over their phones and send the audios to the association in Whatsapp group containing only the readers and the organiser Mr. Jignesh Pokar. These recordings are then forwarded to another group of Whatsapp in which all the people who wish to grab the audial texts are added. The entire concept is a twofold procedure with the invention of Whatsapp Groups bagging the tag of the most innovative and integral aspect of it. In the more technical and secondary step, these received audios are then taken a backup of by Mr. Pokar and then edited to be added in the digitalised library of the association which consists of all the audial readings.
Since the whatsapp group can only add a maximum of 256 members, the rest 612 members who are registered with the association can access the digital library containing all the recorded reads. Adding to this, Mr. Soni also highlighted his vision of generating their own smartphone application so that the members do not have to fall prey to limitation of an online group and maximum number of people can enjoy the facility.
“Initially we had only two readers, Mrs. Urmi Shah and Mrs. Kinnari who came to our recording studio in order to read the chosen books. But now the procedure is much more simplified as the volunteers can read their wishful text from their own houses through a smartphone and simply send it on the whatsapp group created for them. They also need not do it on a daily basis but at their own convenient leisure time. Though, all our volunteer readers contribute 5-7 hours in a week for reading.” The group receives a minimum of 15 articles each day which can be chapters from various books or newspaper articles.
According to Mr. Pokar, the benefit of this budding concept is that the blind can experience a large number of diversified writings in good voices.
The books that are to be read by the readers are approved by Mr. Pokar. More importance is given to authentic Gujrati and English Literature. Doctor ni Diary by Dr. Sharad Thakkar, Meghdhanushi Manaviyo, Chitralekha, Gandhiganga are some of the books which have been recorded in the library. Articles form regional newspapers and Times of India are also read on a regular basis. The books are sought to be motivating, enlightening and relaxing for the listeners.
The concept brought about flooding responses form volunteers who were thrilled to lend their voices for the blind eyes. The list includes various known Radio Jockeys and also a few television anchors.
The people present in the listening group range from a child of 12 years to a man who is 83 year old. Expressing his overflowing content for the development of his idea, Mr. Soni said, “It is due to this idea that today blind eyes are taken over by ears. It is like a bridge between the eyes of our readers and the ears of the blind.”
Bharat Bhai who is a teacher at JL High School, Maninagar is a consistent reader and says “It is an excellent idea of connecting some affluent orators with the blind”
Not only the ‘contributors’ but the ‘beneficiaries’ too feel that this concept is a boon in their lives.
The government too has been providing constant support to all the Blind Schools in the country in propagating this flourishing idea. A website called sugamyapustakalya.com has been an initiative by the government which can be accessed by the registered blind schools and blind members. Various recorded literatures are uploaded by schools from across the nation and then utilized as a medium of exchange among associations and members. Finance and Human Resource is provided by the government and the technical management is taken care of by Tata Consultancy Services.
Blind Associations of people still never settles for the widest range of recorded readings. It believes that there is an ocean of literature still left to be explored and their members cannot afford to compromise just with a sip. Therefore, they request for more such readings from associations from various parts of the country and now proudly boast of more than 8000 recorded readings in their digital library. The effort done by the entire team and especially Mr. Soni and Mr. Pokar is commendable and is worth saluting.
It is immensely delightful to have realized that the urge of being bestowed upon with wisdom of literature doesn’t succumb to the atrocities of the pains of blind eyes but is astonishingly strong enough to call for various alternatives for being showered upon with enriching and valuable pieces of literature and articles.
