Aniruddha's Bank For Blind

Every human being has a bond to share with every other. The awareness of this bond makes us reach out, hold a hand and touch the heart. Some, however, must rely on touch, much more than others and hold hands much more than others to express love as much as others. They are special, differently able. We refer here to our visually challenged kin. They do without sight, the facility that is supposed to communicate to us, 80% of the information of the world around. They struggle , toil, but never lose heart. They study undeterred by the delay in getting text books in Braille, they study undeterred by the lack of teachers. They strive to be independent in every sense.

‘Aniruddha’s Bank for the Blind’ is committed to this bond, by way of offering service to the blind. Initiated by the grace and blessings of Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu, this `bank’ stores knowledge in the form of audio cassettes that are based on the curriculum of school, college and university study. The cassettes are given free of cost to the students. These cassettes supplement to a large extent, study material made available to them. Recorded material includes courses on acupressure, massage, etc. conducted by `National Association for the Blind’ (NAB) as also technical courses that will equip the visually challenged to become independent and lead them to feel the joy of contributing to society.

Apart from the Ganaparishad (the active volunteer team), the Karyaparishad (the executive committee) that includes members hailing from various different states of the country, is well-equipped to offer this service, in regional languages throughout the nation.

Let us talk about the functioning of the Aniruddha's Bank for the Blind in detail. This is a knowledge bank wherein the knowledge will be deposited and utilized as and when required - This project provides the students; from different Blind schools, with audio cassettes customized according to the syllabus of the curriculum. Apart from these, the bank offers, if required songs and stories for younger children, general knowledge for the older ones, dictionary based on 'homophones' (phonics), study of English grammar, the stories or biographies of great saints, patriots, and scientists. Cassettes based on the syllabi of courses such as Accu-pressure, Physiotherapy etc. have been recorded for the institute of 'National Association for the Blind'. Cassettes for the syllabus Of M.A. (History) are being recorded at present with the blessings of PP Bapu, this project is expected to spread nationwide, within three years.

Anyone can participate in this programme. The basic principle of this project is offering service from home, which is possible for anyone. A preliminary draft of the project is outlined pertaining to the requirement of the cassettes. The details of executing this project are briefed to the participants and then various assignments are allocated to them. An agenda is prepared, the possibilities of carrying out the recordings at home and that if a group of people can work together at a given place and time is taken into consideration.

Though we may be equipped with a recording machine in the house, we may be not well versed with its operations due to lack of usage. At such times a technical assistance and advice is offered.
The significance of such programs was evident after interacting with the teachers of the concerned institutes and schools. There is only one press for the 'Braille' script in Mumbai. Institutes of other cities also send in their Braille transcripts for printing here. Outstation work is generally given preference. Thus, it becomes difficult to acquire the syllabi at the designated time, i.e. during the beginning of the year. In such a situation, these cassettes prove to be very handy. Some schools have no teachers for the standard ten students. Such students can study better with these cassettes. They can study independently in the evening, night or any other time and when the readers are not available.

The committee then prepared a script especially for the subjects of the standard One, explaining the lessons, giving simple tunes to English and Marathi poems so that the children can sing them easily. Initially, few specimen cassettes were recorded for the students of standard One, and their reactions and responses were observed closely while they listened. Similarly, the teachers too taught with the help of the cassettes. The response of both the teachers and students was encouraging.

Blind students in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kearala , Kolkata, New Delhi, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have availed of these cassettes based on the curriculum. Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Haryana, Orissa and Rajasthan have also asked for these cassettes.

Cassettes based on curriculum (’O’ level) for a student residing in Pakistan was also made for two consecutive years.

Almost 16,000 cassettes have been delivered to 165 schools.

The word 'strength' reminds of another incident that we would like to narrate. While the recording of the audio cassettes for standard six was being done, a girl came to the venue of Thursday discourse, to SEE who were involved in recording the cassettes for them. With utmost delight she held the hand of one of the committee members; and taking it to her nose, said, "You have worn a green Saree and purple bangles." She had guessed it perfectly right! We were astonished. They were indeed 'Differently able' children.

Yes, they are not 'disabled'.

They are special.

They are differently abled.......