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Disability Media

Gulfam: A Revolution in Accessible Entertainment

A few days ago, I received a call from one Sanamjit Talwar, a film maker from Mumbai. He told me of Gulfam, a feature film he had made during the pandemic. He proudly claimed that Gulfam was born accessible, specially created keeping in mind both the sighted and blind audience. He was keen that I […]

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Disability Published articles

Powerful Vision Poorly Executed

Digital India, Skill India, Accessible India – all campaigns that promised transformation, inclusion and progress. These revolutionary ideas caught the imagination of the nation and raised expectations all around. This was the vision with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his first tenure as leader of this vast nation. These campaigns also triggered hope and […]

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Disability Published articles

Dialogue In The Dark

Imagine a situation while you are having dinner, the lights go off. No candle is available, no torch or emergency lamps, you are compelled to carry on with dinner in the dark. I guess you would rely on your hands to feel what is on your plate, you would use your sense of smell and […]

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Biography Disability Sports

September 22, 1996, Should Be Remembered

At 9a.m. on the 21st of September, 1996, the late Sri Madhavrao Scindia and I walked into the board room of the YWCA Blue Triangle on Ashok Road, New Delhi for the inaugural session of the first ever International conference on cricket for the blind. 18 eager delegates representing 7 cricket playing countries were seated […]

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Biography Inspiration Sports

The Journey Begins…

Cricket for the blind, a cracker of an idea. A national passion that could dramatically transform lives, alter perceptions and with global possibilities. I certainly could not be falted for my delight and enthusiasm. On my return home from Dehradun I told my wife and friends that I was going to organise the first ever […]

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Biography

The Tiger Sights His Prey!

Mexico city, 1968: The American Jim Hines sprinted his way to Olympic glory winning the 100m Gold Medal smashing the 10sec barrier. He was the first human being to accomplish this feat. He clocked a World record breaking 9.95 sec. This record stood for nearly 15 years. As a 10 year old I was totally […]

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Biography

Rousing of the Tiger

On an autumn morning in 1989, as I stood watching the blind kids playing cricket at the NIVH (National Institute for the Visually Handicapped) Dehradun, several ideas and thoughts flashed through my mind. Some were to do with the kind of projects I could take up to promote the game while others had to do […]

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Disability Media Published articles

Has the scenario really changed in the past decade?

A few years ago, I was invited to be a panelist on the popular TV show “The Big Fight” on ND TV. The topic for debate was “Is the Govt of India doing enough for the country’s disabled population?” While the Govt was being bashed and blamed for not doing enough, I asked the anchor […]

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Biography

In His Time

In December 1988, I quit my job in Advertising. I had decided to take up projects with blind and visually impaired people. I was determined to change the way blind people lived and the way the World perceived them. I started going out and meeting people. Started sharing my vision and my ideas. There was […]

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Biography

God leads…

It was the winter of 1987, my wife and I had just relocated from Mumbai to Delhi. We had found ourselves a little flat in the Western suburbs of the city. We were expecting our first baby. One evening my wife expressed her desire to learn Braille and transcribe books for blind school children. I […]