In 2016, I was fortunate to be a participant in Disabilities Studies conference held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The conference focused on the various problems faced by the disabled in India. The adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an inspirational template by various organisations, universities and schools was also explored and examined in some detail and depth. The conference's main academic output was an edited book, published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis in 2019. The editors also included my paper on mutism in the work of Rabindranath Tagore for the book. I was overjoyed at seeing my name in print. But joy soon gave way to introspection. Disabilities Studies requires urgent, immediate work in the social world, while my contribution as yet was much more textual and academic in nature.
In April 2022, I secured a micro-grant, sponsored by the United States Embassy, and began work soon after. Between May and September, a space of just 5 months, I learnt more about disability than I could have ever imagined. I will always be thankful for this opportunity to work with the disabled.
Disability in Translation: The Indian Experience, ed. Someshwar Sati and G.J.V. Prasad (Routledge, Taylor & Francis: Delhi), 2019.
I have contributed a paper on mutism in the works of Rabindranath Tagore.
The image has been sourced from the Routledge, Taylor and Francis official website.
Only Connect! is based in Indore, a city born of trade and commerce; and deeply influenced by the political legacies of the erstwhile Holkar State of Madhya Pradesh. Indore is known for its food and its rich culture in music. In June 2022, I set out to conduct a thorough survey of disabled and non-disabled schools, colleges and public institutions in the city. I met with parents, students, headmasters and college principals. By July, my survey was complete.
The oldest public school for the disabled in Indore is 101 years old. I was fortunate to be able to learn about its teaching pedagogy, educational curriculum and its students, in detail, from the current school principal, Mr. Nitindra Badjatiya. He informed me that disabled schools have diverse student populations. The vast majority welcome students with multiple disabilities.
I soon extended the scope of my survey to all other public schools for the disabled in Indore, focussing particularly on the deaf, the mute and the blind. I travelled to every school, met every principal (and wherever possible the entire teaching staff), and made a careful note of their contact details. I discovered a world where students are happy to come to school, and teachers are committed to teaching full time, even beyond the classroom. I was treated with great kindness wherever I went. My life has been enriched by these schools, their students and their teachers. Disability Studies is incomplete without the schools, the pupils and those who strive to teach them. Everyday.
Much of my work involved detailed photographic cataloguing of schools: logos, buildings, classrooms, facilities and related infrastructure. Unless other wise mentioned, all photographs in this website have been taken by me. All textual information is sourced from detailed interviews with stakeholders: school principals and parents.
Logo of the Deaf,Dumb and Blind Schol, "Sewa Mandir"
The school was founded in 1921
Helen Keller Academy for the Blind
Photograph of the school foyer.
A mostly-residential school for blind, low vision and vision impaired students. Currently, 100 students study here. The principal, Ms. Sanjeevani Dobhal, informed me that most alumni have found gainful employment and successful careers in the public-sector.
Shrimati Saraswati Devi Mohata Drishtiheen
Balika Vidyalaya
Administered by the Mahesh Drishtiheen Kalyan Sangh
Madhya Pradesh Drishtiheen Kalyan Sangh
Established in 1960, this organisation supports the Helen Keller Academy for the Blind. It is particularly focussed on helping its students live independent and dignified lives.
Anand Badheer Society for Deaf Students
A memorial school for the disabled in Vijaynagar.
National Association for the Blind
Founded in 1979, this school is the Indore branch of the National Association for the Blind. The Association is headquartered in Mumbai
Shaskiya Drashti evam Shravan Badhit Higher Secondary School, Samaj Kalyan Parisar
Setup by the Department of Social Justice and disability welfare, Govt. of MP, specifically for lower-income groups. It is a residential school with special educators appointed by the MP government, and follows an innovative "barrier-free" curriculum.
An "Annie" smart classroom in Shaskiya Drashti evam Shravan Badhit Higher Secondary School
Annie smart classrooms aim to introduce technology into pedagogy, thereby reducing the requirement for special educators.
Rotary Paul Harris School
The school was founded in 1964, runs four types of classes: nursery, pre-primary, primary, pre-vocational.
Shasakiya Asthi Badhinartha Higher Secondary School
Founded in 1963, this school is the product of an MP Government initiative.
The school teaches class 1-12 and focuses on educating children with bone related disabilities.
