Braille is a palpable rendition that consists of a number of alphabetical and numerical depictions using raised dots which are arranged in a specific order or number to distinguish each character. Braille is a system that has empowered the visually impaired or partially blind people to look at the world at a wider yet simpler vision enabling them to be a part of the world that had always deprived them and kept them isolated. Such a remarkable system was developed by an equally remarkable man, Louis Braille. Louis Braille, born on 4th January 1809, Paris, was accidentally blinded in an incident that took place while he was fiddling with his father’s tools at their harness workshop. A tool tumbled from his hand in the process and flung into his right eye, as a result, causing sympathetic opthalmia accompanied by total blindness afterwards. In spite of such hardships faced by him, the young boy who had an iron will, which was not meant to be broken by a physical barrier, later went to become a successful and renowned musician as well as an organist. He was a very intelligent and hardworking boy and achieving a deserved scholarship, advanced to the National Institute for Blind Children in 1819 for corresponding course of learning. Impressing everyone with his academic brilliance, he was appointed to teach there. Braille found the system of writing, manifested by Charles Barbier at the institution, in which a memorandum expressed in dots signifying phonetic sounds sculpted on a shard of cardboard. Upon crossing the age of 15, he devised a modification, written with a simple instrument, that fulfilled the requirements of the visually blind which was a system that comprised of a six-dot code in unique sequences and combinations. He later took it to the next level by shaping it into musical notations. He published a disquisition of his type system in 1829 following the publish of a three-volume braille edition of a popular history schoolbook. The mighty blind man, who saw more than anyone could ever see, died by an unfortunate illness of tuberculosis in January 6th, 1852 and a century after his death, his remains were shifted to Paris for burial in the Pantheon.
To pay tribute to his revolutionary and public-benefitting maneuvers and to acquaint the visually impaired with the importance of the system that has changed their lives, named after its magnanimous inventor, Braille, the World Braille Day is commemorated every 4th of January, the birthdate of Louis Braille. The inextricable role of the Braille in the colorless lives of the sightless is prodigious. The ones, who were socially isolated, are now able to communicate with people all over the globe. They have been able to contribute to the world’s development and now, instead of being a liability to their family, nation and planet, they are contributing in the world’s economy as well as excelling in all fields with ease due to the indelible aid provided by the system of Braille. The visually impaired have been able to excel in different fields and the following are some examples of those who have become legends now, but couldn’t have reached such heights if they weren’t inspired by the invention of Braille by a person, who was like them.:
- Ray Charles (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004): – Ray Charles, also known as ‘Brother Ray’, was a renowned American pianist and musician who configured the melody of rhythms and blues. He uplifted the country music ad pop standards by providing it a soulful sound and customized a stunning rendition of “America the Beautiful” that Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes praised it to be the most efficient version of the song, an American anthem. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine recognized him as the 10th Greatest Artist of All Time as well as nominated him for the 2nd Greatest Singer of All Time. He achieved all this fame by overcoming his physical disability of blindness due to glaucoma.
- Helen Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968): – She was a prominent American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer who was born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama. After receiving an early education in both specialized and mainstream curriculum, she attended Harvard university, where she became the first blind and deaf person in history to graduate college. Subsequently, she started working for the American Foundation for the Blind (1924 – 1968), where she toured the entire world supporting the sightless.
- Harriet Tubman (March 1822 – March 10, 1913): – Tubman was a brave and bold American abolitionist and political activist who was a beacon for courage and freedom. Due to sustaining an early head injury, she was left visually, which couldn’t stop her strong will from marching forward. She played the role of a union spy during the civil war and is celebrated for guiding hundreds of African American slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She was the first woman ever to escort an armed expedition in civil war which liberated more than 700.
All these remarkably passionate people proved that being visually or physically impaired is rather an emotional fight, which could be won easily with a strong will and a positive attitude of never giving up in life or sometimes even on life and World Braille Day is just a reminder to the new generation of physically challenged people that it is never about the things that aren’t there but it is always knowing and enriching what is there. These people have thought only of a single motivation which was not letting other people like them in the future suffer and make life easier for them. This day is to appreciate them and what they have accomplished along with respecting the inventions they have given for the betterment of mankind, ending its physical barriers, starting with the most prominent and widely used means of communication, i.e., the Braille. We, the physically and mentally challenged as well as the obstruction-free people, need to learn and inherit these positive and life impersonating qualities from these brave people who define humanity at its peak and never give up as well as inspiring people surrounding us not to give up.
By Aantor Kar , West Bengal
