CHENNAI: As a way of showcasing their work to the outside world, blind writers and poets exhibited their work at Chennai Book Fair for the first time
More than 30 books were exhibited by the Karna Vidya Foundation for the first time, though the foundation has been setting up stalls for a long time.
Speaking to DT Next, K Raghuraman, advisor to the foundation with visual impairment said, “Though we’ve been setting up stalls for several years, we decided that the need to exhibit work of blind writers and poets. Of the over 30 authors, we were able to sell the work of over 12 blind writers.”
Though the books by these authors cannot be purchased from the stall, Raghuraman pointed out that the readers were connected to the author. “Those who were interested in reading the work of a particular author were encouraged to approach the author. Through this, we were able to encourage the writers too,” he stated.
Raghuraman, also an assistant professor, Department of English at Government Arts College, Nandanam, noted that besides creative work, the stall also had exhibited the books for the blind. “Technology is the future for all, especially those with blindness. So, we had exhibited books of assistive devices, and the need to learn technology and inclusive education. Gladly, we were able to see the good reach of it among the public,” he added.
The stall also entailed books on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), engineering and the need to use technology by the blind people to pursue higher education.