Shorewala teaches Braille to the sighted so they can help the blind

But it’s an unfolding anarchy that 25-year-old Vikas Shorewala cannot see. Hewades peacefully through this deluge of humans who, unlike water, somehow never drain off.Despite his white cane, he seems to walk with a purpose. For the past two months, eversince he advertised in a local daily that he would teach Braille to people who can see, hehas been getting calls. "Some are just curious, others want to learn," he says.He wants to teach Braille to a few good people who in turn can help the blind. "Idon’t charge. All I want is that these people go out and volunteer to help the blindwithout expecting any money. But I know I cannot control it. If some people want to make aprofession out of it, I cannot help it."

Shorewala doesn’t have a headcount of how many people he has taught. "Butpeople have been trickling in. Some are house-wives, others students. I tell them ifthey’re just curious to know what it’s all about they should read a book or findsome other source. I want to teach them Braille in depth so that they can master it, notjust know something about it. It takes time and I think a lot of people don’t havetime. I get very happy when I meet a few who are committed to mastering Braille." Ittakes at least two sittings a week lasting for about two hours each over a period of twoor three months, depending on the individual’s learning capacity.

Shorewala had earlier given ads asking for volunteers who would read books out to him."A lot of people responded. Then I thought if there are so many people who want tohelp, why don’t I too be of some use? That’s when I decided to teachBraille."

Once a student finds him, Shorewala starts patiently with explaining who Louis Braillewas and the rest of its history. Then he teaches writing on the Braille slate and typingon the Braille typewriter. He is a natural teacher, gifted with a systematic approach thathelps him categorise the whole into parts. He continues to advertise every week and waitsfor calls from people with what he calls a "social mentality". Sometimes thevolunteers are not regular and dole out excuses like "there was traffic on the roador that there was a marriage or something", but Shorewala can see through all that.It is difficult to fool him, and it’s an important virtue for a pedagogue.

His disability doesn’t stop Shorewala from being an impatient young mancharacterised by the idealism that’s characteristic of pople like he. When hereceives a response to his ad over the phone, he briefs the prospective volunteer on whylearning Braille is not exactly a great way to while away time but that he’s lookingfor committed people who promise to be regular. Of late, he has also been amused by thevisually gifted. He is entertained by the luxury of inaccuracy that sighted folks canafford. So, when you meet him he may give you a scale which is a component of the Brailleslate, and ask you to count the cells. If you think there are 36 cells, his face willlight up because that’s the right answer. But his face will light up even if you arewrong.

In the middle of all this, this sociology graduate is also looking for a job. "Anyjob." But even if he finds one, he will continue to spare time to teach people whowant to learn. "I have time. I don’t watch TV," he says. To contact him,write to: Vikas Shorewala, 143, Dhemka Bhavan, 1st Floor, Block No. 2, Fanaswadi, OppSitaram Poddar School, Sitaram Poddar Marg, Mumbai 400 002, or call 2018989, 2065870.