Sudhindra

“Because I could not see, I thought I had to sit at home.”

When Sudhindra was six, his vision began to deteriorate. He underwent surgery,
but it didn’t work. Soon he was completely blind.
“I got to know Samuha when I was 13 years old. They came home and took me to Hubli
for a 10-day training in Braille. This helped me pass my 10 th Standard SSLC exam.
Later, Samuha sent me to the National Association for the Blind in Bangalore for mobility
training. Samuha had given me a stick, and I rigorously practiced moving around every
day.”
All he needed was a good dose of confidence.
“At the NAB, they used to say, it’s easy to come to Bangalore on your own. You just need
to go to the bus stop. You don’t need to walk to Bangalore. The bus will bring you here!”
Now Sudhindra knows he can do most things he sets his mind to.
“I learnt Braille typing from one person and even basket weaving. See, I can do all
the jobs which you do. I operate my cell phone on my own. When I realized I was very
interested in music, I enrolled in a music school. I completed my senior grade exam. Now
I am called to perform at programs in my area.”
Sudhindra feels that Samuha gave him and others with disabilities the initial ‘leg up’
support they needed to move forward on their own.
“Samuha has informed us well about the legal entitlements we can claim. The road
leading to my house was in very bad condition. I was the one who spoke to the authorities
and got it repaired. I also got my bus pass.”
And where individual effort is not enough, Sudhindra now knows he can find
strength in community.
“We formed a self-help group for people with disabilities. We save money, which we use to
support education for people with disabilities. We teach exercises to people affected by polio.
We also help people access their entitlements. [For instance,] at first I was refused my
pension because my father held a government job. Our group held a strike and demanded
the pension. When a government office we need to access regularly was moved upstairs, we

protested, saying that many people with disabilities could not get up the stairs. The office
was moved back downstairs. One time, someone filed a complaint against a person with
disability for using a supportive device that made noise. We got the complaint dismissed.
Individually we cannot [always succeed], but as part of this group, we have been able to
accomplish a lot.”