I am proud to say that Porkodi, mentioned in the article, was my classmate in Masters between 1994-96. She has been a social worker right from her college days. Very inspiring person and I am happy to learn that she is doing phenominal work for the community.
Subramani On 8/2/10, saravanan.ramadoss1 <saravanan.ramado...@gmail.com> wrote: > > The will to win > From the streets to the college classroom, the path of Kaiser's life is lit > by her enthusiasm to excel. > > Photo: R. Ragu > > Kaiser > > As Kaiser walks through the campus of Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai, > she is overcome by a myriad of emotions. The campus is buzzing with activity > as > the academic year has just started. She walks from her hostel to classroom > brimming with confidence and chatting with her friends all the while. Not > until > she takes the help of a friend to climb a staircase or opens her Braille > textbook does one realise that she is visually-challenged. Fifteen years > ago, > Kaiser would not have imagined that she would step into one of the famous > campuses on the road that was a virtual home for her and her mother. Her > transformation > from being a destitute to an undergraduate student was made possible by two > institutions in the city - The Banyan and the Ethiraj College for Women. > > Kaiser's extraordinary story of transition began in 1997, when Porkodi of > The Banyan and its student volunteers rescued Kaiser and her mother from the > bus > stop near Ethiraj College. "Kaiser was blind and her mother was mentally > ill. A few months later, we sent her to Little Flower Convent. When she was > in > Class VII, a surgery was done and after that she can see light and dark. She > continues to be partially blind and uses Braille books," says Ms. Porkodi. > > "Kaiser is hardworking, focused and sincere. She had a clear vision about > her future," says Vandana Gopikumar, founder of The Banyan. Kaiser made her > mentors > and well-wishers proud by securing 918 marks out of 1200 in Class XII. "Even > though Kaiser applied to various colleges in the city, it was Ethiraj > College > that invited her for admission, and encouraged her to opt for history," says > Ms. Gopikumar. In the classroom she attentively listens to lectures and > reads > Braille textbooks. > > "Our college, especially the history department, is well-equipped to handle > and support visually-challenged students as we admit such candidates every > year," > says M. Thavamani, college principal. "Some of Kaiser's service-minded > classmates will assist her and also she can use the book-reading software > available > in the library." > > Kaiser was keen on doing psychology and later dedicating herself to social > work. But as the subject of psychology requires field work which may not be > practically > possible for her to do, she opted for history. "I am happy to have taken up > B.A. History. I now plan to study for the IAS examination. It is my dream > and > I am willing to work very hard to realise my dream," says Kaiser. > > "With her dedication and keen mind, I am sure she will realise her dream one > day," says Ms. Gopikumar. Vision is not just a matter of physical ability. > As the Kaiser story signifies, it is about determination too. > The source taken from > The Hindu, Education plus August 2, 2010. > ------ > CHITRADEEPA A. > ______ > Please feel free to pass your comments, feedbacks & new ideas to the below > menntioned contact details. > Email: > saravanan.ramado...@gmail.com > saravanan_2...@hotmail.com > ******* > The harder the conflicts, the more glorious the triumph - Thomas Paine. > True friendship consists not inn multitude of friends, but in their worth > and value - Ben Jonson. > ###### > Adieu. > Saravanan.R > $$$$$$$$$ > > > > Voice your thoughts in the blog to discuss the Rights of persons with > disability bill at: > http://www.accessindia.org.in/harish/blog.htm > > To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with > the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > Voice your thoughts in the blog to discuss the Rights of persons with disability bill at: http://www.accessindia.org.in/harish/blog.htm To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
