i'm pleased to inform you all about a new project that farook college calicut Kerala is initiating for the visually challenged. The ugc has granded sanction for a proposal submitted by them to publish an anthology of the visually challenged. the particulars are as follows.
COLLECTING AND PUBLISHING ARTICLES AND CREATIVE WRITING OF VISUALLY CHALLENGED IN KERALA. Introduction Studies on the Disabled is one of the emerging areas of the contemporary academic scenario. In the past decades many important initiatives have been taken both nationally and internationally to promote the interests of the persons with disabilities. The UN convention on “Persons with Disabilities” and the Persons with Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act 1995 passed by the Government of India are two major steps in this direction. Though technology has created a great space for the communities like visually challenged, they have not yet started producing literature to discuss their problems, experience and aesthetics. Especially in South Indian states no work has been done in this respect either by the challenged community or the sighted who are very close to the community. As per the last census 2.5% of the population of India is differently-abled and the 48% of this group is visually challenged. In this age where even the sexual minorities like Gay, Lesbian and the transgendered have developed their own theoretical perspectives to highlight their issues, it is little wonder to note that such a strong intellectually rooted community like visually challenged has not yet moved in that direction. So any work done in this area will be highly useful and productive. Objectives Collecting, editing, translating into English and publishing the works, articles, interviews, autobiographical snippets and other creative endeavours of the visually challenged in Braille, sighted script and e-format. To incorporate observations and articles of those who work very close to the visually challenged (teachers, trainers, psychologists and social activists). Trace the aesthetic experience of the visually challenged giving emphasis to the authenticity of their perception. Undertake an enquiry on why the aesthetics and theoretical perspective of the visually challenged have not yet been formulated in spite of the technological advancement. Focus on the society’s stereotypes in the perception and construction of the visually challenged To nourish the creative dynamics of the visually challenged and foster an interest in them towards excellence by providing new avenues. To analyse the projection in the mass media including films and bring out the fallacies of the sighted with regard to the identity of the visually challenged. To open the eyes of the general public to the issues relating to visual impairment. Relevance Farook College being one of the earliest educational institutions in Malabar, has the tradition of promoting the interest of the persons with disabilities including visually challenged. It is already providing special facilities like the Digital Talking Book Library, Braille Literature and recorded resource materials for the visually challenged. A Forum named “Insight” is functioning in the College to hone up the artistic, literary and athletic skills of this challenged community. In the long history of its course over 500 visually challenged have done their studies in Farook College and many are highly placed. About 40 students are doing their studies in the College now. Hence publishing an anthology of this kind will give the College an avenue to represent the interests of such a very important section in society. It will help to bring to light the real issues of the visually challenged and to suggest solutions. The year 2009 is being celebrated as the bi-centenary of the birth anniversary of Louis Braille who was instrumental in elevating the status of the visually challenged to the present level. By introducing the Braille script and promoting education among the visually challenged through special institutions he aspired to create an identity for them. A work of this nature will be a tribute and highly relevant and significant to celebrate the reformatory spirit instilled by people like him. It is high time that a platform be formed to discuss the issues relating to the visually challenged. It is hoped that this study will be a step in the right direction. Methodology Materials for the Project would be collected with the help of Associations like Kerala Federation of the Blind, Society for the Rehabilitation of the Visually Challenged and any other NGOs working in this area. Interviews and interactive sessions with celebrated persons and researchers in this area will be held. Creative works, other writings and observations will also be gathered through the media and Internet. Workshops and Seminars will be organised to identifying and discuss issues and to raise awareness in the society. A panel of experts from the sighted and the non-sighted will be constituted to evaluate creative works for the anthology and creative works would be invited through the media as well as the Internet and translated into English wherever necessary. please help him by contributing your articles and creative contributions. This being the first one of this kind we must make it a success. The contributions can be send to pfvien...@gmail.com. To contact Habeeb mail to habee...@gmail.com or hab...@farookcollege.ac.in to talk to him call to 09946265483. to send things by post, Habeeb c. Assistant professor, Department of English Farook college, p.o. calicut pin 673932. the last date for recieving the scripts 30 september. those of you are sending the scripts please add a short biography to it, including your where abouts, proffesson if any, nature of disability or what experience you habe with the visually challenged. regards, P. balaraman. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ 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
