Braille books bring joy to visually impaired children

Rupom is a visually impaired child with a passion for books. Even though he can not see, he is much eager to read poems, stories and novels like everyone else. But there are not many books in Braille available for visually impaired people.

To help the visually impaired children take delight in the joy of reading, Sporsho Braille Prokashona has brought out six books in Braille at the Amar Ekushey Granthamela 2016 yesterday. These books were formally launched through a ceremony at the Bangla Academy's Nazrul Mancha. Sporsho has been publishing books in Braille since 2009. Since its invention in 1824, Braille, a tactile writing system for the visually impaired, has been a gift to millions.    

At the ceremony, a delighted Rupom read out a poem for the audience from a book. The other children, who accompanied him during the occasion, were eager to start reading as well.

The books are Bangabandhur Bir Gantha by Syed Shamsul Haque, Ekattorer Lorai by Mustafa Jabbar, Lily Puter Chhoto Bhai by Lutfar Rahman Riton, Koni Boni Moni by Nazia Zabeen, Kishore Kishorider Shasthakatha and Amader Priyo Nobi.

Nazia Zabeen, founder of Sporsho, urged Bangla Academy to dedicate a day for the visually impaired and compel big publication houses to publish at least one book in Braille and audio version.

"The visually impaired have the same rights…We will ask publishers to publish a book every year in Braille version," said Aktari Mamtaz, secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs.  "It is not possible to bring an all out progress by keeping a group behind," Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of Bangla Academy said, promising to allot 40 mintues this year during the Granthamela for the visually impaired and one day from next year.

Rubaba Dowla, chief service officer, Airtel Bangladesh said if people take the initiative to publish more books in Braille then the scope for the development of the visually impaired will widen.

Luva Nahid Choudhury, editor of Jal Pore Pata Nore, a monthly magazine which publishes a Braille version for visually impaired, said they are able to offer news in Braille because of Sporsho. "We need to bring a change in our mindset about the visually impaired," she stressed.

Later, copies of the books were distributed among some visually impaired people for free. Sporsho so far has published 35 books in Braille.

A total of 64 new books hit the fair yesterday.