Introduction

Of the many defects from which man suffers, some can be cured and some will involve alternative arrangements to help one get along in life. Some defects are crucial and totally disrupt life, and the people around a person with such a defect will also face difficulties.

Blindness is one such defect; it is life without light. It can make a person’s life miserable and dependent on someone else for everything. A blind person who has not been appropriately trained cannot move freely in society.

Inspiration

Inspired by the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, the members of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (SSSO), Chennai Metro West, Tamil Nadu, have taken up service to society as a way of life. Their goal is to make life more meaningful and useful by serving fellow human beings and removing some of their suffering.

The Organisation began reading for the blind on a small scale in August 1977, with 15 blind persons. Over the past 35 years, the activities have multiplied with a substantial growth in number of beneficiaries – more than 200 in 2012. Additional service activities, such as instruction in Braille and scribing, help the beneficiaries to contribute more and climb the ladder of success.

Positive result

Blind persons, aided by Braille, translated the book, Sai Baba: Man of Miracles, by Howard Murphet, as well as Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, by Prof. N. Kasturi, from English into Tamil, and their contributions were blessed by Sathya Sai Baba in 1981.

Sri T. Rengarajan, (Retd) Assistant Executive Engineer, TNEB, from West Mambalam, has been teaching the blind students since 2004 in both Tamil and English. He writes, “In the initial years, the students were fed with biscuits, tea, and coffee, and this over time developed and converted into food packets and variety meals. Now, full meals are being served, since many have come forward to contribute for the food for the blind.”  He adds that students are provided with stationery, walking sticks, and other materials required.

Sri Dhanya Narayanan from West Mambalam, a reader for the blind for the past five years, says, “It is a pleasure to be the eye for the visually impaired for at least two hours in a week. These sessions triggered me to take up or rather switch my career from engineering field to the developmental/social field. I am immensely happy to be a part of this Sunday activity and long for Sundays, which help me to add value to someone else’s life, directly or indirectly.”

Development through inspiration

Taking inspiration from this divine effort, many more units by the members of the Sai organisation sprang up to help the blind. Students of  the Sri Sathya Sai University, already educated in the spiritual path, are involved in such divine service activities, including village service and service to the blind. Inspired by the unsullied love of Sai Baba, these student in general contribute immensely to the activities of the Sathya Sai Seva organisation soon after they graduate from the university.Yet, it is heartening to note that 90% of the persons contributing to this service activity are not members of Sai organisation but were inspired by the selfless loving service of members of the Sai organisation.

Ladies active services

Ladies of the Chennai Metro West SSSO have participated in scribing (writing an exam under the direction of the blind student) for visually challenged persons for more than 12 years at the Little Flower Convent in Chennai for 10^th and 12^th standard students. About 33 students are in the 10^th and 12^th standard. Normally, scribing commences from September every year. The exams run for 6 days, and about 17 volunteers are needed each day. Accordingly, about 112 lady volunteers participate and, during December exams, 200 ladies participate. From January until March, the revision exam starts, with about 500 persons participating in scribing.

Since 2011, many ladies participate in scribing at Lyola College, Nungambakkam in Chennai. The exam is conducted in 4 sessions per day for 6 days. The scribing started with a participation of 124 lady volunteers; now, about 221 ladies help scribe for about 57 students. In all, about 90 visually challenged people have benefited. Also, motivated by the members of our Sai Organisation, parents of the childrens wing of the Organisation and neighbours and friends of Sai devotees have begun participating in scribing.

Additional Info

Project Coordinator: Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-Tamil Nadu

Contact Person:

1. Sri G Varadhan, State President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation-Tamil Nadu State,

mail ID: tnspvaradhang@gmail.com

2. Sri K R Suresh, Vice-President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Tamil Nadu State

mail ID: tnvpsuresh@gmail.com

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