CHANDRA BABU: MAXIMISING ABILITIES DESPITE BEING BLIND
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| Chandra Babu, Geetha Bhavan, Ayirooppara, near Vattappara, Thiruvananthapuram |
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Blind high school teacher Chandra Babu’s advice to the physically impaired is this: “ Do not worry how others view us. Just think of what you wish to become.”
A person who has maximized his abilities to compensate for his disabilities, Chandra Babu can surely say that. As a student he won prizes in more than 700 competitions in Mrudamgam, Mimicry, Elocution, Poetry Recitation, Story Writing, Poetry, Kathaprasangam and Mono Act. He even won the Education Minister’s special gold cup for the best disabled artist and won a 3 year scholarship from Sangeetha Nataka Academy to further studies in Mrudangam.
30-year-old Chandra Babu who lost his eyesight at 12, later studied Mrudangam at Sree Chithira Tirunal College of Music while undergoing treatment for blindness. Though the treatment wasn’t successful, music gave him direction and purpose in life.
In 1992 he passed SSLC and then completed Pre Degree at S.N.College, Chempazhanthy. Later he successfully completed the teacher training course at DIET, Attingal and then joined University College, Thiruvananthapuram as a student of B.A. Malayalam. In 1998 he became a teacher in a Govt.School and after 1 year got transferred to his Alma Mater, Govt.High School, Ayirooppara.
Though he joined the teaching profession with trepidation, the cooperation of his students and colleagues helped him to succeed in this role also. Not one to keep idling, he later obtained his M.A degree by correspondence course.
His leadership qualities come to the fore while being active for the rights of the disabled. He has organised the Kerala Specialised and Physically Impaired Teachers Union and is now its General Secretary. For the welfare of the aged and the disabled, he has formed another organization, Spirit India.
He is pleading on his own before the Lok Ayakt against the discriminatory policy of the Government in appointment to Blind Schools.
He often travels travels to many cities of India. Contrary to expectations, Chandra Babu prefers to go alone during such journeys.
Chandra Babu in the class room
Courtesy: S.T.Biju, Kerala Kaumudi, December 4, 2002
Contributed by: Administrator
