Dreams of vision impaired come true

Pranay Dhanur, 19, who studied arts, was overjoyed when he learnt that he scored 82%. The Mumbai Central resident, who suffers from 70% vision impairment, was diagnosed with cataract when he was two months old.

Pranay Dhanur, 19, who studied arts, was overjoyed when he learnt that he scored 82%. The Mumbai Central resident, who suffers from 70% vision impairment, was diagnosed with cataract when he was two months old.

Dhanur was one of the five students who appeared for their HSC exams through the Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) at St Xavier’s College, Dhobi Talao.

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“I always paid attention during lectures and was particular about my attendance which helped me score well. Also the teachers at XRCVC were tremendously helpful,” said Dhanur.

Having studied in Marathi till Class 10 through Happy Home and School for the Blind, Worli, Dhanur faced problems adjusting to the English medium environment in his college. However, intensive English language training helped Dhanur who now speaks fluently. He has his life planned out –a degree in economics and a master in business administration.

Another XRCVC student, Amar Pawar, 18, combated 75% vision impairment caused by albinism, a melanin deficiency, scored 78.66% in the exam. A day before his first board exam, Pawar’s reader and writer informed him that she could not make it for his board exams and XRCVC arranged another writer for him. “I never had a reader and writer and it was tough coordinating with a new one,” said Pawar, a Ghatkopar resident. Spelling and grammatical errors worried Pawar until he learned about grammatical concessions for blind students.

Pawar hopes to become an Indian administrative service officer someday.

Pawar has founded Nayan Foundation, which organises trekking trips for vision impaired students.