Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Education
  • #TeachersSpecial – Visually impaired college lecturer Sangeeta Agrawal aims to give equal opportunities to children in India

#TeachersSpecial – Visually impaired college lecturer Sangeeta Agrawal aims to give equal opportunities to children in India

Education September 12, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
0

Dr Sangeeta Agrawal was born blind but was never made to feel that her disability made her less capable than those around her. It is this feeling of equality that she tries to impart in her role as a Sanskrit lecturer and founder of NGO Shubham.

Confidence and self-reliance is something Dr Sangeeta Agrawal had to learn early. She was just eight years old when she joined a blind girls’ boarding school in New Delhi. Her parents had no choice as none of the mainstream schools in their home town, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, were willing to enrol a visually impaired girl.

“My father traveled to many cities close to our home town to find a school for me after all the general schools in my town turned me away due to my disability”, says Dr Sangeeta, who heads the Sanskrit department at Langat Singh College in Muzaffarpur. “Finally, he got me admitted to a boarding school for blind girls in Delhi called Rashtriya Virjanand Andh Kanya Vidyalaya”.

Living away from her brothers and parents was not easy, but the experience was valuable. “I learned to become self-reliant like learning to wash my clothes, performing daily life tasks, walking independently, learning, reading, and writing, etc. I was growing into an independent person, something I quite enjoyed”. But it also shaped a future goal. “Unlike my brothers who could stay at home, I had to move out just because of my disability and that did bother me. Going ahead I wanted to go back home and empower children with disabilities so they did not have to make the kind of choices I did”.

Empowering disabled kids in small town India

With that goal in mind, Dr Sangeeta dedicated herself to studies. She had an outstanding academic record right through school and college, topping the Delhi University in her B.A and M.A. “In 1992, I completed my Ph.D. in Sanskrit and had two options”, she recalls. “I could stay on and continue with my teaching career or go back home”.

Homeward bound it was and back in Muzaffarpur, she started her teaching career and launched the NGO Shubham.

Shubham’s motto is Atmanirbharattvam Shubham which means empowering everyone to become independent out of goodwill, not pity. Apart from free education, skill development, boarding facility, welfare workshops for physically disabled children, we started the first Braille press that prints books for blind students across Bihar. – Dr Sangeeta Agrawal, Visually impaired college lecturer

National Award winner

Today Dr Sangeeta oversees the Sanskrit department as well as the operations of Shubham. Her efforts won her the National Award in the role model category on World Disability Day in 2019.

An honour she richly deserves say her students. “I was initially quite shocked to find out that she is visually impaired”, says Ankur Choudhary, a first year student of Sanskrit at L.S College. “She is such a great teacher and I never imagined that a visually impaired person could teach”. Another student Ranjan Kumar says his appreciation for Sanskrit has grown after joining Dr Sangeeta’s class. “She brings to life the beauty of Sanskrit. I look forward to her classes”.

Gauri Shankar Thakur, who teaches deaf and hard of hearing children in Muzaffarpur, calls her an avataar of the Goddess of Learning Saraswati. “She knows a lot about various subjects and speaks about them with authority. She is very well-informed and I have had the opportunity to witness her vision and breadth of learning from close”.

Going ahead, Dr Sangeeta wants build an education system where children in India have equal opportunities. “I believe that every person, whatever be the nature of their disability, can lead an independent and useful life with appropriate education and training”, says Dr Sangeeta.

Also Read:

  • Teacher to jalebi seller – Disabled guest teachers in Delhi struggle for survival
0

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Technology
    Check out these free apps that help develop fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy
  • Get-hooked
    Blind MasterChef winner Christine Ha is the face of month-long campaign this International Women’s Day
  • Get-hooked
    Matthew Walzer’s letter continues to make an impact nearly 10 years later
  • Get-hooked,Headlines
    Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Contribue to Newz Hook. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Invite to the telecast & webstreaming of the 2021 CavinKare Ability Awards at 7pm today.

Get-hooked

Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Images of the 5 apps featured in article

Technology

Check out these free apps that help develop fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy

Matthew Walzer is wearing a blue shirt

Get-hooked

Matthew Walzer’s letter continues to make an impact nearly 10 years later

Christine Ha has covered her eyes and the words how you see me are on the back of her hand

Get-hooked

Blind MasterChef winner Christine Ha is the face of month-long campaign this International Women’s Day

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

#AutismPower - Mumbai's Cafe Arpan is brewing a change, along with great coffee

Get-hooked

'We have only one life, so live it to the fullest' - My Take by Krishnakumar PS

Get-hooked

Kerala government campaign on importance of mental health has a strong message for parents

Get-hooked

Deafblind student Asha Patwal’s powerful message wins top award at UN World Data Forum contest

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook is a media site focusing on Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight stories that share insights into the lives of people with disabilities, offer solutions and create collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who share knowledge about disability, inclusion & accessibility.

Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.