To see the unseen
Reading a book and flipping through its colourful pages is a simple and pleasurable experience that most of us enjoy and often take for granted. But not Upasana Makati. A journalism student from Jai Hind college, Upasana believes that it is an experience that should be denied to no one — not even the differently-abled. That urged her to bring out White Print — a lifestyle magazine for the blind.
“When I returned to India from Canada after my communication studies, I noticed a Braille advertisement in a newspaper and that is what gave me the idea to start a Braille magazine. I noticed that there was hardly any material for them to read and hence came out with a lifestyle magazine,” she says.
Printed in Grade 2 Braille, this 64-paged publication is not only entertaining but also informative. “The magazine consists of articles on food, travel, music, technology and humour. Along with success stories, we have also decided to put in a readers’
contribution column that will encourage them to write,” continues Upasana.
There are about 12 million people all over India who are visually impaired, 56 lakhs of whom are literate. White Print caters to them. According to the 24-year-old, “The visually impaired also work hard and after a long day, need to come back home and just relax with a book or any other interesting read. Reading is a form of intimate time spent with oneself that everyone deserves.”
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