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DIVERSITY
The story of a 10th-grade student who defied vision loss to score 97% in his CBSE Board Examinations
BY RAM KAMAL
Alfin has always been a bright, charismatic boy. Up until the end of his sixth-grade year, he was the undisputed academic topper of his class. Then, tragedy struck, and he lost his eyesight entirely.
The very school that had proudly celebrated his achievements and also spotted his visual challenge while he was at 4th grade suddenly faced an unfamiliar dilemma. Apprehensive about how to educate a student who could no longer read standard print or write traditionally, the administration admitted they lacked the specialized expertise required to teach a blind student. They started seeking how to support Alfin, their favourite student.
At this critical crossroads, refusing to let Alfin's academic journey be derailed, his father, Anish, sought guidance. Acting on a recommendation from a counselor at the Punarjani Centre, Anish reached out to Mr. George of the Score Foundation in New Delhi. Mr. George immediately put the family in contact with Chakshumathi, an organization dedicated to empowering the visually impaired through assistive technologies. The first directive from Chakshumathi was straightforward yet transformative: buy Alfin a laptop, and let his family guide him through keyboard orientation and typing at home.
What followed was a masterclass in familial solidarity. Alfin's mother, Aneesha, his father, Anish, and his older sister, Fiza, united under a single, ambitious goal: to equip Alfin with the right tools and see him reclaim his position as the school topper.
Most of the initial instruction took place through online sessions. The entire family actively researched digital resources to expand their technical know-how. Alfin proved to be an incredibly adaptive learner; within a single month, he mastered computer navigation and independent web surfing. By learning to read and write digital text efficiently without sight, he effortlessly bridged the visual gap.
Alfin resides in Kozhencherry, Kerala, and attends the Savio English Medium School, which is affiliated with the CBSE board. After a month of purely telephonic and online support, we decided it was time to visit him in person. The family undoubtly thankful to the school for their mindful support.
I traveled to his home alongside Manavāa Chakshumathi senior residing in nearby Chengannur who had been mentoring Alfināand Abhinav, a budding film actor and dedicated Chakshumathi volunteer. Our objective was to evaluate his immense progress and initiate essential life-skills training, including orientation, mobility, white cane navigation, and accessing digital literature through the Bookshare platform.
Past experience had taught us to expect a degree of hesitation from families when introducing a white cane. Sadly, many families attempt to hide a child's blindness to shield them from societal labels or well-meaning but limiting sympathy. Alfin's family, however, understood a fundamental truth: absolute independence is the true catalyst for success.
Not only did they embrace mobility training, but Alfin also completely astounded us with his technological forward-thinking. He was already exploring how the Internet of Things (IoT) could revolutionize daily living for the blind. In fact, his family had already automated their home, connecting electrical switches and everyday appliances to IoT networks so that Alfin could operate them independently using Alexa voice commands.
Remarkably, all of this was achieved with less than a month of formal training to set him on his path. From that point forward, Alfin simply needed occasional check-ins with his Chakshumathi mentors to troubleshoot minor technical nuances not readily available in online forums.
"My journey into digital learning began when my vision loss became a challenge in accessing traditional printed materials. Technology opened a whole new world for me. By learning to use screen readers, keyboard shortcuts, accessible software, and online educational resources, I gradually became comfortable studying independently on a laptop. At first, it was a little difficult. But with practice, digital tools became an essential part of my daily learning. Today, I use technology not only for studying but also for programming, reading, writing, and exploring new ideas.
Studying in a sighted school as a blind student has been both challenging and rewarding. There were times when classroom activities, printed notes, and visual demonstrations required extra effort and adaptation. However, the unwavering support of my teachers and friends, combined with my own determination to learn, helped me overcome many obstacles. These experiences taught me resilience, problem-solving, and the critical importance of self-confidence. Rather than viewing blindness as a limitation, I learned to discover alternative paths to achieve the exact same goals as my peers.
My school years have helped me grow immensely, both academically and personally. Digital learning has granted me my independence, while mainstream school life has taught me the true value of perseverance and inclusion. Together, they have shaped me into a confident learner who firmly believes that any challenge can be overcome with the right mindset, effort, and support.
I must give part of my success to Mr. P S Jothish, who taught me Mathematics and coding."
Alfin's phenomenal 97% score in the CBSE 10th Board Examinations is a powerful testament to what happens when a child's determination is met with cutting-edge technology and unconditional family support. He has proven that sight is not a prerequisite for vision, and his journey serves as an illuminating blueprint for inclusive education in the modern digital age.
Photo: Alfin in the left posing for a photograph with his mother, Aneesha, father, Anish, and his older sister, Fiza