Anindya Bhattacharya : A transition from a life of darkness to light
From a simple village kid near Calcutta to a sophisticated computer technologist in New York, Anindya “Bapin” Bhattacharya, despite being deafblind has chosen to travel the path less travelled. Here he recounts his story in his own words.

I remember when I first became blind at age nine. Life was not easy. I lost a lot of friends because they were fearful about how to communicate with me. While struggling to acquire a new life without sight, I often felt like committing suicide. That was when I began to learn one of the greatest virtues – patience. God has always found a way to lead me to the right place where He knew I would be happy.
I am grateful to my parents who knew how to handle my deafness. In school, the pupils mocked and took advantage of my deafness. So I became rebellious and naughty and the school expelled me. Soon, I became blind in my right eye and then the left too because my retina had been damaged. I was confined to my home for four years.

My life changed completely from a tunnel of darkness and frustration to one of light when I came to Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts, U.S.A. I rolled up my sleeves to learn English, Braille and Sign Language, all at the same time.
I am proud to hold a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I have always been fascinated by computers which have given me a new independence and freedom I never even dreamed of. Now I am proud to be working at Helen Keller National Centre at New York because I am helping to improve the quality of life of other deafblind people.
We all have different weaknesses. Sometimes we are afraid to admit to weakness for fear of rejection, but any weakness can become one's strength if we face it, and allow God to use it in our lives. Just because a part of our body is functioning improperly, it does not mean we are dead. We still have our brains to help us find other ways to make adjustments. Persistence, ambition and enthusiasm – these are my THREE important principles...more