Eyeway Conversations

In this insightful episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in an inspiring dialogue with Milton Lance, an entrepreneur hailing from Bangalore, driven by a profound passion for music and entrepreneurship.

Milton's journey as the Founder and Director of The Music School Bangalore, a premier music institution in India, is a tale of unwavering determination. Though uncertain of his entrepreneurial path initially, his profound love for music and formal training in drums during college sparked a vision. Graduating from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, he embarked on a transformative journey. Armed with formal music training, including drum studies in college and UK board examinations from 2008 to 2010 with Fraternity, UK, Milton honed his skills through YouTube videos and DVD lessons.

As a visually impaired individual battling Stargardt Disease, with significant central vision loss but a resilient spirit, Milton joined Baldwin High School as a music teacher. His practice sessions during lunchtime caught the attention of students, resulting in a viral video on Facebook. This unexpected publicity led to an influx of inquiries and offers to teach drums, compelling Milton to initiate one-on one sessions in a small room with an electric drum set.

From this modest beginning as the Drum School Bangalore, Milton's venture expanded gradually. Collaborating with friends skilled in other musical instruments, he transformed the school into The Music School Bangalore. The institution's growth was remarkable, offering full-time programs ranging from level 3 extended programs to level 5 second-year bachelor's degrees and gaining accreditation from the UK for vocational qualifications. Additionally, the school facilitates training and credit transfer programs with international universities. Milton is launching TMSB Records, set to showcase original works on their YouTube channel with student and artist compositions.

He adeptly utilizes magnification technology, finding solace in its support since discovering his eye condition in second grade. His path intertwined with his future wife's during martial arts sessions in 8th grade, where their shared passion for karate blossomed into a lasting relationship that culminated in marriage. United not only by their martial arts journey but also by a fervent love for swimming and sailing, they share an unbreakable bond forged through their mutual aquatic pursuits.

Join us to discover Milton's remarkable journey, from overcoming challenges with Stargardt Disease to his passion for music education and a unique love story rooted in martial arts.

To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/j87nbQUryL2XSUgLbu44WPDzMUU?utm_source=copy_url

This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in a profound discussion with Annavaram, a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Hyderabad Central University.

Annavaram, with 12 years of experience as a blind lecturer and faculty, candidly shares the challenges he faced in academia. He provides insights into his teaching methods, utilizing Excel sheets for attendance, and reflects on his unexpected journey from an initial interest in English literature to his current role in sociology.

Born on an island, Annavaram tragically lost his eyesight in early childhood due to the intrusion of exceedingly fine sand particles into his eyes and medical mishandling. His education started at a special school run by missionaries, but it closed down when he was in fourth grade. He then moved to Hyderabad, where he had to engage in activism to secure admission to a government school. Activism played a pivotal role in his life from an early age, addressing the scarcity of Braille books by approaching the state secretary to secure funds for accessibility.

His journey continued with higher education at JNU, where he met his wife. Despite numerous challenges, Annavaram excelled in his studies, eventually becoming a professor at Hyderabad Central University. Beyond academia and advocacy, Annavaram and his wife share a passion for travel, adding a vibrant dimension to their lives.

Join us to listen to Annavaram's story, a testament not only to overcoming personal challenges but also to the transformative power of advocacy.

To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/O9PYE7BF3hMPxK3EGjrGTF-lYd4?utm_source=copy_url

This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this Eyeway Conversations episode, George Abraham engages in a captivating discussion with Aditi Shah, a cybersecurity trailblazer. Aditi's journey, from steering machine learning automations to pioneering AI for cybersecurity within just a few years of her career, is truly remarkable.

Born in Mumbai, Aditi's passion for computers and dreams of becoming a software engineer were disrupted at age 11 when she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, leading to complete vision loss by 15. Undeterred, she pursued her goals with unwavering determination. Throughout her journey, her parents stood as the unyielding pillars of support.

Aditi completed her graduation in Information Technology from the University of Mumbai. Despite her outstanding academic performance, Aditi encountered multiple interview rejections as companies hesitated to consider her for engineering roles. She innovated and found a way forward with freelancing, meanwhile a pivotal moment came when she joined Iraaj, a company specializing in enterprise security solutions. Leading an engineering project at Iraaj, Aditi delved into the world of cybersecurity, discovering her passion for the field.

Aditi's passion for cybersecurity led her to the USA for a master's program at the Georgia School of Technologies in 2018. Her journey there, marked by newfound independence and challenges, culminated in a summer internship at Microsoft, which evolved into a full-time position at the company's Redmond headquarters. At Microsoft, Aditi is a vital member of the Microsoft Security team, where she leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to automate cyber security responses. Her work is dedicated to empowering front line defenders who deal with cyber security threats, ultimately making security more efficient and effective.

Aditi is a multifaceted individual with a deep love for reading, online games, and culinary arts. Her passion extends beyond her technical accomplishments, as she fervently advocates for inclusivity and accessibility, assuming key roles within Microsoft. She co-chairs the disability Employee Resource Group for Microsoft Security and actively contributes to the Microsoft Security Diversity & Inclusion Council.

Join us to hear Aditi's story, which is not only a personal triumph but also a powerful source of inspiration for many in the field.

To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/UptN2TZcKMUadOh5a86Uf5-guPI?utm_source=copy_url

This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in a discussion with Harish Kotian, a resident of Mumbai. His happy childhood took a drastic turn when he lost his sight due to a Diwali accident at the age of 13.

Following his 12th grade, he joined the RBI as a telephone operator. With aspirations for more, he explored two options: computers and the UPSC. Despite facing challenging circumstances, he acquired computer skills. Starting in a clerical position, he took competitive exams within the bank, qualified as an officer, and worked in the Data Processing Department of the RBI until his retirement. Harish's groundbreaking tenure at the Reserve Bank opened doors for other visually impaired individuals, fostering inclusion beyond telephone operator roles.

Harish is a dedicated Ham radio enthusiast and a licensed HAM radio user. He shared his experiences, including a mountaineering expedition to the Himalayas in 1994, during which he used ham radio.

As one of the pioneers of the Email discussion group "Access India," a popular platform for visually impaired computer and technology users, Harish served as the dedicated moderator for an extended period. He takes pride in his three successful daughters and enjoys a contented married life.

Join us to hear Harish Kotian's inspiring journey, which stands as a testament of resilience and determination, as he broke barriers and set an example for the inclusion of visually impaired individuals in the professional world.

To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/vDN_VU2lmGDWOB_vPwgCDpn1oTY?utm_source=copy_url

This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this Eyeway Conversations episode, George Abraham engages with Kishan Khedia, a Mumbai resident whose eyesight deteriorated gradually, eventually rendering him legally blind with vision under 3/60. His parents discovered this condition when he was just 2 years old. Hailing from Puruliya, a town in West Bengal with limited awareness about blindness, Kishan attended a standard school with no accommodations for visually impaired students. Support from his sister and friends played a pivotal role in his education.

At the age of 18, with unwavering support from his parents, Kishan relocated to Kolkata, where he learned about the Shridharayam Institute in Kerala. It was here that he encountered visually impaired individuals and accessibility features for the first time. During his undergraduate years at Goenka College, Kishan faced formidable challenges due to a lack of accommodations. However, his journey took a positive turn when he secured admission to IIM Kolkata, an institution renowned for its robust awareness and unwavering support for students with disabilities.

In the episode, Kishan also shared his professional experiences, having worked for esteemed companies in the private sector, including Cisco, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Visa. He also discussed his passion for reading and movies. Kishan's story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the unwavering support of his family, underscoring his inspiring journey.

Join us to hear Kishan's story, a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the unwavering support of his family.

To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/R7bFRzI8UdxiGSj8ycZOH4T4eHw?utm_source=copy_url

This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sandeep Singh, a resident of Gurgaon, whose life story is nothing short of inspiring. Sandeep wears many hats as a dedicated social worker, a passionate writer, and an ardent sports lover.

Despite being diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 15 and losing his vision after his architecture studies at IIT Roorkee, Sandeep has maintained a remarkably positive outlook on life.

Sandeep is an avid reader and an author known for his books "Ananya" and "Aarushi - Surye Ki Pehli Kiran”. In addition to his literary pursuits, Sandeep is actively involved in content writing, with a focus on advocating for accessible built environments and architecture.

His passion for social work spans eight years, during which he has worked across various sectors. Currently, he is dedicated to empowering rural women in the challenging hilly terrains of North India.

Join us to hear Sandeep Singh's inspiring journey, symbolizing resilience and a dedication to a more inclusive world. This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nibin Mathew. Hailing from the serene landscapes of Wayanad, Kerala, Nibin Mathew embodies the spirit of resilience and accomplishment. Losing his eyesight during his 12th grade could have been a roadblock, but for Nibin, it became a stepping stone to greatness. He's not only a National Blind Tennis Champion but also proudly secured a bronze medal in International Blind Tennis at the IBSA World Games in 2023.

Nibin's talents extend far beyond the sports arena. He's a Grade 3 certified Western violinist and has been recognized with the prestigious G3ICT Dare Scholarship for his outstanding contributions to accessible STEM education and digital literacy.

In his professional life, Nibin serves as a beacon of change at Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW). As a User Experience Professional and a Certified Digital Accessibility Specialist (CPACC), he champions the cause of inclusive technology. His unwavering commitment to making digital experiences accessible to all is nothing short of commendable.

Join us for this uplifting and enlightening conversation with Nibin Mathew, a true inspiration in the worlds of accessibility, sports, and technology.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. Shireen Irani, a multi-talented individual with a Ph.D. degree in the interdisciplinary field of language and music. She began her career as a pianist at renowned Mumbai hotels, including ITC, Taj, Marriot, and Trident Oberoi. Simultaneously, she was part of local bands and made significant contributions as a choir trainer and English teacher at the Happy Home School for the blind.Dr. Irani's academic journey extended to teaching linguistics at the University of Mumbai and the Ali Yawar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities.

During the conversation, Dr. Irani dispels common misconceptions about linguistics, emphasizing that being a linguist isn't about speaking multiple languages but about the profound study of linguistics itself. She also sheds light on the diverse professional opportunities within this field.

Despite facing challenges as a blind student, she embraces these experiences with gratitude as they shaped her unique path. Her dedication lies in making English accessible, and she actively conducts English classes to serve visually impaired and blind individuals.

Lastly, Dr. Irani shared that, while balancing her work as a copy editor at Cactus Communications, she cherishes the precious moments spent with her beloved dog. This episode offers a glimpse into the extraordinary life and work of Dr. Shireen Irani, showcasing the remarkable impact one individual can make across multiple domains.

Tune in to Eyeway Conversations to delve into Dr. Shireen Irani's extraordinary journey and gain valuable insights into the world of language, music, and accessibility.

Join George Abraham for a captivating conversation with Kunal Mehta, a master's student at the University of Washington, where he's pursuing Human Centered Design and Engineering. Kunal's journey showcases the transformative power of embracing new directions.

Currently a research intern at the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology, Kunal focuses on equitable transportation solutions for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). His path wasn't always in this direction. After an MBA from IIM-Bangalore, he explored customer initiatives at an Indian conglomerate and then transitioned to the role of Inclusion and Accessibility Lead at a private art museum.

Kunal's pursuit of broader horizons led him to the University of Washington. Here, he's combining his passions, studying UX research and accessibility. His dedication to enhancing the lives of PWDs is evident in his work and his involvement in recreational opportunities for them.

Tune in to Eyeway Conversations to hear Kunal's journey, insights into career pivots, studying abroad, and his commitment to accessibility.

Join George Abraham as he delves into a captivating conversation with Manvendra Patwal, an exceptional individual who rose above adversity to lead the Blind Indian Cricket team in 2006. Manvendra's path was forged by overcoming a childhood injury that cost him his sight while playing football. Yet, his determination led him to captaincy in the 2006 World Cup.

With three World Cup appearances under his belt, Manvendra's cricketing journey is a testament to his resilience. Beyond the cricket field, he has scaled mountains and even conquered Mount Kanamu in Spiti Valley. Presently contributing as a private secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Manvendra continues to inspire.

Tune in to explore Manvendra Patwal's awe-inspiring journey and witness the transformation of challenges into triumphs.

⁠This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Vasundhara Raturi, a gifted singer who has overcome challenges and soared to great heights in the music industry despite being visually impaired since childhood. Vasundhara's musical journey started early when her parents discovered her exceptional talent at a young age. By the age of 4, she began learning the basics of music, and at just 10 years old, she fearlessly participated in the singing reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

Recently, Vasundhara collaborated with the Indian Idol 12 winner, Pawandeep Rajan, on two beautiful songs—"Redharam Zara Tu Jaag Zara" and "Rangrez Re"—released on the YouTube channel of Akshat Creations.

During conversation, Vasundhara shared her incredible experiences, including performing in front of the legendary Late Lata Mangeshkar and her participation in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Vasundhara aims to be a music professor while pursuing her own musical journey.

Tune in to Eyeway Conversations to hear Vasundhara's remarkable journey and valuable advice for aspiring musicians.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Danish Mahajan, the visionary founder of Radio Udaan—a unique initiative that empowers blind individuals through the power of internet radio.

Danish's journey began with personal hardships, including the loss of his father and challenging economic circumstances. During his struggles, Danish realized the lack of awareness surrounding life with blindness, which resulted in wasted years. Motivated to make a difference, he along with his friends embarked on a groundbreaking venture, starting an internet radio station. Their goal was to create a platform where the possibilities and opportunities in the lives of blind individuals could be discussed openly, a space largely absent from traditional media outlets.

Recognizing the power of technology, Danish remained resilient and persevered with his initiative. This led to the successful establishment of Radio Udaan—an internet radio station that amplifies the voices of the blind community.

To delve deeper into Danish Mahajan's inspiring journey and the significance of internet radio, tune in to this episode of Eyeway Conversations.

This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with the multi-talented Anandi Viswanathan, an entrepreneur, theater actor, researcher, public relations professional, pranic healer, and mother from Bangalore. Discover the inspiring journey of Kaveri Angadi, Anandi's brainchild, an organic retail store that offers a range of organic household and personal care products. The episode digs deep into her varied passions such as theater, storytelling, and her contributions to accessibility research. Gain insights into her career success and her resilience in the face of vision loss.

In this captivating conversation, Anandi shares insights into how she and her husband established their organic retail store to address the lack of nearby organic outlets. Today it serves as one-stop shop for organic household products, groceries, snacks, and more.

Anandi also discusses her involvement in playback theatre, an improvisational interactive form of drama where actors perform stories shared by the audience. She is a member of a theater company called First Drop, which also involves individuals with disabilities in its plays. Anandi's passion for storytelling shines through as she recounts captivating her family and other children with her narratives.

Drawing from her professional background in public relations, Anandi emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and meritocracy in professional environments. She also explains her research work and collaborations in the field of accessibility. From compiling a compendium of disability-related laws and policies for the Government of India to exploring smartphone accessibility after the discontinuation of feature phones for the University of Michigan, Anandi has contributed to the discourse on inclusivity.

Furthermore, Anandi explains how she became interested in pranic healing, an energy-based healing science that she has practiced for over two decades. While she used to take on professional patients, she now focuses on assisting her family and close circle of friends.

Anandi's commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities is exemplified by her role as the president of Rotary Bangalore Abilities—the first club in the world specifically for people with disabilities. Gain insights into the organization's flagship project, the Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes talented individuals with disabilities who have achieved professional success but have not received widespread recognition.

Towards the end of the episode, Anandi discusses her personal journey of adapting to life with vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa and the adjustments she has had to make. Tune in to this latest episode of heartfelt conversation as Anandi reveals how she continues to make a positive impact in her community through her business and personal endeavors, despite her visual impairment.

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mahesh Narasimhan, a senior consultant at Ernst and Young and a gold medalist from the Faculty of Management Studies. The conversation covers Mahesh's professional journey, including his expertise in advanced Excel tools, his ability to build strong professional relationships despite his visual impairment, and his experience with the inclusive environment he experienced during his education and professional domain.

From his early days as a consultant in Ernst and Young's transfer pricing practice to his current role directly working with top leaders, Mahesh shares valuable insights into his profile. He reveals how he mastered advanced Excel tools like VLOOKUP and pivot tables, which became the building blocks of his career. Mahesh's exceptional ability to build strong professional relationships helped him break barriers associated with his visual impairment.

He also reflects on his experience pursuing MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies and the challenges he faced during the admissions process. Through determination and the support of his family, mentors, and the school community, he digs deep into how he overcame multiple obstacles to achieve his goals. Additionally, we also explore Mahesh's passion for gardening, which he developed through his mother's expertise in botany.

The episode promises to be inspiring and motivational, encouraging listeners to embrace their passions, overcome challenges, and forge meaningful connections in the professional world.

Eyeway Conversations with Fathima Anshi

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Fathima Anshi from Kerala, who achieved an impressive score of 99.16% in her plus two exams. Fathima is not only a talented musician but also a polyglot and an aspiring civil servant. Prepare to be inspired by Fathima’s extraordinary achievements and unwavering determination, as she exemplifies the power of perseverance and the limitless potential within all of us.

Fathima shares the story of her hard work, determination, and countless sleepless nights that led to her outstanding result. What sets her achievement apart is her decision to write her exam on a laptop instead of using a scribe, making her one of the few visually impaired individuals to do so. She discusses the challenges she faced and the preparations she made to overcome them.

As Fathima pursued her education in both a blind school and an inclusive mainstream school, she reflects on her experiences in both systems and the valuable lessons she gained. Apart from her academic accomplishments, she also talks about her journey as a musician, participating in competitions and even lending her voice to films. She also reveals her interest in learning a variety of languages.

In addition to her diverse interests, Fathima has a keen interest in politics and international relations. She has aspirations of becoming an IFS officer (Indian Foreign Service), representing her country and experiencing different cultures firsthand.

Throughout the conversation, Fathima emphasizes the role technology plays in providing access to knowledge. Tune in as we delve into her remarkable journey and discover the secrets behind her academic success.

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pranav Savla, a 17-year-old resident of Bangalore who has been blind since birth due to Leber's congenital amaurosis, a genetic disease. Despite his visual impairment, Pranav has excelled in his education and has gained recognition for his digital expertise and social media presence, particularly in creating content for the visually impaired.

Pranav shares how the teaching methods used by his school have helped create a level playing field for blind students, including an annual blind cricket match. He credits his school for sparking his interest in coding and computer skills, which has led to his notable achievement of creating a web application for his non-profit organization, Vidya Drishti. Pranav's coding skills have enabled him to achieve a high level of proficiency in his freelance work for multiple clients and in his recent internship at an Ad Agency.

Pranav has a popular YouTube channel, Tech with Phoenix, where he discusses flawed designs and challenges faced by the visually impaired. He also has a keen interest in music and has received formal training in playing tabla. He also sings and uploads his vocal covers on Phoenix Covers on social media.

Currently preparing for his 12th standard examination, he hopes to use his passions for computer science, photography, and accessibility to make a positive impact on others' lives, especially the people who are blind and visually impaired.

Tune in to listen to young Pranav and his vision to make a positive impact through his work on YouTube, his vocal talents, and his coding skills.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham interviews Arjun Ghosh, a law student who comes from a rural background in West Bengal and was born with visual impairment due to medical oversight. Arjun was motivated to pursue a career in law to help ensure that justice is served for those who are often overlooked.

He shares his journey towards getting selected at the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), a prestigious law school in India, through the IDIA Scholar Program that supports underprivileged students and students with disabilities to pursue a legal career in India. Despite facing various challenges due to cultural differences, language barriers, and difficulty communicating with fellow students, Arjun worked hard to improve his language skills, including learning how to use a computer with the help of the accessibility lab and supportive professors at NUJS.

So far Arjun has managed to complete several internships under advocates, research organizations, and tier-one corporate law firms, including his dream internship under the Chief Justice of India, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. He has also participated in a research-based internship and a project where he coordinated with different agents in assisting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is currently doing another internship at Nishith Desai Associates in Bangalore.

In his spare time, Arjun supplements his classroom learning and internships by opting for various certification courses on topics such as ITR and corporate law. He also enjoys reading classic novels in Bengali and adventure novels, including works by foreign authors like Charles Dickens and loves to play chess.

He plans to join a law firm after graduation to gain more experience in handling legal matters and also explore the corporate world. But that's not where his journey ends. His ultimate goal is to establish his own law firm where legal assistance can be provided to those who are underprivileged and lack proper representation. Arjun is confident that he can make this goal a reality. The future looks bright, and we at Eyeway cannot wait to see where this exciting journey will take him next!

Tune in to listen to his journey and get inspired to pursue your own dreams.

Atul Ranjan Sahay, a 56-year-old visually impaired individual from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, has dedicated his life to promoting inclusion and catalyzing collective impact in the disability sector. Despite facing numerous challenges due to his visual impairment, Sahay has achieved several remarkable accomplishments and continues to inspire those around him.

Sahay's education includes a post-graduation in economics from NEHU Shillong in 1989, a certificate in computing from IGNOU in 2001, an executive diploma in general management from XLRI Jamshedpur in 2004, a certificate in social change management from Kanthari International Institute in 2016, and a Soapstone Fellowship from Enable India in 2022.

Presently, Sahay is the Honorary General Secretary at NAB Jharkhand for nearly three decades and works as a disability professional in the private sector, promoting inclusion. He has previously served at Tata Steel for 29 years. Moreover, he has served as the President of All India Chess Federation for the Blind, Vice-President of NAB India, and Member of the Technical Committee on World Blind Cricket Council.

His contributions have earned him several recognitions, including the Shell Helen Keller Award (NCPEDP), NIVH Excellence Award (Go), HR Professional of the Year Award (Genius Consultants), Role Model Award (Retina India), and the opportunity to appear in the book "Abilities Redefined" in its opening chapter.

Sahay's passion for adventure has also led him to complete seven treks in The Himalayas ranging from 11,000 to 18,100 feet above sea level, proving that a visual impairment is not a barrier to pursuing one's dreams.

Despite facing numerous challenges as a visually impaired individual, Atul Ranjan Sahay has refused to let his disability define him. He has dedicated his life to promoting inclusion, facilitating collaboration, and catalyzing collective impact in the disability sector. His remarkable achievements and unwavering determination serve as an inspiration to us all.

Tune in to listen to his journey of resilience and passion for life!

This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Rajat and Geetika Dalmia, a blind couple from Kolkata.

Geetika, who lost her eyesight due to macular degeneration followed her dreams and started her own travel agency, driven by her love for adventure. Rajat, who lost his eyesight due to retinitis pigmentosa after his 12th completed his studies and has been running his family business for the past 25 years. The couple met when Geetika came to learn JAWS from Rajat, and they've been happily married for 17 years!

Rajat and Geetika's love for travel and adventure is a major part of their lives. They enjoy exploring new places, embarking on jungle safaris, participating in water sports, and indulging in sightseeing. Their enthusiasm for traveling is infectious, and they love the thrill that comes with discovering new destinations.

Food is another passion for the couple. They enjoy trying out different cuisines and exploring local food scenes wherever they travel as well as in their own city. Additionally, they share a love for music and play various instruments.

Despite their visual impairment, they lead a fulfilling and exciting life. They have faced their challenges head-on and have pursued their passions with determination.

Tune in to the podcast to learn more about Rajat and Geetika's exciting and fun-filled life!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Vishal Kumar Jain, a Global HR Consultant at Shell in Bangalore.

Coming from a small town, Vishal had to drop out after 9th standard due to deterioration of his eyesight from retinitis pigmentosa and lack of awareness to handle it. However, his inner urge to learn brought him to Bangalore where he developed computer skills and continued his studies. He later earned an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), and went on to work with TATA Motors.

Vishal is also an adventurous individual who enjoys mountaineering and skydiving. He completed a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and successfully scaled the Mount Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 18,200 feet in 2016.

In this podcast, he shares his journey of overcoming obstacles and getting back on his feet, along with his two siblings who also lost their eyesight. He also discusses the rigorous training he underwent to become a mountaineer. Vishal is now recognized internationally for his work in promoting inclusivity and empowering individuals with disabilities.

In addition to his many accomplishments, Vishal is also a talented musician who plays the tabla, dholak, congo, octa pad, bongo, and drums.

Tune in to listen to his journey of resilience and passion for life!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Akhil Paul, the Executive Director of Sense International India, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with deafblindness in India.

Akhil has over 30 years of experience in the disability sector, with a focus on community-based rehabilitation of people with multiple disabilities. He was awarded a scholarship from the Perkins School for the Blind to study Visual Impairment with Multiple Disabilities (VIMD). Upon returning to India, Akhil began working with people with deafblindness, leading to the establishment of Sense International in India. The organization has since played a significant role in transforming the lives of around 80,000 people with deafblindness across the country, working with grassroots organizations.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nupur Joshi, a young and vibrant social worker with a Master's degree in Social Work from TISS, Mumbai, and Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology from St Xaviers College.

Nupur's unwavering commitment to society is reflected in her work. She currently works with SNEHA, an organization working with women, children, and public health. This April, she will be joining TATA AIG where she will continue to dedicate herself to furthering disability inclusion in workplaces. 

Nupur's effervescent personality and passion for human interaction are evident in her podcast, "Bol Baby Bol," where she shares her experiences growing up as a visually impaired girl and navigating the world around her. She is also launching a new series where she will be engaging in conversations with regular people such as watchmen, auto drivers, waiters, and delivery agents. Through these conversations, she aims to shed light on the lives of people who are often overlooked and provide them with a platform to share their stories.

In addition to her work and podcasting, Nupur is also working on a project called "Maitri Kattaa", which is designed to offer a supportive community where women maids can share their experiences, learn new skills, and access essential services.

Besides, Nupur likes singing and dancing.

Tune in to learn more about Nupur's journey and the interesting initiatives she is spearheading.

In this episode of  Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Siddhant Shah, an Indian Heritage Architect who specializes in designing spaces that are inclusive. Siddhant is a Stavros Niarchos Scholar and completed his Master's in Heritage Management in Greece from the University of Kent.

His journey began at home when he realized the difficulties his partially-sighted mother faced when trying to visit museums and public art venues. Siddhant also won a UNESCO and Archaeological Survey of India competition to make heritage sites in India disabled-friendly. These experiences motivated him to work towards making cultural sites more accessible for people with various disabilities and later, he was also diagnosed with tunnel vision. 

After absorbing the wisdom of other countries through his study and travels, Siddhant came back to India and founded Access for All, a consultancy firm based in Mumbai that focuses on design-based solutions for Indian cultural destinations and monuments, rethinking accessibility and inclusion practices for all visitors. Siddhant has worked on several projects, including making Jaipur's City Palace more accessible. His work includes developing tactile replicas, audio descriptions, and other assistive technologies to make cultural sites more accessible to people with disabilities. He has also served as a Resource Consultant for the National Museum under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and continues to work with different art galleries, museums, schools, and spaces in India and abroad. 

Tune in to listen to Siddhant's quest for accessible spaces and his efforts to transform India's cultural landscape.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kamal Prajapati, a multi-talented Radio Journalist who dons various hats including that of a creative writer and is adept at crafting radio jingles and scripts.

Kamal's love for radio dates back to his school days at the National Institute for Visually Handicapped (NIVH) in Dehradun where he regularly participated in the All India Radio programs. After graduating in History from St. Stephens College, he pursued a Radio and Television Journalism course at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Subsequently, he worked with News Express and also as a radio presenter with a community radio called Apna Radio stationed at IIMC, New Delhi before making it to the Indian Information Service (IIS).

He is posted to All India Radio as a News Editor, where his responsibilities include preparing and supervising news content, organizing and moderating discussions, and presenting programs where he even interviews ministers and bureaucrats on his shows. He believes that his proficiency in Braille scripts, sound editing tools, and computers have stood him in good stead in his profession in radio.

Besides, Kamal is also a talented poet and musician.

Tune in to listen to his journey as a radio journalist!

This podcast is brought to you by Score Foundation.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Lois Strachan, a bestselling author, disability advocate, transformational speaker, blogger, podcaster, and a part-time rock musician.

Vision loss at the young age of 21, led Lois to discover new dreams and embrace her passion for music. Besides majoring in English Literature, she became a distinguished Toastmaster, coaching people to see new possibilities in life.

She also hosts a podcast that focuses on travel for persons with disabilities. Her curiosity about the world has led her to travel around the world and facilitate numerous diverse topics through writing and blogging. She is the author of 6 books. Her books include a series of illustrated children’s books and her memoir, “A Different Way of Seeing: A blind woman’s journey of living an ‘ordinary’ life in an extraordinary way”, which achieved best-seller status on Amazon and a book written from the viewpoint of her guide dog.

Lois lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and a houseful of dogs, one of whom is her beloved guide dog, Fiji.

Tune in to hear about her extraordinary life!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kartik Sawhney, a graduate from Stanford University with a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, focusing on artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction.

Kartik was the first blind student to pursue science education in high school in India and advocated for change in rules that now allow all blind students across the country to pursue sciences in high school.

Besides working as a software engineer at Microsoft, Kartik has also worked on several entrepreneurial ventures over the years to empower people with disabilities. His venture, StemAccess (now I-Stem) provides technical training, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to blind math and science students across the country. I-Stem also works closely with the government, technical universities, and corporates to make their campuses and culture more inclusive.

He has been a recipient of several national and international awards and scholarships including the Queen's Young Leaders Award 2016.

Tune in to hear his inspiring journey of beating the odds and achieving his dreams!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Taha Haaziq, Secretary, Office of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Goa.

Taha speaks about the recent success of Purple fest; India’s first of its kind inclusive fest that embraced and celebrated Persons With Disabilities in Goa in January in 2023 and saw large numbers of participants from across the country.

The Purple Fest was a culmination of various events and activities that was aimed to showcase ways to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone.

Taha started his career as a computer and music teacher in National Association for the Blind before he ventured into civil services. He is the first 100 percent visually impaired person to be selected for civil services in Goa.

Tune in to listen to Taha’s story of success and his mantra to live a well-balanced life!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Manoj Govindraj, a professional musician and the founder of Swarras School of Music located in USA.

Born blind, Manoj found his calling in music early on in life, and with the support of his parents; he began his formal training at the age of seven and parallelly completed his education from the mainstream.

A rank-holder and a gold medalist from Mumbai University, he completed his Master of Fine Arts in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in 1999 and took up a part-time job teaching music in a school.

Manoj later moved to the USA when an opportunity to teach music came along his way. His repertoire includes Hindustani classical (Khayal), semi-classical (Thumri, Dadra), bhajans, ghazals, and film songs in Hindi, Marathi, and other languages. He has performed extensively across the United States and parts of India.

Besides his passion for music, Manoj is an ardent believer in technology.

Tune in to listen to his musical journey!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Chetan Sharma, a banker turned social entrepreneur from Rajasthan.

Chetan lost his eye sight to cancer at the age of four. He went on to complete class ten from a special school, securing 90th position in the entire state of Rajasthan competing with lacs of sighted students. He equipped himself with higher education in the mainstream, participating in extracurricular activities like debates, current affairs competitions, to emerge victorious among his sighted counterparts.

Chetan was appointed as stenographer in a nationalized bank after completing his education. Through hard work and determination, he went on to become a Senior Chief Manager.

Chetan took a voluntary retirement from his well-paying job at the age of fifty, to start UDBHAV VISION FOUNDATION, a non-profit set-up to work for the betterment of blind and visually impaired community.

Chetan loves reading in his free time, especially inspiring autobiographies.

Tune in to hear about his mantra for a successful life!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Kishor Gohil, a social activist, social entrepreneur, stand-up comedian, and music promoter.

Kishor was born blind and grew up surrounded by people like him who didn’t have sight and was always aware of the challenges faced by the blind community.

Kishor believes that with right opportunities come good education, employment, and overall well-being of blind and visually impaired people. He runs a skill development programme in Vangani (a small town in Maharashtra that is home to a large number of visually impaired people) where blind and visually impaired people learn candle making, paper products, and handicrafts which are marketed at a large scale to generate income.

Kishor has been promoting the music band for the last twenty five years and has performed in countries like the US, UK, South Africa, Jordan, Israel, Gulf countries, etc. He also uses the music platform to promote and market the manufactured products to garner support for the people involved in the work.

Kishor loves mimicking well-known Bollywood personalities and works passionately towards creating an empowered community of blind and visually impaired people.

Tune in to hear about his journey!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Nikita Vaid Raut, an HR and L&D professional, a passionate singer, and a motivational speaker.

Blind by birth, Nikita never let the pity of people dampen her spirits and was committed to making a place for herself in the world. She completed her MBA degree and was recruited as a Manager-Human Resource by a leading public sector bank.  With hard work and determination, she became the first blind employee to rise to the senior leadership level of an Assistant General Manager in the bank.

She is presently posted as the Learning Head of the Training College of the Bank in Mumbai and designs and conducts programmes in the domain of Leadership, Soft skills, and HR.

With all her achievements Nikita has been bestowed with many accolades and awards. The most prestigious and recent one being the “National Award in the category of best Employee [Visual impairment] conferred upon her by the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment” Awarded by the Honorable President of India.

Nikita is an accomplished Singer and has sung for All India Radio for over 10 years. She has been invited as a motivational speaker by different corporates and institutes and so far has conducted more than 100 such sessions/interviews inspiring people.

Tune in to learn more about her mantra of life!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sachin Porwal, a visually impaired Law student from The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad.

Sachin lost his vision in class six due to Retinitis Pigmentosa and was forced to drop out from the mainstream English medium school and take admission in a government-run Hindi medium school for Blind children. The transition from being a sighted child to becoming totally blind came with a lot of challenges, but his mother’s support encouraged him to study further and give his best.

Sachin who aspires to be a lawyer advocated for his rights when he was denied admission to class 12 by a mainstream school. He later cleared the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to get into one of the most prestigious Law universities and wants to use his experience to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.

Besides studying Law, Sachin is a stand-up comedian, technology enthusiast,  and loves watching travel-related videos.

Tune in to learn more about Sachin’s resilient journey!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Justin Philips, a Braille and spoken English trainer at Vision-Aid, an organization working to empower blind and visually impaired people in the country.

Born with congenital blindness, Justin lost his sight by the age of seven. Despite the lack of technology and resources for blind people during his growing up years, Justin achieved a master’s degree in Economics.

He navigated his career path as a telephone operator, salesperson, a trainer and even worked as a transcriptionist for eight years, before learning to use computers. Today he not only trains people on Orbit Reader, Windows, iPhone etcetera but also works actively to ensure blind people have access to jobs.

Justin also teaches Bollywood and Western popular music and loves reading books, and listening to podcasts and music.

Tune in to learn more about his journey from ordinary to extraordinary!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Shakila Maharaj, a social entrepreneur, innovator, recognised global disability trainer and strategist from Durban, South Africa.

After losing her vision in early twenties due to a childhood injury, Shakila’s life was uprooted. Her family shifted to Ireland to ensure she had access to quality education and life.

Over the years, Shakila’s remarkable and diverse accomplishments have contributed towards creating an inclusive society. She pioneered audio description for 12 years across South Africa and established AudioDescribe (Pty) Ltd in 2010 and in 2020 the sister company, ShazaCin Accessible Media .(A first in the country and continent) with the aim to bring young blood and shift audio description into the digital space. Shakila’s aspiration for blind persons to see the visual world resulted   in the creation of the ShazaCin mobile app which is soon to be released on the google play store.

Shakila loves travelling and experiencing new places and cultures as it allows her to interact with different kinds of people, giving her an opportunity to create awareness on life with blindness. Her other initiatives include an eight year old Audio Descriptive movie club, that allows blind and visually impaired people  to come together to experience mainstream cinema.

Tune in to learn more about Shakila’s  work in the field of inclusion!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Peter Donovan, a visually impaired financial planner and a cricketer from Queensland, Australia.

Peter, who was born with Albinism, struggled with vision issues since childhood. After completing his education, he chose a financial institution to work as a financial planner. But the highlight of his career was his cricket journey, where he got to represent Australian National Blind Cricket team from 1987. Peter became the first captain of his team. He was part of the Australian cricket team that participated in the first Blind World Cup, held in New Delhi in 1998, as a partially blind B3 player. He was a left handed batsman and a right arm fast bowler.

Peter was also part of the founding team of the World Blind Cricket Counsel and served as a chairman in 2004.

Tune in to learn more about Peter’s impressive innings and the history of blind cricket in Australia.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Pramit Bhargava, founder of Visioapps, a Gurugram-based startup, which developed the Louie Voice Control app, a 'virtual friend' to help visually impaired navigate digital apps.

Pramit graduated from India’s prestigious engineering and management institutions (IIT and IIM) and worked for global companies such as Unilever, Motorola, and Quest Diagnostics before losing his vision to the side-effects of medicine, impacting his Retina.

Vision loss took Pramit on a journey of finding a higher purpose, enabling him to use his software engineering background to create accessible apps for visually impaired people like himself.

Today his accessible louie app is used worldwide and has gained recognition in the Digital Accessibility space.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Sathish Kumar, a passionate digital accessibility engineer, accessibility coach, mentor, A11y blogger, editor, speaker and trainer.

Born blind, Sathish was enrolled in a blind school at the age four. His love affair for computers began at the age of seven when his school introduced him to computers with screen readers. He remembers it as a magical device.

An MPhil in English Literature, Sathish chose digital accessibility as his profession and through his career has achieved various milestones. He has given consultations, written VPATs, trained developers, testers and other stakeholders in digital accessibility. He speaks at developer forums, meetups, Wordcamps, A11y conferences like CSUN and authors and edits blogs.

Besides a technology enthusiast, Satish loves public speaking, audio editing, and playing keyboard and beat boxing.

Tune in to listen to his experiences!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr Sharad Philip, a practicing Psychiatrist and a Clinical Assistant professor in a prestigious public medical school in India.

Sharad and his two younger brothers were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and lost his vision at a young age, leading to challenges through his growing up years. Despite a discouraging eco system during his college years, Sharad was determined to study Science and not let his lack of sight become a barrier in achieving his dream of being in a medical profession.

Sharad had to go the extra mile to prove that he was as capable as his sighted peers, by taking up additional responsibilities, participating in activities to convince his teachers to see him for his abilities.  He completed his MBBS, MD and several diploma degrees in his specialized area to qualify as a doctor.

Today Dr Sharad works with people with substance abuse, their families, people with severe mental illnesses, children with intellectual disability and autism. He has traveled all over the world for International conferences to present his research papers and work, for which he has received many awards.

Tune into listen to his story of determination and grit in the face of unfavorable circumstances!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Praveen Kumar G, a development professional with over two decades of expertise in project management, monitoring and evaluation, organisation development, diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Praveen has not let his blindness become an impediment in achieving his goals. His passion for travelling, experiencing diverse cultures, meeting people and visiting historical places has taken him across 22 states and 150 cities and towns for work and pleasure in India.

Praveen is also a mentor and coach for young people, persons with disabilities and civil society organisations. As a trainer he has facilitated trainings for civil society organisations, government, UN agencies  and corporates on diversity and inclusion.

Tune in to hear about his interesting experiences and how he navigates each day with humor and zeal for life.

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Adriana Galani, fondly known as Adina Galani. Adina was born with vision impairment in the main city of Bucharest in Romania and currently lives in Austria with her husband who is an Indian.

Adina’s love affair with India began at the age of seven when her mother took her to watch a famous Hindi film,’Yaadon ki Baraat’ in a theatre in Romania. With her first stint at learning the title song of the film, Adina had found her lifelong passion for Hindi songs. Despite her growing love for Indian music, she could not afford the training back then but today is known for her accurate and melodious singing.

Besides singing, Adina loves cooking various Indian dishes that she learnt while touring India for work. She has also mastered Reiki and uses the healing technique to help others.

On the work front, Adina is certified as an end of life care therapist and has worked with children in a hospital in Romania. 

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with John Samuel, a person of Indian origin born and raised in North Carolina in the United States. He is an award winning entrepreneur and a writer. 

John first learnt of Retinitis Pigmentosa when he was in college. The news of degenerative eye disease was devastating to him, which would take him more than fifteen years to accept and be open about.

Over the years, John navigated through ups and downs of life. His determination to excel at his career took him around the globe, including Bangalore, New York, Douala, Kampala, and Washington. 

John holds an MBA from George Washington University, a BS in accounting from North Carolina State University, and a Certified Professional in Accessible Core Competencies (CPACC) credential from International Association of Accessibility Professionals. 

John is the Cofounder & CEO of Ablr, where he focuses on helping organizations be more inclusive by removing the barriers that have hindered people with disabilities from accessing education, retail, entertainment, and employment. 

John is all set to launch his book ‘Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions’, an  inspirational journey against his inevitable blindness as he searched for acceptance.

Tune in to learn more about his inspiring journey!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Amar Jain, a visually impaired corporate lawyer and a Co- Founder of Mission Accessibility Campaign. 

Amar who hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan was enrolled into a Hindi medium Blind School at an early age. Despite coming from a conservative society, Amar’s parents were supportive and encouraged him to carve a path for himself that was unconventional. 

He chose law as a profession to fight for the rights of blind and visually impaired community. Through his legal journey, he became aware of the accessibility challenges with various websites and apps and this prompted him to take a certified course in Web Accessibility, placing him in a better position to negotiate for web accessibility laws with big companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, PayTm , OYO , etcetera.

Amar is also known for his extensive work on policy advocacy for persons with disabilities. He is actively involved in speaking and training engagements to build awareness and sensitivity towards disability.  

Tune in to learn more about his contribution and achievements in the space of Accessibility!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with a young, visually impaired tech geek, Aarush Bhat who believes in the power of technology for an inclusive world.

Blessed with supportive parents, Aarush could pursue his interest in technology from a young age.  His first stint with coding started in class five when he was able to make his own website. Ever since, there has been no looking back. He has independently written his examinations using computers, proving that blind students could achieve everything with the right tools and inclusive environment.

One of the highlights from Aarush’s school life has been his participation in the one week space camp at Huntsville, Alabama on a 100% scholarship offered by SIVIS, where he networked with bright minds and learnt about technology used in space. Besides procuring several certificates through his MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) learning journey, Aarush has developed learning software to help other visually impaired students study advanced stem subjects using computers.

Aarush is also known for his contribution to Vedantu, an Indian online tutoring platform, where he worked as an intern to guide their tech and pedagogy professionals on making study material more inclusive for visually impaired learners.

His hard work and ‘never give up’ attitude has landed him a seat in the University of Alberta, Canada, for a graduate program where he will study to become a software engineer.

In the latest episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with a multi-talented nineteen-year-old Hannah Alice Simon from Kochi, Kerala. Her name began to make the rounds after she topped the CBSE Class 12 exam 2022 with 496 marks in the specially-abled category.

Hannah’s journey from a blind girl to the topper of the CBSE came with a lot of challenges. But what remained constant in her life was the support of her parents who believed in her abilities and encouraged her to take life heads on.

She studied in the mainstream school, learnt to write in braille and later acquainted herself with technology that enabled her to become an avid reader and helped her write her examinations independently without needing a scribe.

Besides being academically bright, Hannah is a trained singer, composing her own songs. She also travels and speaks to audiences from across the world, sharing her inspiring story, and motivating people to live their best life.

As a result of her sheer determination, Hannah has become the only Keralite to win a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States.

Tune in to learn more about her remarkable journey!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Mahenoor Ali who is a Postgraduate in Mathematics from IIT Delhi and an aspiring civil servant.

Though Mahenoor was born blind, it did not stop her from pursuing her passion for Mathematics. She was supported and encouraged by her father who assisted her throughout her schooling years. She graduated from Miranda House and did her master's in Mathematics at the prestigious IIT Delhi.

As a young achiever, Mahenoor is a topper in class, has received various awards, represented India at the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students, and has undertaken various courses from foreign universities. With a keen interest in rural development, public health, climate change, and a passion to serve the community, she is currently preparing for the UPSC exam.

Mahenoor shares her journey of hardships in learning Mathematics in school and college and how she decided to appear for the civil service exam.

Tune in to listen to her story!

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Reshmi Pramod, an Ayurveda Doctor. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Jeevaniyam Ayurveda Hospital & Research Center, Kochi, Kerala.

In 2004, Dr. Reshmi lost her eyesight. However, she did not allow this impairment to hamper her dream and career. Born in a family of doctors and Ayurveda practitioners, she grew up dreaming of becoming a doctor and serving the community. With the help of her family's support and learning new skills, she revived her profession in 2006 with the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation(KTDC) at the Bolgatty Palace.

With the confidence and experience gained through this, Dr. Reshmi launched the Jeevaniyam Hospital and Research Centre, with a vision to inspire, rehabilitate and empower children with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and mental retardation through Ayurveda treatment, counseling, and vocational training.

Tune in to listen to this inspiring conversation.