This episode of Eyeway Conversations explores the world of assistive technology for the blind with Piyush Chanana, lead scientist at the Assistech Lab at IIT Delhi. Piyush discusses his journey in developing solutions to empower visually challenged individuals, particularly in the field of education. Key areas covered: The importance of tactile diagrams and challenges in their implementation in India. The role of tactile tools in learning STEM subjects and geography. The ongoing...

In this episode of our podcast Eyeway Conversations, we will learn about the enduring power of human connection and the unwavering spirit of service through Satish Navale's remarkable journey. Satish is a project assistant at Shivaji University who is also blind. At his university, he is entrusted with the job of managing the Resource Centre In Inclusive Education. Through this episode, you will learn about Satish who worked with his team to build inclusive education modules for students...

In this episode of our podcast Eyeway Conversations, we will seek inspiration from the journey of Golden Shine Trust which is shattering barriers in the world of music education. Founded by Chetna and Ankur Gupta, the passionate co-founders who themselves faced hurdles in finding quality and affordable music teachers, Golden Shine Trust provides free, high-quality music training to individuals with disabilities. Join host George Abraham as he interviews Chetna and Ankur Gupta, the inspiring...

Welcome to the Purple Eyeway Conversations podcast, recorded live at the International Purple Festival in January 2024. In this episode , George Abraham engages in a profound discussion with Connie Godinho, a resilient entrepreneur hailing from the vibrant state of Goa. Connie completed her schooling at a convent school in Goa and graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, with a specialization in Business Management. Subsequently, she pursued her passion for travel and tourism, which...

Welcome to the Purple Eyeway Conversations podcast, recorded live at the International Purple Festival in January 2024. In this episode, George Abraham speaks with Piyush Rakhecha, a remarkable individual from Kolkata who runs a company called Royal Eastern Financial Services. Born visually impaired, Piyush faced challenges early on, with his vision deteriorating by the time he reached 7th grade. Despite these obstacles in his education, his interest in managing money ignited during his...

Eyeway Conversations Tribute to Ameen Sayani: Ameen Sayani, considered the Doyen of Indian radio or the golden voice of Indian broadcasting, has passed away. George Abraham had the privilege of recording with Ameen Sayani in 2006 at his studio in Mumbai. These recordings comprised 7 profiles for Eyeway's "Ye Hai Roshani Ka Karwan" radio programs, which were produced between 2005 and 2014. As a tribute to Ameen Sahab, we propose to share each of these stories one by one over the course of 7...

Welcome to the Purple Eyeway Conversations podcast, recorded live at the International Purple Festival in January 2024. In this episode, George Abraham speaks with Ankur Kankonkar, a visionary entrepreneur from Goa. Despite losing his eyesight at 18-19, Ankur's journey showcases resilience and determination in pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams. Ankur's academic background in pharmaceutical sciences, followed by a pivotal shift towards computer science due to his sight loss, laid the...

Welcome to the Purple Eyeway Conversations podcast, recorded live at the International Purple Festival in January 2024. In this episode, George Abraham speaks with Bikramjyoti Das, a multifaceted individual from Guwahati, who is not only a banking professional but also an avid mountaineer and marathon runner. He graduated with a B.Tech in Mining from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, in 2000. Venturing out from Guwahati, he embarked on a career in...

Welcome to the Purple Eyeway Conversations podcast, recorded live at the International Purple Festival in January 2024. In this episode George Abraham chats with T Sundeep Rao, a stand-up comedian and podcaster from Bangalore. Despite facing Stargardt disease, Sundeep is an avid golfer who began playing in 1996 with some peripheral vision. However, as his sight deteriorated, he paused golf until discovering blind golf two years ago, sharing how it allows him to pursue his passion and...

In this episode of our podcast Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in an inspiring dialogue with Mumbai-based social entrepreneur, Sushmeetha Bubna. Sushmita's resilience and determination shine through her remarkable journey, despite facing progressive vision loss that led to complete blindness by the age of 24. Undeterred by her challenges, Sushmeetha pursued education fervently, earning a degree in commerce and a Diploma in Administrative Management. Her entry into her family's...

In this episode of our podcast Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in a captivating discussion with Sandeep Singh, an assistant professor specializing in English literature at Ambedkar University in New Delhi. Sandeep's journey began in Mumbai, where he was born and raised. His educational path faced a delayed start due to ignorance and a lack of proper guidance. It was during this time that an ophthalmologist's advice led him to Happy Home and School for the Blind, a pivotal move...

In this impactful episode of Eyeway Conversations podcast, T V Aishwarya , an inspiring individual from Hyderabad, takes center stage. Initially pursuing mass communication and video editing, her life took a transformative turn when she lost her eyesight in 2008 due to a brain tumor. Undeterred, she forged an extraordinary path as a rehabilitation counselor at LV Prasad Institute. Her creativity soared when she produced "I Am Possible," an empowering audio movie in 2015. Branching out...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham catches up with Harshit Lohia, who works at the Reserve Bank of India. Harshit's life took a dramatic turn after completing his 12th standard when he fell ill and took medication that triggered Stevens-Johnson syndrome, resulting in the loss of his eyesight. He spent the next year and a half at home, coping with this life-altering condition. Harshit's determination and resilience shone through as he embarked on his educational journey...

In this captivating episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in an inspiring dialogue with Masoom Reza, a remarkable individual hailing from Bihar's West Champaran. His early life was marked by adversity when, in the third grade, he was diagnosed with Stevens- Johnson syndrome, a condition causing skin deterioration due to a medicine reaction. Tragically, by the age of 8, he had lost his sight entirely. Born into a farming family, young Masoom's world was forever...

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....

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...

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...