~Event supported by Her Highness SheikhaArwa Al Qassimiand the Beyond Sight Foundation~

Proving true the idea that there is always another perspective, Sightsavers, recently organised a photography exhibition of photos taken by visually impaired photographers at the Inorbit Mall (Malad), Mumbai. Sightsavers is a development organisationthat works on various issues related to blindness, including preventing blindness, restoring sight, and advocating for disabled people. The photos displayed at the Inorbit Mallare all part of a socially-cutting-edgephotography summer workshop initiated by Sightsavers in association with the Beyond Sight Foundation (BSF) for visually impaired photography enthusiasts and is being supported by Her Highness SheikhaArwa Al Qassimi. The campaign’s title is “The Blind View,” the featured artists all part of the Sightavers/BSF workshop.

Mr. RN Mohanty CEO, Sightsavers India,made a passionate case for why his organization was so behind this project: “Our society still doesn’t know the actual problems faced by a visually impaired person. Also, they may think that a blind person becomes a liability to his/her family. Sightsavers intends to change this view and show that even a blind person can become independent and pursue his interests.” In this case, Mohanty’s organization is showing the artistic side of an often neglected and marginalized people, helping to fight this neglect and marginalization.
Speaking to the idea that “The Blind View” can be a way to connect different groups in society together with each other, Mr. ParthoBhowmick, who founded BSF, explained that “This exhibition can be a connecting link between the abled and disabled. It will help people understand the world of a blind person from a clearer perspective.” BSF hopes that the art can inspire even more relationships and cooperative enterprises, artistic or otherwise, between the disabled and others.

The famous Bhavesh Patel, who is a visually challenged photographer, recently shot photos of Bollywood Actress Katrina Kaif for a professional shoot. Speaking the thoughts of many visually impaired people, he exclaimed:“We are a part of this society and ‘sympathy’ is not what we are asking for. We just want to be treated like any other normal human being in the society. This is a great platform to let people take a look at our ‘vision’.”

When the Mumbai summer workshop was completed, 20 photos covering 7 unique themes were shortlisted each providing a unique vision on top of a unique vision. Rather than have the visually impaired workshop participants photograph just anything, instead the workshop members photograph other members engaging in various activities. The individual pictures each showcase different aspects of life for the visually impaired and highlight their own narrative story.

The exhibition hardly stopped there; beyond showcasing photography, in addition to the photo exhibition, other activities were offered that highlighted additional aspects of life for blind people and the experience of being blind.

AsAmal Gupta, the Senior Managerfor Brand& Communications, Sightsavers, explains: “This exhibition is our effort to showcase the glimpses of the life of a blind person – how they perform their daily chores, how do they commute to office and so on…” The exhibition was able to do all that and more in the eyes of many.
About Sightsavers:

Sightsavers is a registered charity that works to prevent blindness, restore sight and advocate for social inclusion and equal rights for people with disabilities. The organization has been working in India since 1966. Sightsavers in India till date has been successful in reaching out to 53.4 million people, conducting 36.2 million eye treatments, performing 4.9 million eye operations. For more information, log on to www.sightsaversindia.in.

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