Importance of sight in our lives is such that functioning for only a moment in darkness seems impossible. Yet despite all odds there are many blind people around us who have made a mark for themselves. Gopal is one of them.

10-yr-old Gopal is congenitally blind. Born in a semi-rural place in Rajasthan, he can vaguely discern light and shade. He studies in class five in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhi and stays in a Hostel at National Association of the Blind (NAB).

Gopal has learned to overcome his disability and is quite independent in almost all the activities of daily life. Says his class teacher Pooja Kewalani, "Gopal behaves so much like his sighted peers that many-a-time I and my colleagues forget that he is a child who requires special attention." He ranks amongst the first five students in his class and was the only one to secure 100% in Maths in class third. Science and Maths are his favourite subjects. "It is joy to teach Gopal, he is highly motivated and interested in learning," says Kewalni.

Gopal is keen on drawing too. Which according to him came naturally and the school helped him sharpen his skills further. He depicts his school, village and cars in his drawings. Music is his other hobby; he is learning harmonium. He actively participates in cultural and sports programmes along with other students. Apart from Gopal's own efforts, contribution of his teachers and peers in guiding him to achieve his goal is noteworthy. Classroom teaching is done in Hindi or English but Gopal writes in Braille. Nalini Dey, his guardian at NAB translates his Braille work in English. Dey or his class teacher dictate question papers to him during his exams. Prodipto, Gopal's best friends not only reads him 'Champak' or Gulliver's Travels' but himself has picked up Braille and transcribes stories and lessons for Gopal.