Kollam: As the Kerala School Kalolsavam opens its doors to a visual extravaganza on Thursday, Sadha Shanavas, a visually challenged 9th grader, will be there to “hear” it all and to resound the stage with her poetry. January 4 being Braille Day, it will mark a joyous occasion for Kollam.
Sadha will take to the stage with Satchidanandan's poem "Sandhya chayukayavum lankayilippol…" in the high school poetry recitation competition. Sadha explains that her name means "fragrance". We can read it as the fragrance of radiance.
A student at Cheruvannur High School, Kozhikode, Sadha achieved an A grade in poetry recitation, speaking, and light music competitions at the district school arts festival. Even though she is competing in the light music category at the State level, Sadha desires to be present at the venue and listen to all the songs. Sadha, who dreams of entering the Civil Service, is the daughter of Shanavas and Sonima of Parampath village, Arikkulam panchayat in Koyilandy.
On Braille Day on January 4, we must not overlook Sadha's question, "Why aren't there reading rooms in our country for the blind?" May this question find an answer during the arts festival itself.