A Blind Man Labeled a Burden by His Family Opens a School for Blind Children: An Emotional Story of Courage and Hope

Dattu Agarwal lost his sight to pneumonia at a very young age of three and then his world went into darkness. In the quotidian streets of Bidar, Karnataka, many said that he had doomed himself, that Dattu would remain a burden to his family. Yet, Pity did not define Dattu's life; instead, it is his strength and the resilience of the human spirit that truly define him.  He’s currently in his 60s and is known for his free school for blind girls! 

Against all odds, Dattu was good in school and proceeded to higher education and he later graduated with a post-graduation in Political Science. He was a professor and he was living evidence of how much can be achieved at the cost of determination. But he saw a way out into the world. Dattu became inspired by the plight of blind girls in rural India, and in 2007, he established a free residential school of blind girls called Matoshree Ambubai. He set off with only four students and hardly more than his faith but it was the start of a trip that would change dozens of lives.

Matoshree Ambubai houses more than 75 girls today, with most of them living in poor families, who had never thought of getting an opportunity to acquire education. And they are not simply taught to read and write here, but to sing and laugh and play and dare to dream of a better future than the society had ever promised them. Even as the school faces constant struggles for food, uniforms, and funds, Dattu remains steadfast, often sacrificing his own comfort to ensure the girls are safe and cared for.

The story of Dattu is unique not only in terms of the magnitude of his struggle, but also in terms of hope. Parents who used to consider the blindness of their daughters a curse, are now proud to see them grow up blooming with confidence, talents and a sense of dignity. Local communities, which were initially doubtful, contribute something, anything they manage to offer, such as groceries, used clothing, or even a word of support.  In a country where success is often measured in ranks and riches, Dattu’s courage reminds us of deeper values: that true vision is not what we see with our eyes, but the strength of our heart and our commitment to uplift others.

At Matoshree Ambubai Dattu and his pupils are currently writing a new story of India--a story where pity beats despair, and all children, regardless of the darkness, discover her light. When questioned about what drives him he whispers, Dattu, my blindness is not my weakness, it is my teacher. It demonstrated to me the strength of making others think they are valuable.

His experience is a hope to us all. In all shows of goodwill, in all dreams that are winged, India finds her own real strength, not in what we possess, but in the intensity of our feelings