Son's plight makes scientist create drawing kit for blind

Ahmedabad: Can a blind person 'draw' like others? That question led Dilip Bhatt, a senior scientist with Isro, to create a visionary device for his son Nikunj, whose sight is impaired. Bhatt's 'Pragya,' considered to be the world's first drawing device for blind people, has won many national and international laurels.Bhatt, who had long stints with Isro in Sriharikota and Ahmedabad, doesn't hesitate to mention that his family was apprehensive about Nikunj's future. "We learnt along with him. Blind people's world is limited to six dots of braille and I wanted to change that," Bhatt said. "With my mechanical engineering background, I started looking at ways I could teach him geography and language."Bhatt took a 1.5x1.5 feet wooden board and pasted velcro on it. He then designed a pen that would release woollen thread. The thread sticks to velcro, providing a tactile canvas. Once the 'drawing' is complete, the person can roll the thread back on to a spool on top of the pen. Pragya secured international patent in 2000.Pragya, named after Bhatt's wife, is now prepared by blind people at various organisations across India and the device has been in use at schools located even in the most remote areas, as electricity isn't required for it. Bhatt has, over the years, devised simple solutions to make a blind person's life easy - ranging from a nozzle for toothpaste to cutlery which is easy to hold.For Nikunj, now 22, his papa is his hero. "He learnt Sanskrit to help me revise lessons for my BA course," Nikunj said. "He has never made me feel that there are things I cannot do. I trek, I ride a bicycle and also perform on stage without fear." Nikunj said his father understands his feelings even when he isn't uttering a word. "He is not just my father, he is also my best friend," he said.