Welcome to Chakshumathi. The Sanskrit word “Chakshumathi”, where Chakshu means Eyes and Mathi means Wisdom, embodies the spirit of empowering through knowledge from the 4000 year old Chakshumathi Vidya, the Vedic period techniques from Upanishads to teach Blind people as well people with vision on extraordinary learning through other sensory organs than eyes.

Chakshumathi is a charitable nonprofit trust focusing on researching, developing and adopting latest assistive technology for the upbringing and empowerment of the Blind and visually challenged community in our country. Empowerment is not possible without reading and Chakshumathi a member of DAISY Forum India and produces books and magazines in regional languages and English using DAISY technology based on its “reading without seeing” publishing technology for the blind and visually challenged community. The community hardly has any books in Malayalam for their knowledge assimilation and Chakshumathi produces books not only in Malayalam, but also all school college text books for the students in Kerala on a free of cost basis. Also another two major activities of Chakshumathi is to make the community computer literate and to impart one to one job orientation training and placement help so that they can earn and live respectfully. Only 2% of the Visually Challenged community of the 4 lakhs in Kerala has a decent job.

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Eyes Free Science Camp 2012 part 2 from Dec. 21, 2012

Part – 2 of our Eyes Free Science camp will start from December 21, 2012. First 3 days of the camp will be staged at Camp Kanthari, Vellayani, Trivandrum and last 3 days will be hosted and conducted at the Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Palode, Trivandrum. Admission to the camp is restricted to blind and low vision students studying in the 8,9 and 10th Standards. For admission call +91 471 3235484 or write to director@chakshumathi.org. The camp is supported by IEEE Gold Kerala Chapter and Allianz.

Free Subscription to 6 Daisy Audio Magazines in Malayalam and English

Write to us to become a member in our mailing group to download 5 DAISY Malayalam Monthly magazines under the title Chakshumathi Fortnightly, Sahityam (literary), Sastram (Science), Bala Masika (youth) and Kutti Masika (Kids magazine) and Executive Knowledge Line in English (DAISY full text Audio Ebook). Magazines can be read in your computer using AMIS playing software (download AMIS free from http://www.daisy.org/tools/580#t8 ) or through Mobile phones using DAISY2Go, DAISY players or even a MP3 player. Send your request to admin@chakshumathi.org

Tribute to PG:

November 22, 2012 Trivandrum: Communist Ideologue P Govinda Pillai (PG - 87) has passed away today due to age related complications. One of the doyen in Kerala’s intellectual world and known for his addition in reading PG is rewarded as Kerala’s most read person and a master in any subjects under the sun due to his choice free wide reading. On July 13, this year he was as happy as a kid who got a new toy when he was introduced to DAISY by Chakshumathi. Though his eye sight was blurred due to retinopathy and he has not read anything by himself for the past seven years, he was again into his favorite addition of reading with the aid of DAISY. He was well known for his wide reading of National and International books and the translation of the finest ones into Malayalam Language. In fact PG was revered as the mentor of reading and the person who introduce new books to the reading fans in the State. He wrote many books, was the acclaimed presenter of the TV show titled ‘World during the Week” and was the celebrated Chief Editor of Malayalam Daily Deshabimani.

Through DAISY (Digitally Accessible Information System) he was opened to a wide range of titles from international Bookshare library and to the 5 weekly and monthly magazines in Malayalam from Chakshumathi. Wide media celebration of PG’s comeback was resulted in numerous curious calls to Chakshumathi from people with low vision and those who yet to get classified as legally blind for rehabilitation. All at Chakshumathi are sad on the demise of PG who is our inspiration and a mentor. PG will be always in our hearts and memories.

Braille Vidhyarambam

October 22, 2012: A Braille ‘vidyarambham’ is being organised for the first time in India for those deprived of eye sight. In association with Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Jyothirgamaya Mobile Blind School, we organised the rites on this Vijaya Dashami day at the meeting hall of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology.

“For ‘Vidyarambham’ and education, the visually challenged should also be given equal importance. We decided to offer the Braille ‘vidyarambham’ is to highlight the importance of the alphabets Braille in the life and education of a visually challenged. Vidhyarambam was led by leading Braille gurus Sabria Tenberken of Braille Without Borders and Prof. V K Damodaran Chairman of Chakshumathi.

Voice Bank

July 31, 2012: First Voice Bank of Chakshumathi is inaugurated at the Dr.G.R. Public School, Neyyatinkara. Over 70 students of the School’s National Service Scheme are now reading content for Chakshumathi magazines and school / college text books. Currently we have voice donors at Kerala University Karyavattom Campus and Maharaja’s College Ernakulam. To read and record books for the print disabled we are in need of Voice donors all across Kerala. Those individuals and institution ready to donate their voice to read kindly contact us urgently in +91 471 32 35 484.

Bala Masika, Kutti Masika and Sastra Masika released

July 31, 2012: 3 more additions to Chakshumathi’s Malayalam periodicals released at a function held at the Dr. G. R. Public School, Neyyatinkara. These Youth, kids and Science magazines are the first in the world in DAISY for the visually Challenged. Sabriya Tenberken of Kanthari Institute of Social Entrepreneurship lunched the publications. Sister Mythili, Managing Trustee of the Dr. G. R. Public School launched the DAISY version of Mahathma Gandhiji’s Autography in Malayalam at the function.

Chakshumathi “Sahithyam” Monthly released

July 13, 2012 Trivandrum: “Chakshumathi Sahithyam” the new addition to Chakshumathi Fortnightly  for the blind and print disabled was officially released on July 13, 2012 by noted Malayalam poet Sugatha Kumari by handing over a copy to P Govind Pillai. Poet Vinayachandran who was also present at the function said that Sahithyam DAISY magazine is an important milestone in the Malayalam publication as it gives the reader a rare opportunity to hear the works of the famous authors in their voice. Month of July will also see the release of “Chakshumathi Sastram (science)”, “Balamasika (Children’s magazine) and “Intuitive Minds” (English monthly). Those who wish to get email notification on the publication or receive CDs by post, kindly email or call us on +914713235484. Download and listen Chakshumathi Sahithyam first issue.

“Know your child” Parent, Teacher and students campaigns across Kerala

June 29, 2012 MANKADA: Blind children are often gifted with many other talents and it is hardly get noticed by parents or teachers. Chakshumathi found a new generation of wiz kids across Kerala during the last “Eyes Free Science Camp” (link to the science camp PDF page) during last Summer. One of the major observations we found is that the parents are ignorant about their children and always blame the fate for their ward being blind.

DAISY DIGITAL LIBRARY and Resource Centre at Kannur

June 29, 2012 KANNUR: : K. Sudhakaran MP inaugurated Chakshumathi’s DAISY Digital Library and the resource Centre at Kannur at the UBTRIEB (Universal Braille  and Talking book Reading Centre) facility at Dharmasala, close to the Kannur University.  Kannur University vice Chancellor Dr. Michele Tharakan was the guest of honor at the function and confirmed his University’s will to start a fully functioning DAISY Resource Centre at the University and convert all educational content on accessible format for the blind and print disabled.

UBTRIED also runs an Upper Primary private blind school in the premises and considered as one of the finest coaching centre for the Blind in the Northern Kerala. Those who have print disability can make use of the library and the reading service at UBTRIEB.       

World Glaucoma Day

March 17. 2012: Chakshumathi was a part of this year’s campaign against the world’s largest vision killer Glaucoma along with Trivandrum Ophthalmic Club. Before the Glaucoma walk in the morning Chakshumathi has given a real-time sensitization on Blindness to the State Minister Sivakumar and the Worshipful Mayor of Trivandrum Advocate K. Chandrika by making them blind fold to do a white cane walk. Minister promised all support to the community of Vision Impaired in the State. Mayor requested everyone to be alert when vision drop experience and to seek medical assistance without negligence.

Vision 2025 Vatakara

March 4, 2012: Chakshumathi had the rare opportunity to present a paper on the problems and priorities in the education of the Blind at the national Seminar on Higher Education organized as part of the Year long brain storming sessions on the national development vision based on a model of Vatakara. Vision 2025 Vatakara is the brain child of Shri. Mullapali Ramachandran, Union minister of State of Home Affairs and the Member of Parliament from Vatakara constituency.
The seminar attended by noted educationists from the country was a power loaded seminar presented by the Vice Chancellors of various universities of Kerala has shed lights on various alarming issues in the higher education sector. The seminar was inaugurated by Shri. Veda Prakasham, Chairman of University Grants Commission and he said India should be ashamed of lapsing the funds year marked for the development of education in the country. In the 10th and 11th five year plan only about 30% of the fund is utilized due to no proper vision and projects. He welcomed initiatives like Vision Vatakara to spark the thought process of better education for all.
Chakshumathi’s presentation was delivered by Chairman Prof. V. K. Damodaran. Download the presentation here.

DAISY Resource Centre at Calicut University

Feb 19, 2012: University library of Calicut is now fully equipped to produce accessible books for the print disabled students. 10 Librarians of Calicut University has undergone successful training on DAISY Standard Publication Production. Now the students can bank on these dedicated staff for converting print materials for their studies at the University. In the photo participants of the training programme with Dr. Abdul Aziz, Chief of the Library and Mrs. Sarala Ram Kamal, trainer and director of Chakshumathi.     

Dosa in the Dark  a success

April 2-4 2012: Chakshumathi in conjunction with Technopark, Trivandrum and Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) jointly hosted a 3 day event in Technopark to promote Eye Health during the World Blindness Week which starts on April 1st. “Dosa in the Dark” was a tastefully designed event where sighted guests had  a real-time sensitization on blindness by having a Dosa meal at a dark restaurant managed by visually impaired.

During this event the guests had a chance to understand blindness and how to switch on the abundance of intuitive mind which is the most powerful tool of every human being. Over 600 guests working in various companies in the Tcehnopark attend the event and expressed that the world of blindness is un expressible experience and in this odd situation, staff of Chakshumathi has shown their dedication in achieving the best and perform to details which many sighted can’t do.

It was amazing to play chess against Chakshumathi Staff and they set the game within few minutes. Remarkable mind games. Said Smrithi, a programmer at the Park.

HR teams from various companies visited the exhibition and witness the demonstrations on eyes free computing by Chakshumathi staff. For many of the visitors it was unknown that a Blind can perform any task in computer or write programmes using a screen reader. This demonstrations opened more than 15 jobs for Visually impaired.   

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Girish Babu, CEO of Technopark. This 3 month campaign will cover all the institutions and staff on a comprehensive learning programme on protection of eyes and prevention of blindness. 

Reading Without Seeing Seminar at @ Kannur

April 7, 2012: Chakshumathi in conjunction with UBTRIEB, Dharmasala, Kannur conducted a day long workshop on DAISY’s Reading Without Seeing technology at Kannor Engineering College. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Rathan Khelkar, IAS District Collector of Kannur district and was attended by over 100 Visually Impaired participants.
Dr. Rathan Kelkar, former chief of State’s much appreciated IT Mission said, empowerment of the Visually Impaired using modern IT tools are well appreciated and we must work hard to reduce the digital divide in the community.

The workshop detailed the scope of modern Assistive Technology systems and introduced DAISY to the enthusiastic audience. UBTRIEB (Universal Braille and Talking Book Library and Research centre is one of the pioneers in Northern Kerala and running a Model Blind School at Dharmasala. UBTRIEB and CHAKSHUMATHI agreed to start a DAISY Resource Centre of Chakshumathi at UBTRIEB to assist the community to learn computers and DAISY reading and production.