Sir, You are absolutely spot on with your observation. Whether Braille is still relevant is the wrong question to ask because it's indeed relevant. But also true is the fact that exponential development in digital technology has widened the scope for reading and writing. So we need to strike a balance. In fact, I have seen that my 9-year-old kid, with no blindness whatsoever, is reluctant to write with a pen. But whether writing with a pen is still relevant is not asked so loudly by anybody. Well, thank you once again for this well-argued piece. Yours sincerely, Anirban Mukherjee,
On Sun, 18 Jan, 2026, 9:47 pm BHAWANI SHANKAR VERMA, <[email protected]> wrote: > Braille is as relevant for the visually impaired in 2026 as it was in > 1852. If this weren't the case, there wouldn't be so much research and > innovation related to Braille in the field of digital technology. While > some people in India oppose it, Braille Grade 1 and Grade 2 are still used > in countries like the United States, particularly for the education of > blind and mentally challenged children. > On 1/18/2026 12:16 PM, Uma Shankar Veeravalli wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I hope this email finds you well. Following a conversation with a > colleague from the disability sector on January 4 this year, I found myself > drawn into a deeper, more reflective exploration of the relevance of > Braille in 2026. Having studied in a sighted school until Grade 8, with > only two years of formal Braille education, my relationship with Braille > has always been layered. While I continue to struggle with writing it > fluently, reading Braille, especially literature, has been a deeply > enriching experience for me. > > This curiosity led me to engage with more people, read diverse > perspectives, and reflect on where we truly stand today—and where we might > be headed—when it comes to the role of Braille in the lives of visually > impaired individuals. > > After spending considerable time in this rabbit hole, it felt inevitable > to share where I eventually landed in this ongoing conversation. > > I invite you to read my latest piece, Connecting the Dots – Is Braille > Still Relevant in 2026?, here: > > https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/connecting-dots-braille-still-relevant-2026-uma-shankar-veeravalli-znm4c > > I would love to hear your thoughts and theories on the subject. Looking > forward to hearing from you all. > > Cheers > Uma Shankar > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CACpHEFJJAFryO6cC2KgeCVs4nq%3DgXQqCt2axLizRfzh_ktQA6w%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CACpHEFJJAFryO6cC2KgeCVs4nq%3DgXQqCt2axLizRfzh_ktQA6w%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/c32bd8de-ebd9-4cc5-8d5a-d7f3bcc6cabb%40gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/c32bd8de-ebd9-4cc5-8d5a-d7f3bcc6cabb%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CA%2BQVbCJyk0DiCH2z1FzaQn%2BM-v7st9Oiv4fEy0Cn6HAeHOxjjQ%40mail.gmail.com.
