Lucknow: Story of Prof Rakesh Jain, visually impaired, shows how a teacher’s dedication can change lives inside and outside classroom. A former professor and head of department of English at National PG College and secretary general of the Rehabilitation Society of the Visually Impaired (RSVI), Prof Jain has woven his academic excellence into uplifting thousands of students. He served as a teacher for 29 years, was selected through UP Higher Education in 1996, before retiring from National PG College on Jun 30.At National PG College, his classes were known for inclusivity, interactive discussions and emphasis on skill-building rather than rote learning. He taught English, journalism, banking & finance and E-governance and mentored beyond textbooks, earning reputation of being a ‘problem-solver’ for students and administration alike.

Under his leadership, RSVI embossed over 4.5 lakh Braille pages, created large-print books and developed 1,500 audiobooks covering syllabi from school to post-graduation. During pandemic, these audio capsules became lifelines for visually impaired students across India and abroad, demand soaring by 60%. Today, his audiobooks are accessed in countries as far as Austria, the UK, and the UAE. Founded in 2005, RSVI runs projects across UP, from braille printing and IT facilities to audiobooks in English, Hindi, and Urdu

150 RSVI-trained students secured govt jobs. “Teaching is not about ability or disability, it is about skill,” said Prof Rakesh Jain, who topped graduation and post-graduation at Lucknow University and earned PhD with UGC fellowships. At National PG College, he also coordinates admissions, handles administration and mentors students.

“When I was in school in Delhi, society was not inclusive for visually impaired and when I came to LU, I visited vice chancellor, controller of admissions and registrar for permission for a writer,” said Jain, adding, “In 1980s, there were no audiobooks, Braille resources, or technology for visually impaired students and that made me determined to ensure future generations never faced such problems.”

“For last 18 months, the Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag of UP govt has not given us NOC for a Central govt budget to produce audiobooks and large-print books and the delay is directly affecting thousands of visually impaired students who depend on these resources. Files stuck in offices is putting on hold their education,” he said.

“A teacher’s duty, is not just to deliver lectures, but to ensure every student, regardless of ability, stands on his feet as an agent of change,” he added.