Shree Ramana Maharshi Academy for the Blind, J P Nagar, which was honoured by the Governor of Karnataka on the Republic Day is a unique institution, striving hard to breakdown the social barriers to provide opportunities for disabled, especially blinds. The academy, started in the year 1969, aims at rehabilitating visually impaired children from rural and semi-urban areas, by providing them free education and vocational training.
Apart from formal education (nursery to class X) these blind inmates are also trained in computer, industrial training, horticulture and nursery development. Under the ‘Earn while you learn’ scheme, children also earn and save little money. The students also take active part in extra curricular activities and sports. In fact, it is amazing to see these children playing cricket! Most of them learn music - both vocal and instrumental. Blind students have performed dance not only in India, but also in few foreign countries also.
In the filed of music, apart from learning, ‘listening’ is equally important. Realising this necessity Dr A H Rama Rao came forward to help these blind students by organising music concerts. From the last 15 years, Rama Rao is sponsoring every month one programme, exclusively for the benefit of the inmates of the academy. Top artists of not only Karnataka, but also of Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala and Maharastra, have performed in this series.
Rama Rao has sponsored 98 music programmes so far for the blind students of the academy and a three day music festival is being held from February 13, to commemorate the centenary programme. The 100th concert will be a Mandolin recital by internationally acclaimed artiste Padmabhusan U Srinivas on Feb 14. Others who will perform in the festival are: Bombay Jayashree on Feb 13 and a vocal ensemble under the direction of Vidwan R K Padmanabha on Feb 15.
Rama Rao is a well known person in the education field. He is serving the prestigious institution - National Education Society -as its president and is also associated with many other educational and cultural organisations.
To meet his motive ‘We must share our joy with less fortunate people’, Rama Rao and his wife Sudha R Rao started ‘Rama Sudha Charitable Trust’. Under this banner they started serving society - especially rural masses.
They adopted a few villages in Anekal Taluk and conducted free coaching classes for SSLC students, self employment training to rural girls and have donated books and teaching aids to 30,000 students so far. He has been awarded the Rajyotsava award and has been felicitated by several organisations.
