Prof Hemachandran Karah academic journey from the Little Flower School for the Blind in Chennai to the University of Cambridge and IIT Madras is an example of how education can challenge barriers and expectations. As a visually impaired student, Karah encountered an education system that was not always designed to support his needs. However, the encouragement of teachers, particularly his mentor Vincent Sir, helped him to dream beyond the limitations others placed on him. He eventually completed his PhD at Cambridge and became an associate professor at IIT Madras. At IIT Madras, Karah works in disability studies and is a founding member and principal investigator of the Accessibility Research Centre. His work focuses on making educational and public spaces more accessible. His story highlights an important message for students: inclusive education should remove barriers without limiting ambition.
Prof Hemachandran Karah: From Blind School to Cambridge, IIT Madras
