The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Visually impaired have fun at car rally

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Monday, Dec 01, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Visually impaired have fun at car rally

Staff Reporter

There were 28 participants for the 48-km rally meant to create awareness

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

WINNERS: Pradeep (left) and his navigator Shivakumar (second from left), who stood first, with Prashant (right) and his navigator Renuka, who came in second at the fifth Car Rally for the Blind 2008 in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: “It was the most fantastic experience ever,” says Shivakumar, a participant of a car rally for the blind here on Sunday. Mr. Shivakumar, who is visually impaired, came in first in the car rally, which had 28 participants, covering 48 km from Sarjapur Road to the National Association for the Blind (NAB) premises in Jeevan Bima Nagar.

An elated Mr. Shivakumar gave all credit to his team comprising Pradeep S., Pradeep Gowda and Prasanna Gowda. Being a first-timer, Mr. Shivakumar said that he had no idea that navigation could be so much fun.

“Everything from understanding the rules of the game, coordinating with the driver and familiarising myself with directions, was good fun,” he said.

Accepting his trophy from NAB vice-president Gopal Padmanabhan, Mr. Shivakumar said that he would be back next year, and insisted that he be given the same team.

Prasanna Gowda, a software engineer, who was part of the winning team, said that he has participated in several rallies.

However, this one was the most satisfying of them all. “This isn’t about driving or racing but about showing people that those with disabilities are actually talented. I heard about this rally through friends and doing this was an extraordinary experience,” he said.

Enthusiasm levels were high throughout the rally and the function that followed. From mime to song and dance, the event was marked with a sense of joy.

Each team comprised two supporters, one driver and one visually-impaired navigator. The rally was marked with confusions about route maps and indicators. “But it is all part of the game,” says a participant. The navigator is given a map, directions and instructions in Braille and he directs the driver throughout the race.

Ashok S., whose team was led by navigator Renuka, came in second. Ashok said that he has done rallies regularly and always secured the second or the third place. “This time our navigator, despite being visually impaired, was so good that we came in first. And the best thing is that all the registration money will be used for the blind,” he added.

M. Srinivas, chief executive officer of NAB, said: “Our aim is to create awareness among people about the capabilities of those who are ‘labelled as disabled’ and to provide a platform for them [visually impaired] to interact with the mainstream of society.”

The rally was flagged off by Ram P. Sundaram, chief executive officer of Deccan Aviation.

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