Visually impaired IAF veteran becomes author: The Tribune India

Tribune press service

New Delhi, August 11

In a story of remarkable resilience, a former Indian Air Force (IAF) corporal who was completely blinded after injury during a military exercise, not only invented a book, but also obtained a Ph.D.

Corporal Manoj Kumar (retired) on Thursday presented Army Chief Manoj Pande with a copy of his latest book on Kashmir, “Ghati Ko Grahan”.

Impressed by the resilience of the retired soldier, General Pande said, “Dr. Kumar did not let his disability hinder his zeal to pursue higher education and create quality literature. Originally from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, Dr Kumar joined the IAF in 1989. He lost his sight due to injury during a training exercise at Pathankot.

After being medically discharged in July 1998, he began learning Braille. Dr. Kumar then took a computer course with a blind relief association in 2005. He also trained visually impaired children in martial arts at Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education, University of Delhi.

Dr. Kumar completed his MA in Hindi from IGNOU in 2010, obtained UGC NET in 2012 and pursued his PhD between 2015 and 2020. Twelve of his research papers have found a place in national and international journals . “Ghati Ko Grahan” covers post-independence events in Kashmir, including attacks by Pakistani-backed looters, the exodus of Kashmiri pandits, and the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971.