Success Stories

Jai Srimannarayana! This is Latha Sri. Now, I am working as Assistant Manager at Krishna District Cooperative and Central Bank, Machilipatnam. Netra Vidyalaya College is a very good platform for visually impaired people to achieve our dreams. In the initial days, I was very confused and had a poor background in English knowledge and operating computers. After joining the college, with the help of faculty, I learned everything—spoken English, operating systems, moral things like chanting slokas. The journey in Netra Vidyalaya is golden days! Thank you, Swamiji, for providing a lightning path. I am very grateful to you, Swamiji, for establishing such a wonderful college for us. Swamiji has made the premises of Netra Vidyalaya a family-like atmosphere. Thank you so much! Jai Srimannarayana!

A former student sincerely expresses my gratitude to Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji for kindly arranging a special college for me and providing valuable laptop training. Because of Swamiji's support and guidance, I was able to secure a job in Canara Bank and attain a good position to lead my livelihood smoothly. I will always remain thankful for your encouragement and blessings. Jai Srimannarayana!

I am B. Sai Chandu, an alumnus of Nethra Vidyalaya Junior and Degree College for the Blind (2022–2023), where I completed my undergraduate studies in B.Com (Computer Applications). I had the privilege of beginning my academic journey in an environment that nurtured both values and vision. Following my undergraduate studies, I worked as a Communicative English Trainer for one year. I am now pursuing my Master’s degree at Pondicherry Central University, with a dual specialization in HR and Marketing. With the blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji, I excelled as the college topper and actively participated in co-curricular activities during my five years at Nethra. I continue to walk a path of growth and purpose, inspired by the strong foundation laid at Nethra Vidyalaya Junior and Degree College for the Blind.

A visually challenged student proves that nothing stands as a hurdle when one is strongly determined. Ambati Venkata Prem Swaroop has scored 82.87 percentile points in the Common Admission Test (CAT-2016). The test requires at least 60 percentile points for People With Disabilities (PWD) to get through. Prem hails from Dharmavaram in Anantapur district. His parents, A. Muralidhar and A. Hemalatha, run a grocery store. At the age of eight, he lost his eyesight when high fever damaged his optic nerve. He was studying at Rural Development Trust earlier to joining our Nethra Vidyalaya Junior College and joined B.Com (Taxation) at Emerald’s Degree College, Tirupati. “I expect similar offers from Shillong, Amritsar, and Indore campuses too,” he told The Hindu on Wednesday. At Nethra Vidyalaya Junior College, he began to use JAWS (Job Access with Speech), a screen reader software meant for people with vision loss. This has helped him ‘listen’ to his academic content and supported in saving time. “Not just those guarding the border are soldiers. I want to be a soldier working for the cause of nation building,” he adds.

I am Ganga. My parents named me Ganga after the life-giving river waters, the Ganges. But I was born blind. My parents are poor. My father lost one of his legs and became unemployed. My mother worked hard as a beedi leaves worker and provided livelihood for us. Since my childhood, everyone showed pity on me for I was blind. Their pity made me even more determined to stand on my own legs. With strong determination, I went to the government school near my house and completed my studies till tenth grade. What next? That was a huge question. Everyone suggested that I should stay at home as there was no college in our village. Besides, there was no money to continue further studies. But I was driven to study further. Seeing my resolution, my cousin came to my rescue. He went to colleges in Hyderabad city to seek admission. He came to know about Nethra Vidyalaya college. After finishing the application process, I joined Nethra Vidyalaya. It was a life-turning event in my life. The atmosphere and the culture in the college can never be found anywhere. I often used to feel, “Why was I born like this? Why is my life so miserable? Will I ever feel happy even for a day?” But after joining Nethra Vidyalaya, I found many students like me and I realized my folly. After coming here, I got confidence. I learnt writing and speaking in English. I had never touched a laptop or a computer in my life. After coming here, the teachers coached me on how to type on a laptop, taught me how to operate it, and helped me use it regularly to listen and work on the lessons. Special training classes were conducted on communication skills, and they also gave us the materials. I studied Intermediate and Degree here. After graduating from Nethra college, I took the B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) course and completed it successfully this year. I am sure that I will get a good job, and this is all only because of Nethra Vidyalaya. Nethra gave me life—a new life I am proud of! Now I feel proud of my name—Ganga—as I am sure I will impart good lessons and values to the children, the ones I learnt in Nethra, and give them new life with which they can march forward with confidence in spite of hurdles they face in the course of their lives.

Lucky are those who are blessed with sight. We should be happy that they can see this beautiful world. For people like us who do not have sight, we are deprived of this. Salma of Mdakasira village, Anantapur District, says she is fortunate to have seen God. She lost one eye completely as she was hit by a broken glass piece. She was depressed as she felt that she had become a burden to her parents. Her father’s fruit business was not running well, and it became difficult to survive. I also wished to go to school along with other children. That wish got fulfilled with the grace of HH Swamiji. I came to know about the School for the Blind being run at JIVA. I convinced my parents and started for the city and completed Inter. It is difficult to walk and manage your affairs without help. Only one of my eyes is partly working, and there is no one to blame. I was feeling very bad, but I got relief after joining the school. There are so many like me, and everyone has their own pathetic tale. I got confidence that I have a bright future if I work hard. The teachers there made us capable people. And slowly, we became experts in the English language also. We could converse well and also learned communication skills. I also completed a professional TTC course. The great help from Sri Swamiji has filled our lives with brightness. I will always be indebted to this immense help. There are so many people with lots of money, but they lack the quality of loving fellow human beings. If we can notice this and inculcate the habit of serving those underprivileged people, the blind will be benefited.

Someone has to tell me that the world is beautiful, as I cannot see it myself. I lost my father, but my mother has given me all the protection to survive. I never thought I would be self-dependent at all, and it happened—maybe due to good karma in past lives. I sulked many times that being born blind is a great handicap, and even to sustain me is a great favor to ask. At that moment, my desire to pursue studies made me live again and achieve something. Even though I am blind, all other limbs are working properly, and my mother is a great strength. I believed that education alone would make me find a way out. I underwent a lot of difficulties and finally secured a government job. What else is required for me? Veera Blind Student Became Government Employee With cooperation from HH Chinna Jeeyar, I, Sri Sesham Veerakumar, completed my 10th class at a blind school at Hindupur. I came out top in examinations conducted by an NGO named Rural Development Trust. They found that with proper help and guidance, I could achieve greater things. They made me join Nethra Vidyalayam at JIVA. Besides regular academics, I got expertise in English and communication skills. I also developed my spiritual strength there. The aim of getting government employment made me work very hard in mastering the subjects and also preparing for staff selection examinations. I was selected in the Indian Navy as multitasking staff and now work at the Naval Dockyard in Vizag. There is no dearth of difficulties and insults. By keeping a brave front, under the love of my mother and help from HH Swamiji, it became possible. They have given wisdom, discipline, and morals, and made many of us better human beings. I feel it is entirely due to abundant love from Swamiji and maybe some good deeds I did in past lives.

I am Paruchuri Venkatesh, an X student of our Nethra Vidyalaya School, Nethra Vidyalaya Junior College, and Nethra Vidyalaya Degree College. I studied there between 2004 and 2013—9 years in total. After completing my education, you gave me the opportunity to learn and do a job in Bangalore at SOA IT Solutions. I successfully completed the internship program, and recently I got a job in State Bank of Mysore as a Probationary Officer in the Rajahmundry branch. With the help of your strong blessings, I can handle my life, Swamiji. Once again, thank you, Swamiji, for providing a wonderful life not just for me, but for visually challenged people too. When I started at Nethra Vidyalaya High School, I learned so many things—spiritual activities, giving respect to each and every one, games, lessons, and helping and serving whoever needs it. Please bless me, Swamiji. I want to be a good helper for those who require support and want to benefit from my side.