WHEN BLIND 'SAW' THE TAJ MAHAL

The bus pulled out of Delhi just as the morning light began to stretch across the city of dreams. Inside, the air was filled with small talk, laughter, gigglings and the rustle of snacks being passed around. Meanwhile, a quiet yet striking conversation unfolded between two friends sitting side by side took all my attention.

- ANJALI SINGH

Meenakshi, a visually impaired herself, shared something she often heard from her relatives “People often suggest to me that I should have a child,” she said and took a pause then continued"They say the child will grow up to become my support.” Then added softly, almost as if speaking to herself, “But why should my child carry that burden? I want them to live their own life. To be their own person.”

Meenakshi was not a mother: But, she was sharing her perspective about motherhood not as a duty or obligation, but as a choice. In her words lay a quiet defiance against the unspoken rule society often imposes on people with disabilities: that children are meant to be caretakers rather than individuals with dreams of their own.

Her conviction set the tone for the day. Around her, the bus carried a group of men and women, all blind, heading to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Their journey was not just about seeing a monument; it was about experiencing freedom. Freedom to be free, freedom to be themselves, freedom to not care about anything else but just living at the movement.

This one-day tour was organised by Rising Star: Khilte Chehre, an NGO empowering persons with disabilities through inclusive travel experiences. Launched in 2019, the initiative has completed twelve editions of accessible tours, each designed to foster independence, confidence, and community.

Over the years, Rising Star has taken groups to Lansdowne, Goa, Vaishno Devi, Mussoorie, Thailand, Jaipur, Rishikesh, and even Dubai. Each trip involves a small registration fee, but the real reward lies in the freedom to explore the world with minimal barriers and the joy of discovering it with friends.