New Delhi (NVI): World Braille Day is observed every year on January 4 around the world, to raise awareness about the importance of Braille as a means of communication for blind and partially sighted people.
The day is also observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille – the creator of the Braille language.
The United Nations (UN) in 1918 developed the idea of observing January 4 as World Braille Day. Hence, the first observance of World Braille Day took place in 2019.
Braille has been included in Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a form of necessitating education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion.
The language is a code consisting of symbols and is written in the form of raised dots and people use their sense of touch to figure out the Braille code and carry on with their study or communication.
This day, brings the focus on how crucial the Braille language is for blind people to communicate with each other without any obstruction. As it important for disabled people to get the full realisation of their human rights and the acceptance of Braille as a medium of communication and education is a part of that.
Every year, non-governmental organisations and the UN organise seminars and other activities to make people acquainted with the Braille code and ensure that the day is celebrated in letter and spirit.
-RJV
