‘We can neither light lamps nor burst crackers’:For a family with 3 generations of 10 blind members, Diwali is just a festival of feelings

While the whole country celebrates Diwali with lights and joy, a family in Bhind district is facing a very different reality. Ten members of Ramsharan Singh Chauhan’s family, living in Mukut Singh Ka Pura village, are born blind. The family includes Ramsharan, his wife Saraswati, four daughters, and four granddaughters. Saraswati says they cannot perform puja, prepare festive food, or burst firecrackers. She adds that earlier, when her mother-in-law was alive, puja was done properly, but now they have to rely on others for help. Meanwhile, Ramsharan emotionally says that Diwali brings joy to everyone, but for them, it is meaningless. They can neither enjoy delicacies and sweets nor can they light fireworks. His daughter Pooja says that she can only light firecrackers that hit the wall, nothing else. When the Dainik Bhaskar team reached Ramsharan Singh Chauhan’s house, the house was decorated, sweets were also kept, but it was difficult to say whether Lakshmi Puja would happen or not. Read, the report… Not just the daughter, but the grandchildren’s eyes also lack sight
When the Dainik Bhaskar team reached the house of Ramsharan Singh Chauhan, who lives in Mukut Singh Ka Pura, Bhind, they found him sitting in the courtyard. Daughter Pooja was plastering the courtyard with cow dung. Wife Saraswati was doing small chores inside the house. Saraswati said – My husband and I are both blind from birth. We have four daughters – the eldest Chandni, then Ankita, Rachna, and the youngest Pooja. Three daughters are married. Chandni and Ankita also have two sons each, and they also cannot see. Saraswati said – we get the puja done by relatives
Saraswati says – we cannot perform puja, cannot make dishes, and children cannot burst crackers either. When my mother-in-law was alive, the puja used to be done well. Now I have to depend on others. Sometimes I call my son-in-law to perform the puja, and sometimes my sister-in-law. Many times, when relatives don’t come, I call people from around the village to perform the puja. Only a few social workers come to our house to give sweets and puja materials, then we feel a little happy. If no one comes, it becomes difficult to even make sweets at home. Ramsharan said – The world is not for people like us
Ramsharan said – On Diwali, people make delicacies at home, bring sweets, we cannot even enjoy this. There are sounds of fireworks all around, which sound good, but we can’t do anything. Neither I nor my children have ever set off fireworks. I always regret this. Saying this much, Ramsharan becomes emotional and, with folded hands, says – Oh God, don’t make anyone blind. This world is not for people like us. Pooja said – I like the sound of firecrackers
Saraswati’s daughter Pooja says – On Diwali, I can only light ground firecrackers. The sound of firecrackers feels very good, but because I don’t have eyes, I cannot light a fire. It seems I will only be able to light firecrackers in my next life. Son-in-law said – We will live life together
Dharmendra, husband of Ramsharan’s daughter Rachna, said – My marriage took place in January 2019. We all do all the household chores together. We cook our own meals. They are poor and we are also from a simple family, so we got married thinking that if we marry a girl from a poor family, we will be able to live life well together. We are happy with our lives. We have two children, who are also visually impaired, but they also live well. My younger brother’s wife is Rachna’s sister. She also has two children and they are also visually impaired. Rachna’s younger sister is also visually impaired, but despite this, we all live together and we don’t have any problems. Ankur, the fianc of Ramsharan’s younger daughter Pooja, said, “I wanted to marry a girl who would understand me. Even though Pooja cannot see, she is sensible. Our engagement has taken place. The wedding is going to happen on November 30. I drive a JCB, I can support my family well. Pooja can also live harmoniously with the family.” Doctors said – This is a genetic disease
Ophthalmologist Dr. Ravikant Jain says that this is a type of genetic disease. In this, the pupil of the eye is small, due to which one cannot see. Patients’ eyesight can only be restored through intensive examination and modern treatment. But this treatment is only possible in big cities. ​