‘Windows’ to the world

"Speaking in empty spaces didn’t appeal to me much,” says Tanya Balsara. She is not one of those who constantly need an audience but she does require feedback, more so since she has lived in a world of visual darkness for almost all of her 29 years. Rather than pursue a career as a radio jockey she was more at ease teaching, particularly computers, to other visually challenged people.

Watching Balsara give able training to a visually challenged friend, her father Sam, founder and managing director of Madison India, one of the country’s leading advertising agencies, got the brainwave of founding an institute which would not only render computer knowledge to others but would also serve as a means of gaining independence for her and securing her future. Thus was born the Tanya Computer Centre (TCC) at the MNB Industrial Home for the Blind in the busy streets of Jogeshwari West.

"I feel that I have changed after TCC began,” she exudes confidence. "Initially, my entire idea about people and the world was very different. Earlier, I used to take everyone’s word blindly. I guess everything comes with a pinch of salt.” However, she immediately adds, "Of course, that is not for everyone, especially not for my friends and family. But for new people and students, I’ve become more analytical.” Over the years she has met "several kinds of people here and their behavior is so different. I have also learned how to be a bit more tactful.” She jokingly adds, "With my students I feel I am very patient, but with my mum I’m not so patient.”

With the help of a screen reader software JAWS, Bal­sara trains her students who are in the age group of 15 to 56 years. TCC offers two courses — the Basic Course and the MSCIT (Maha­rashtra State Certificate in Information Technology) Course. The Basic as well as the MSCIT Course comprise of training in various software such as Word, Excel, Power­Point, XS, Internet, along with the basics of Windows. The basic difference between the two is the certification process. While students enrolling for the Basic Course are awarded certificates from the institute itself, the MSCIT Course students are awarded certificates from the Maharashtra Government’s MKCL (Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited) which equips them for better job opportunities. Balsara hopes to include more advanced courses in TCC over the next four or five years which will enable the students to secure better jobs and positions for themselves.

Balsara has a software called TALKS installed in her mobile phone too which works on the lines of the JAWS software. Thus, when she presses a key on her mobile it activates a voice whereby she is able to determine whether she has made the right moves. In case of incoming calls too, the name of the caller is announced to facilitate the user.

However, life has never been easy for this young lady. When she was diagnosed with a ‘progressive disease’ called Retinitis Pigmen-tosa at a tender age, the Balsara family had to face this harsh reality. They decided to treat Balsara just like any other sighted person, and admitted her in an integrated school called Lady Vasanjee Girls Academy where, thanks to her mother Homai and close friend Priya, she managed going through the regular curriculum and education patterns of the institution.

"There are schools for the blind like Happy Home, Victoria Memorial…but my parents put me in a normal school, and I am extremely glad that they made this decision,” Balsara gratefully acknowledges before continuing, "The only thing that I did not learn was mobility (walking with the white cane) there, which I did learn eventually.” Braille too she learnt much later in life. "However, what you learn in school is what you are more thorough with. Also, I am not too proficient with household work. Many of my friends do cooking and other household work, which I am not very familiar with,” she acknowledges.

After schooling, Balsara graduated from St Xavier’s College. She later joined the Indian Association for the Visually Handicapped (IAVH), Churchgate from where she completed a course in computer basics.

Along with her younger sister Lara she also did a course in creative writing, following which Balsara pursued a certificate course called Announcing, Broadcasting, Compering and Dubbing (ABCD) from Xavier Institute of Communications. "When I did the ABCD course, we were given a couple of practice exercises, as though you are actually compering or dubbing a show, or being an RJ (radio jockey) for a program.” But somehow, those big headphones and the feeling of operating in an alien environment were not comfortable.

Speaking about her daily schedule, Balsara says, "Mondays to Saturdays are very routine. In the morning, I am at home. I listen to the radio, chat, talk on the phone, forward e-mails and SMSes. Nothing concrete! Then at around 1:30-2 p.m. I come to the institute and remain here till 8 p.m. I do my acupressure either in the morning or once I am back home.” Elaborating further on the treatment, Balsara notes, "My mother has learned acupressure from Sanober Irani who resides in Poona. With this acupressure treatment, I do find improvement in terms of clarity at times. Apart from my eyesight, I also do it for overall relief, for things like stomach ache, headache, etc. It works like an instant relief. My mom has learned the pressure points, and she does it for me. For any other problems, my mother gets in touch with Irani over the phone.” A walk around Malcolm Baug where the family resides is also a daily routine for Balsara. Not only do Balsara and Lara pray regularly, but also visit the agiary frequently, which fortifies their faith in Zoroastrianism.

Like any typical Bombayite, Bal­sara too is a huge Bollywood buff and loves keeping herself up-to-date with all the latest flicks and songs. Speaking about her favorites, Balsara says, "I love Shah Rukh Khan. My favorite actress is Rani Mukherjee as her voice is very distinct. I like Hindi songs and my latest favorite is Pappu can’t dance saala from Jaane tu ya jaane na. I like English music too. My favorite international singer is Enrique Iglesias. We have been for his concert too. It was amazing. Then we have been for the concerts of Bryan Adams, Whigfield, Michael Jackson.”

With Balsara’s favorite radio channel being Fever 104, she does someday hope to try her hand at doing something on the radio front too.