Amandeep SuterCan you type your name with closed eyes? Difficult, right? Can you write a sentence with eyes closed? Well, that’s almost impossible
But, a young boy aged no more than 15 years, changed the world and the lives of many people around the world by inventing a language for the blind.
Yes, Louis Braille was just a decade and a half old when he introduced millions of eyes to the Braille System. On this great man’s honor, we present you with some really interesting facts about him.
Fascinating Facts about Louis Braille
Louis Came from a Middle-Class Family.
Born to a father who owned a leather business, their family only had enough to meet their daily needs. Back in the 19th Century, blind people who were poor couldn’t afford education or job and were only left with the option of begging. Only if a people had wealth, they could afford an education.
Although the Braille family was far from being rich, they were a bunch of determined people. Louis Braille’s parents wanted him to get the same opportunities as his other siblings. Hence, even when the pocket was tight, they sent him to school.
Louis Wasn’t Born Blind
Young Louis loved watching his father work with leather in his workshop. He would often play with the tools. On an unfortunate day, when Louis was no more than 3 years old, he met with a serious accident in the workshop which destroyed an eye.
In the 1800s, the medicines which we now have weren’t available. So, the young Braille was rushed to a local healer. But, the infection spread fast and affected the other eye too. Within 2 years, Louis lost the ability to see in both the eyes.
In school, his only option was to learn through hearing. But, due to his efforts and the hunger for knowledge, Louis Braille performed well and was honored with scholarships.
For the Love of Books
At the age of 10, Braille was accepted by the Royal Institute for the Blind. The Institute was previously a jail, so the rules and punishments were pretty severe. The food wasn’t what you would call delicious and the floors were rather dark.
But guess what? All of these didn’t even matter to young Louis. Why? Because he was too engrossed in books. He learned to read by tracing giant letters.
Reading wasn’t enough for the little genius. He also wanted to write! So, he began getting his hands on an alphabet made from bits of thick leather. The process was rather long and tedious. But, Louis liked it since he can at least trace what he is writing.
The Famous Braille Language was Introduced to the World by a Teenage Louis Braille.
Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power.
After working hard for 2 years, Louis finally cracked the code and created the revolutionary language for reading and writing for those who couldn’t see.
“Live without seeing, but be what you are.“
4th January is Celebrated as the World Braille Day on His Honor
The Braille System wasn’t really accepted in the initial days or even during the lifetime of Louis Braille. It was only after his death that professors and other experts realized that what Louis created was an extraordinary language. It was truly a revolutionary idea.
“Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important for us if we are not to go on being despised or patronized by condescending sighted people. We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded that we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals — and communication is the way we can bring this about.”
In order to honor him and his creation, his birthday, the 4th of January is celebrated as the World Braille Day.
Reference
- Wikipedia
- A to Z quotes
- House with No Steps
- Google Images