About Hearing Hearts

My Story

My stays at the Patiala School for the Blind and Deaf have been a deeply transformative experience, inspired by my grandfather’s dedication to providing free education for underprivileged children with disabilities. When I first visited the school at age 11, I was struck by the joy and resilience of the students, despite the challenges they faced. Over time, I realized that I had a responsibility to continue my grandfather’s work, especially after uncovering corruption within the school's administration. Seeing the lack of educational structure, limited resources, and communication difficulties firsthand motivated me to take action. I spent time interviewing students, teachers, and families to understand their needs and committed myself to improving their education and living conditions.

But I didn’t stop there—I wanted to create real, lasting change. I worked on furnishing a common room for the girls, raised funds for better facilities, and pushed to install air conditioning in dorms. I also explored medical advancements that could help some of the deaf students regain their hearing, discovering that with proper hearing aids and speech therapy, many could hear and speak again. Beyond these efforts, I formed deep friendships with the students, teaching them new skills, sharing experiences, and organizing activities that brought them joy. Through this journey, I learned that true connection comes from love and understanding, and help means taking action. And with so much more to be done, I remain determined to continue making a lasting impact on the students and their future.

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My grandfather built the residential boarding school for 400 children, but his name is nowhere to be found. When I first saw my name at the entrance to the girls dorm, I was bewildered. Why my name? But now it's clear. He wanted me to take responsibility, to have a sense of duty. It was now on me to look out for the students here, to be their sound board, and to take action to ensure their comfort and happiness. 

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I share my story to help you discover yours. I invite you to visit the Patiala School, spend time with the students, learn their language, and carry on our tradition of serving them, their families, and the community.

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Read my full story here