In this captivating episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham engages in an inspiring dialogue with Masoom Reza, a remarkable individual hailing from Bihar's West Champaran. His early life was marked by adversity when, in the third grade, he was diagnosed with Stevens- Johnson syndrome, a condition causing skin deterioration due to a medicine reaction. Tragically, by the age of 8, he had lost his sight entirely. Born into a farming family, young Masoom's world was forever changed.

Facing the challenge of blindness at such a tender age was undeniably disheartening, with few role models to look up to. However, Masoom's indomitable spirit would eventually lead him to become a budding lawyer, an academic teaching law at Jamia Millia Islamia, and a poet.

His educational journey began at a special school for blind students. Sadly, opportunities to study subjects like science and math were limited for visually impaired students. The turning point came in 2017, as the demand for accessibility and the rights of persons with disabilities gained momentum following the 2016 Disabilities Act.

Masoom seized the power of law as a catalyst for change. He shared his admissions struggles as a blind student, navigating the extensive reading demands of law studies. Despite these challenges, he achieved an impressive educational background, including a bachelor's degree from Jamia Millia Islamia, an LLM from NLSIU, and a PG Diploma from NALSAR.

His journey continued into the field of intellectual property rights law, where he interned with a prominent intellectual property law firm. However, driven by a desire to explore the academic domain, he transitioned into a role as a guest lecturer at Jamia.

Masoom Reza is also a Javed Abidi Fellow, a prestigious fellowship offered by the National Centre for Promotion of Disabled Persons (NCPEDP).

Balancing his teaching responsibilities with his fellowship, Masoom also finds solace in poetry, which he graciously shared during the conclusion of this enlightening conversation. His life journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the profound impact one individual can make in advocating for accessibility and inclusion.

Tune in to Eyeway Conversations to hear Masoom Reza's inspiring story and gain valuable insights into his world of law, academia, and advocacy.

To access the podcast transcript, click on the link: https://otter.ai/u/GaRbxeEcBNGHHAhXojwW7k-rOyI?utm_source=copy_url

This podcast episode is brought to you by Score Foundation. To support our work kindly visit our website.