Dehradun: It was a special moment for 30 blind people from the National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH) in Dehradun when they shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, with many of them saying that this had given them a ‘new vision’ for their lives.Vikas Kukreti, a first year student of Japanese Medical Manual Therapy at NIVH, said, “Though we couldn’t see the PM, we could feel his presence and enthusiasm which was a major motivating factor for us and kept us going.” The students performed various asanas during the 45-minute long session with as much grace as their visually-abled counterparts.Another participant Amruta Pal said, “We were hesitant but yoga with PM has given me a new vision for life. I will purse a career in teaching yoga to people like me.”Their proud teacher Kavita Verma, who left a lucrative career in science to do an MSc in yoga, said, “By performing alongside the PM, these children have shown that they are in no way behind anybody.”Kavita who has taught disabled children for over a decade said that yoga has a calming effect on students and inspired them to perform better. Admitting that it had not been easy for those who could not see to learn yoga, she said, “Today they showcased patience and have become an inspiration for other specially-abled children across the globe.”Elaborating on how blind students were taught yoga, she said that each participant was taught individually through touch.Ritu Pandey, another student, said, “Today’s yoga session is a message to all parents who have children with some sort of difficulties. They should teach them yoga which would build their confidence.”

Stay updated with all the Dehradun Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.