The Braille version of the constitution of India was launched in Bengali in West Bengal followed by its launches in Maharashtra and Orissa, in a historic move. Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud virtually launched the event held by West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) in Kolkata.
This credits of the successful launch owes to West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) and the Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys School.
The Braille constitution launch was supported by the principal and staff of the Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys School, who were instrumental in developing the Braille version of the constitution, in West Bengal. This launch also had a blind student, from the Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys School reading out the Braille version of the constitution.
The Constitution has been compiled into 16 volumes, since the Braille font size is far bigger than ordinary print, one volume can accommodate only 20-25 articles, including until the 105th amendment of 2021. Future amendments could be brought out in a supplementary volume. In the first edition 5 copies had been published of which one would be sent to Supreme Court, the high court and the National Library.
The project took two years and the printing was done at the Ramakrishna Mission
Regional Braille Press in Narendrapur. The printing process included manual data entry using Braille software keys, taking prints in Braille, and then two levels of proofreading.
This move symbolizes the progress to inclusivity of legal education to visually challenged people. This would make the constitution, nation’s fundamental legal document accessible to visually challenged people. This moves is intended to keep the marginal blind society informed and conscientious to understand and engage with the rights and duties prescribed by the constitution of India. This fundamental knowledge is essential to safeguard the civil liberties of individuals.
