Today is World Braille Day. Every year on this day, the day is celebrated with due respect in every country in the world. Braille is basically a special system of reading and writing for the blind and visually impaired. Its inventor was Louis Braille. As a result, the day is known as Braille Day. Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in a small town called Coupeville near Paris. Braille Day is celebrated on his birthday to honor him.

World Braille Day is celebrated on January 4 as an international day to raise awareness about the importance of Braille as a means of communication in realizing the human rights of blind and visually impaired people. The date for the event was announced by the United Nations General Assembly in November 2018, which is the birthday of Louis Braille, the creator of this writing system. The first World Braille Day was celebrated on January 4, 2019.

Today, January 4, is World Braille Day. The day reminds people of the blind and visually impaired. Reminds them of their educational opportunities. And they are learning in a method that we call the Braille method.

Due to the discovery of the Braille method, the blind and visually impaired have got the opportunity to learn. They are also able to prove themselves, their talent and skills. Therefore, on January 4, World Braille Day is being celebrated in every country today. This Braille method was invented by Louis Braille. He was born on January 4, 1809, in a small town called Coupeville near Paris. Braille Day is celebrated on his birthday to honor him for this great and far-reaching discovery. In the Braille method, letters, numbers, symbols, etc. are indicated with six dots. Blind people understand the letters according to the design by touching their fingers on these raised or north points. We common people may not realize how much of a blessing this method is for the visually impaired.

People realize the importance of something from their own lives, and so did Louis Braille. Louis Braille became blind at the age of three. His life did not stop due to blindness. He enrolled in a special school for the visually impaired in Paris for his studies. One day he learned about the alphabet code. French army officers used to speak in this code to avoid enemy fire while talking to their soldiers at night. This alphabet code is a set of several dots and small lines that were engraved slightly higher on the page so that they could be read when the finger touched them. Braille liked this method very much and came up with a new way to teach the blind.

At the age of 20, he moved on to teach other blind people. In 1827, he published the first book in the Braille system. However, at that time, teaching the blind in this method was not very common. However, this method is currently playing a very effective role. The blind have opened up new horizons for the visually impaired. Braille users can read computer screens and other supported devices by using refreshable Braille displays.

This discovery of Louis Braille is remembered by the whole world today. A new door has been opened for the blind and visually impaired. They are also getting the opportunity to learn like others. Currently, this Braille system has been invented in different languages.

With the light of education through the Braille system, the visually impaired are seeing the world.

Towfiq Sultan, Assistant -Headmaster- Bhawal Islamic Cadet Academy, Kapasia, Gazipur.

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