The story of a blind man pursuing a master’s degree

KABUL (Pajhwok): A blind man, having taught people blessed with eyesight for years, now pursues his master’s degree in an effort to secure a management position.

Hamayun Hakimi, 26, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, is studying at Dunya University. In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, he said he was eight years old when enrolled in the first grade.

In the second grade, he was granted double promotion to the fourth class after passing a competency test. He stood first from fourth to 12th grade at the Daqiqi Balkhi School in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The determined student did exceptionally well, studying braillebooks.“No one encouraged me to continue my education after my graduation from school.

“All people told me a blind person cannot achieve anything. But I continued to pursue my goal and found my way, though difficultly, to the Maulana Private University. I received a bachelor degree from there,” he recalled.

“Interested in getting higher education, I was introduced by the Ministry of Labour,Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) to Dunya Private University, where I’m pursuing my master’s degree free of cost,” Hakimi added.

He said one of his younger sisters was also blind. “My father is a taxi driver who feeds our family and pays our education fees,” he said.

Extolled by teachers & colleagues

Chancellor Ahmad Shah Sangdil said 11 blind students were pursuing their bachelor and master’s degrees at the university. He praised Hakimi as an intelligent and active man, blessed with special talent.

“The abilities these blind youths have are seen in few able-bodied people. When Hakimi came here for the first time, he told me seeing people could not rebuild this country, but he would,” the chancellor said.

Beheshta Shahin, a student at Dunya University, said Hakimi was more focused than anyone else on studying. His performance has been outstanding, she acknowledged.

Teaching teachers

Immensely interested in socio-cultural activities, he founded monthly ‘Khat-i-Sabz’ in 2008.“I started the journal at my personal expense and continued publishing it until 2015.”

The monthly was meant for sighted people. He used a typing system, in which each word and letter was heard when typed. “I learnt typing and provided contents with cooperation from my colleagues.”

Hakimi worked as honorary trainer at the Balkh Teacher Training Centre with the support of the Sweden Committee for Afghanistan from 2011 to 2015.

“Soon after graduating from high school, I studied more and more. Familiar with many contemporary issues, I was appointed to teach trainee teacher of grades 13 and 14 for five years,” he said.

Eyeing high-level job

Hakimi said his admission to the master degree programme proved a blind person can utilise his/her talent and pursue higher education.

“In our society, blind people are seen as weak and inefficient, but in reality, they can do many things and make themselves self-reliant, if encouraged and supported,” he said.

Congenitally blind, Hakimi also well-versed in making handicrafts such as bags, jackets, socks and many other things. He has earned enough from handicrafts. He is eyeing a high-level government job, confident that he would get it.

mds/mud