In this thought-provoking episode of Eyeway Conversations, George Abraham speaks with Dr. Ishan Chakraborty, professor of English at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Dr. Chakraborty shares his journey of losing vision at 19, finding his voice through literature, and shaping academic spaces that embrace disability, gender, and diversity.
Through his story, we explore how disability and queerness intersect in a world that often overlooks both. From challenging stereotypes in higher education to “Cripping” the classroom, Dr. Chakraborty’s journey redefines what it means to teach, learn, and live authentically.
Join us as we uncover how language, technology, and activism come together to build a more inclusive world—where blindness and identity are not barriers but lenses through which we understand humanity.
What You’ll Learn
How blindness shaped Dr. Chakraborty’s academic and personal journey
The idea of “Crip Pedagogy” and inclusive teaching
Intersection of queerness and disability in India
The role of technology in empowering persons with vision impairment
How academia can embrace diversity and disability as central, not peripheral
Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction
2:10 - Choosing Literature Over Commerce
5:15 - Losing Vision at 19
8:00 - Learning Braille and Mobility
11:30 - Building Confidence and Identity
13:05 - Disability in Academia
15:40 - What is “Crip” Thinking?
19:50 - Gender, Disability, and Inclusion
23:20 - Finding Space as a Queer, Blind Academic
Guest: Dr. Ishan Chakraborty, Professor of English, Jadavpur University
Eyeway Conversations brings real stories of people living with blindness and vision impairment—highlighting their journeys of education, employment, and empowerment.
If you know someone with vision impairment who needs support, call the Eyeway Helpline: 8800 00 4334
Visit: www.scorefoundation.org.in