The Indian Express ·
A visually impaired student asked one question. It led to a Rs 6 lakh award
Himaja' project 'Rudhra' converts spoken words into Braille and print the pattern in a way that allows users to sense the characters in their actual form instead of reversing it and learning the corresponding pattern.
A question from a visually impaired student changed the direction of Himaja Lingampalli’s innovation. While visiting a school for visually impaired children near her college, Lingampalli, a fourth-year BTech student at Sri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, watched students use traditional Braille slates and pins to write. The process required them to apply considerable pressure to punch dots onto paper. Once the writing was complete, they had to turn the sheet over to read the Braille from the reverse side.
The experience made Himaja wonder if technology could make the process less physically demanding and easier for visually impaired students.
Her idea eventually took shape as ‘Rudhra’, a voice-enabled Braille printing system designed to make Braille writing more accessible. The innovation has won the James Dyson Award in India for 2026, along with a cash prize of Rs 6 lakh. Himaja will represent India in the international round of the award.
