Visually-impaired girl's synchronized parade demonstration inspires BSF jawans at Hussainiwala
Ferozepur, November 15, 2026: Demonstrating that determination and confidence can overcome physical limitations, Shriya Chauhan, a visually impaired young woman from Pune, performed a synchronized parade alongside two sighted companions before Border Security Force (BSF) jawans at Hussainiwala Border Outpost (BOP).
Shriya marched in perfect coordination with Bhagtinatekar and Rupali Jamjar, drawing applause and admiration from the BSF personnel. The trio is part of an 11-member delegation from the Pune-based Prerana Association for Blind, led by visually impaired educator and researcher Satish Navale, which visited Ferozepur after a similar programme in Jammu.
The delegation presented traditional Diwali snacks (Faral), brought from Pune, to the BSF jawans as a gesture of gratitude and solidarity. The members also witnessed the famous Beating Retreat Ceremony at Hussainiwala. The proceedings were explained in detail to the visually impaired visitors by sighted members of their team, an accompanying child and a representative of the Home for the Blind, Ferozepur.
Earlier, the delegation paid floral tributes at the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, B.K. Dutt and Rajmata Vidyawati. They also experienced an interactive train simulator, which recreates the sights, sounds and movement of an actual train journey through motion technology.
Established in 2003 at Bhekrai Nagar, Pune, the Prerana Association for Blind has been working for over two decades to integrate visually impaired persons into mainstream society through inclusive education and its Braille Vani Radio initiative.
The association has also maintained a unique Diwali tradition for more than 20 years of visiting India's border areas, including Siachen, and sharing homemade festive snacks collected from different parts of Maharashtra with armed forces personnel.
Conveying thanks to the BSF and Home for the Blind Ferozepur for support in making our visit memorable, Navale urged society to move beyond sympathy and provide visually impaired persons with encouragement, guidance and opportunities to become self-reliant. He also appealed to citizens to support visually impaired students by purchasing handcrafted products made by students of Pune Blind School, helping them achieve financial independence and live with dignity.
The visit carried a strong message of inclusion, patriotism and human determination, highlighting that visual impairment need not limit an individual's ability to participate and excel in any sphere of life.