~Support the Visually Challenged and Become a Patron of Bharat’s Heritage

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to share that the matching donation initiative continues into 2026. This time, another generous anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations to Vision-Aid for the next 100 copies of Aṣṭanāyikā: The Romantic Heroines from Nāṭyaśāstra to Modernity procured in the United States.

In February 2025, my husband and I humbly committed to support the Manorama Choudhury Nayan Jyoti CVI Center through Vision-Aid, in partnership with L V Prasad Eye Institute in Bhubaneswar.

What is CVI?

Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is a condition caused by damage to the parts of the brain that process vision. Today, nearly 40% of childhood visual impairment cases are linked to CVI. It is most commonly seen in infants and young children.

If detected and addressed within the first three years of life, often called the “golden period”, there is a meaningful chance of managing the condition or even achieving partial recovery. Yet awareness remains limited, and rehabilitation services are still scarce in many regions.

I believe it is our collective moral responsibility to support this cause in whatever way we can, so that children affected by CVI have equal opportunities to thrive. 

Our Visit in 2026

In January 2026, we visited the center, and some visits stay with you long after you leave. What moved us was not the statistics or presentations, but the quiet resilience of the parents.

We spent time with families of children living with CVI, who navigate uncertainty every single day. Their journeys are filled with questions and exhaustion, yet also a hope that refuses to fade. No words can truly ease their struggles. Sometimes, the most meaningful thing one can offer is simply presence and a willingness to listen.

A New Hope – Where Your Purchase Makes a Difference

Sometimes, visits like these illuminate the path forward. Over the past months, many of you have supported my book journey with extraordinary generosity. Every purchase, every message, and every word of encouragement has contributed to something far greater than the book itself.

I am deeply grateful to share that the funds raised through the Aṣṭanāyikā book sale, along with matching contributions, will help initiate a Community-Based CVI Rehabilitation Program at the L V Prasad Eye Institute’s secondary center, the Naraindas & Morbai Budhrani Eye Centre, in Balasore.

This secondary LVPEI center also caters to a large population from the neighboring tribal district of Mayurbhanj, where access to specialized rehabilitation services is extremely limited.

In its first phase alone, the program aims to reach 200+ children and their families, bringing structured rehabilitation services to an area where none currently exist.

A Collective Journey

To all of you who have supported the book, your kindness is already traveling far beyond its pages.

With the funds raised so far from 2025 book sales, I will be able to cover nearly half of the projected $30,000 cost for this two-year initiative. I look forward to your continued support in helping bridge the remaining gap and making this project sustainable.

The initiative will deploy trained field workers to provide home-based CVI rehabilitation, guiding parents through practical exercises while training Anganwadi teachers to sustain community support. At approximately $150 per child, the program will cover training, assistive devices, and outreach, reaching over 200 children and empowering their families and local educators.

Please consider owning a copy of Aṣṭanāyikā by donating to Vision-Aid here (eligible for a tax-deductible receipt).

A donation of $150 not only supports one child but also a virtual ticket to Vision-Aid’s flagship Broadway-style live dance drama on July 26, 2026.

Please share your receipt and mailing address through my email, and I would be happy to send you a signed copy of my co-authored book ($43 value) as a token of appreciation.

Check visionaid.org if you wish to support with a different amount.

Let your generosity help restore vision and preserve the shared heritage of Indian art, culture, and literature for a global audience. 

This book also makes a thoughtful gift for those who cherish culture, aesthetics, and human emotion.

Our keynote from the 2025 Annual Fundraising Event is available here.