Despite losing her eyesight at 12, Sabriye Tenberken did not sink into despair. Instead, she went on to develop Braille in Tibetan - a tough first. TOI-Crestmeets the doughty Nobel-nominee who recently started an international institute in Kerala that's lighting up hundreds of dark lives.
By the river Vellayani, 26 people tell their stories. Born in Sierra Leone, Kaprie Kanu was caught by rebel warriors to join the ranks of child soldiers. Born an Albino, Judith Jandi was attacked by witchdoctors in Kenya, trying to kill her as body parts of people without skin pigmentation were considered lucky charms. Kanu, Jandi and other survivors share stories and lessons at the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) in Vellayani, a village within Thiruvanathapuram. They draw inspiration from the Institute's founder, Sabriye Tenberken, a 40-year-old German woman, spreading light despite her own world going dark years ago.
Tenberken was born to artistes in Cologne.