LUCKNOW: Defying darkness, silence, and immense physical challenges, Sarah Moin has once again scripted a tale of extraordinary success. A student of Christ Church College in Lucknow, Sarah cannot hear, speak, or see due to a rare condition called sarcoidosis. Yet, she has scored an incredible 98.75% in the ISC Class XII examinations, emerging as the college topper.
Remarkable Academic Achievement
Sarah's achievement is not just about high marks but a testament to her grit, intellect, and unbreakable resolve. After securing 95% in Class X, a milestone that her parents say gave her the confidence to aim higher, she set her sights on an even greater goal. Her scoresheet is a triumph over her disabilities: 100 marks in geography, 100 in mass media and mass communication, 98 in English, 97 in history, and 96 in psychology. Her grasp over subjects is phenomenal. Teachers and peers fondly call her 'Helen Keller'. Ask her anything related to the syllabus by drawing alphabets on her palm with fingers, and she responds with instant answers.
Overcoming Barriers in Education
Sarah's father, Moin Ahmad Idrisi, made the courageous decision not to send her to a special school but to enroll her in Christ Church College. He even took voluntary retirement from his government job to guide and support her academic journey. Sarah was born blind but had some hearing ability. However, she lost her hearing in Class 3 when sarcoidosis struck. Her previous school was unwilling to let her continue her education, so her parents took her to leading doctors in South India, but nothing worked, and she lost two years of schooling.
Determined, Idrisi continued the quest and eventually met Christ Church College principal Rakesh Chattree, who admitted Sarah to a special class. Her teacher Salman Ali Qazi recognized her potential and taught her using an Orbit Reader, a device similar to a laptop with a Braille keyboard. Salman was already teaching several students with special needs in a separate classroom, but Sarah was the only one with a dual disability.
Support System at Home and School
This journey was not easy. All the content in the books had to be scanned and converted into Word files so that it could be connected to the Orbit Reader. Sarah could read by placing her fingers on the Braille keyboard. For revision, her mother Julie Hamid, a teacher in a government school, would ask questions by drawing alphabets on Sarah's palm with her finger. Sarah would quickly join them to form words and then sentences to understand what was being asked. While Salman Sir helped Sarah at school, Idrisi and Julie taught her at home. Her elder brother, Zohaib Ahmad, a law student at Lucknow University, also assists her in academics.
Aspiring Civil Servant
Sarah aspires to become a civil servant. Given her grit and triumphs, even those goals look achievable for the modern era's Helen Keller. Her story is an inspiration to many, proving that with determination and support, no barrier is insurmountable.
