Visually impaired, Sandeep Sharma becomes guiding light for divyangs

From a childhood marked by poverty and loss to becoming an advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs), Sandeep Sharma of Hoshiarpur has shown that determination can overcome every obstacle.

Despite being visually impaired, Sharma has become a guiding light for many and currently serves as President of the Disabled Person Welfare Society (Registered), Hoshiarpur. Through his work and vision, he is reshaping perceptions about disability and paving the way for a more inclusive future.

Born on August 21, 1978, Sharma lost his father when he was barely one and a half years old. As his eyesight deteriorated in childhood, his family enrolled him at the Government Institute for the Blind, Jamalpur (Ludhiana), followed by higher education at the Special School, Chandigarh. In 2000, after graduating from Government College, Hoshiarpur, he secured a government job in the Health Department. Since 2018, he has been working as a junior assistant at Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur under the UDID project.

Sharma also holds degrees in music — Sangeet Visharad (Vocal) obtained in 1997 and Sangeet Visharad (Tabla) in 2001 from Prachin Kala Kendra. Despite being selected by the government as a music hobby teacher in 2014, he chose to continue serving in the health department to stay close to his mission.

A sports and cultural enthusiast since his student days, Sharma represented Punjab and Chandigarh in chess, blind cricket and youth festivals, participating in national-level events.

In 2018-19, motivated by a vision to empower others like him, Sharma founded the Disabled Person Welfare Society. Through this platform, he has organised cultural competitions for disabled students and distributed mobility aids such as tricycles, wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids and walking sticks. One of his significant initiatives is the Blind Cricket Tournament in Hoshiarpur, launched in 2022 with two Punjab-based teams. The event has since expanded to include players from Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The 2025 edition promises to inspire even more participants.

Sharma’s journey is deeply supported by his family—his wife Anuradha, a government headmistress and their two children remain his strength. “In my life, my friends, my family, my wife Anuradha, Dr Ajay Bagga, Prof Pooja Vishisht, my colleague Sanjay Kumar and Omkar Singh have been guiding me to always move forward. They are sources of inspiration for me. My life will always be dedicated to the welfare of the disabled,” he says with conviction.

Sharing a heartfelt message, Sharma adds, “My message to society is that no person with a disability should be looked at with pity. They deserve equal rights in society and should be able to lead a dignified life. There is a need to change society’s outlook towards persons with disabilities.”