THIRUVANATHAPURAM: For the first time ever, the blind students in the State will be listening to their lessons on CDs. The crisp, noise-free voice quality of these CDs may be easily traced to an adept sound engineer equipped with a highly accomplished studio ambience. However, all these CDs have originated from an ever-smiling blind teacher named Rejaneesh S S in a small room curtained all around with thick bedsheets at Government School for the Blind, Vazhuthacaud.
When National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) decided to set up a recording studio at the Blind School, it was Rejaneesh who was given the charge of the studio. An old student and presently a teacher at the Blind School, Rejaneesh was happy to take up the additional job of sound recordist. His effort that has lasted for nearly one year produced CDs of 14 subjects for the students from Class VIII to Class XII. In addition, Rejaneesh has also recorded audio versions of stories and poems for little children.
Rejaneesh has not had any professional training in sound recording. All he had was the tips about sound recording he had learnt from Balaraman, one of his teachers. "It was he who had taught me the basics of computer. When I told him that I was interested in sound recording, he just took me to a recording studio," says Rejaneesh, who believes that God sharpened his sensitivity to sound like a penance for blurring his vision.
He is also thankful to the students of Women’s College and MBBS students of Medical College who had read the lessons on CDs. "They never took any money for that. Whenever they found time, they would come to the school and read the lessons for recording. They were so patient and never left the work half way, which was really heartening for me."
The recording of a single subject would take days and sometimes months. "Subjects like History would take long time for recording. Recording stories are bit easier. Still I took my time adding some sound effects at certain points to make it interesting. Blind children are unusually receptive to sound and they like the slight variations in sound," he says.
Once the lessons were recorded, Rejaneesh would stay back in his studio working and reworking the sound files on the software JAWS, a version of sound software Sound Forge. "Even at 11 or 12 at night he would be here when we called him," says Reji, another teacher at Blind School.
For Rejaneesh, the job is only half done.
"Now we will soon bring out a CD compiling the poems from Class I to Class VII. The poems will be recited by students from different schools. We are also planning to work on CDs for the college students," he says.
Besides, Rejaneesh also fondles a dream. "I want to learn sound recording professionally. I am looking for a sound institute where blind will be taught," says Rejaneesh, who is also a graduate in music from Swathi Thirunal College of Music.
aswin@expressbuzz.com