Vision loss no bar for law grad

Battling a 75 per cent visual impairment, a 23-year-old student of the Dr Ambedkar Government Law College in the city has topped in company law by securing 65 per cent marks.

His unrelenting efforts and hardwork were recognised with a gold medal, which was awarded on the occasion of the sixth convocation of the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University held recently.

“I attribute this success to my family, friends and teachers for their support,” Regan Sagaya William, who passed out this year, said. William, who hails from Old Washermenpet in North Chennai, wanted to pursue law since his childhood.

But, an unexpected ailment came in the way of his dreams, posing several challenges for the aspiring lawyer.

“I suffered vision loss, after I was diagnosed with typhoid when I was in Class 10,” he said, adding that he can only recognise images near him.

Despite such hardships, William took the help of his family and friends to emerge as a successful law graduate.

Regan said, “Their contributions are notable. I would request one of my family members to read the subject books, which would subsequently be recorded in audio cassettes. Thereafter, I would listen to the lessons through cassettes,” he said.

At the time of examinations, he said, “I would take the assistance of my schoolmate, an engineer by profession, as a scribe to write the exams.”

Presently, Regan works as a junior advocate and wants to specialise in labour laws in the future.

Asked about his role model, he said, “My inspiration is M C Mehta, a lawyer by profession and a committed environmentalist, who has filed several public interest environmental litigation cases on environmental disasters in India, including pollution of the Ganges.”