SHILLONG, Jan 16: Blind Lead Trust (BLT), a Shillong-based non-profit organisation that works for the rights and inclusion of persons with visual impairment, organised a unique awareness programme titled “Beyond Sight–Documenting a Moment of Transformation at Café in the Dark” on Friday.
The initiative is part of the Trust’s larger vision to establish the Northeast’s first permanent “Café in the Dark” in Shillong.
BLT co-founder Jitendra Dkhar said the Café in the Dark is a one-of-its-kind initiative designed to allow people to experience the world from the perspective of persons with visual impairment. He said such an experience cannot be fully understood through discussion but direct engagement.
“Through this initiative, participants gain real insight into the daily challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. The programme is meant to raise awareness, build empathy, and encourage society to rethink how infrastructure, accessibility, and opportunities are designed,” Dkhar said.
He added that the Trust has actively involved the government, judiciary, NGOs, and other stakeholders to support the initiative. The long-term vision, he said, is to establish a permanent Café in the Dark in Shillong, where visitors can enjoy food, take part in games and workshops, and interact directly with visually impaired individuals in a completely dark setting.
“This will be the first such café in the Northeast. It will not only create awareness but also generate employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, allowing them to earn with dignity and stand on their own,” he said and appealed to the public, corporates, companies, and volunteers to support the initiative.
Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon, who attended the programme, said the Café in the Dark is more than just an event.
“It is a reversal of the world as we know it. On this day, the powerful are led by the invisible. Leaders step out of the light of their offices and into complete darkness, guided only by visually impaired youth,” he said.
Syngkon said such experiences generate powerful human stories and foster humility. “When the so-called ‘vulnerable’ become the guides and the ‘experts’ become students, it changes perspectives. Even small efforts, when driven by compassion, can make a significant impact,” he added.
Sharing her experience, Australian tourist Sylvia Rowe said it was the first time she had experienced the world from the perspective of a person with visual impairment.
“We can imagine it, but when you are actually in complete darkness, it changes you completely. Simple tasks like making tea became huge challenges—I put salt instead of sugar and spilled tea outside the cup,” she said.
Rowe said the experience made her deeply emotional and grateful. “I travelled all the way from Australia and never expected something like this. It made me appreciate my life even more and taught me to be more empathetic and understanding,” she said, adding that more inclusive spaces are needed not only for wheelchair users but also for persons with visual impairment.
She praised the people of Shillong for their helpful nature. She stressed that accessibility for persons with disabilities still needs much greater attention.
Through initiatives like Café in the Dark, the BLT aims to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and inspire collective action towards building a more inclusive, accessible, and empathetic society.
