Visually impaired student impresses experts at Oxford

Early this month, Kalyanlakshmi Chitta (29), a visually impaired research associate and PhD student at the economics department of the University of Pune, did the city proud. She representing Pune at the third global conference on ‘The Value of Work’ organised at Mansfield College of the University of Oxford.

Kalyanlakshmi’s research paper was one of the three selected from India for the conference, held between September 1 and 3.

“Her achievement is amazing. The conference included an audience of high academic rigour hence, it was not easy to be selected for presenting the paper. Kalyanlakshmi is not an established scholar and is yet to complete her PhD,” said Rohini Sahni, professor and head of the department of economics at UoP.

Sahni said the paper was well appreciated and there were many questions by the experts, which Kalyanlakshmi answered.
Kalyanlakshmi said she has a hereditary genetic mutation resulting in retinus pigmentosa, which is deterioration of rods and cones of the retina cells. She said, “I did not have any problem till I was studying in Std IV, but slowly my sight reduced.”

She studied at Sardar Dastur Girls’ High School and Nowrosjee Wadia College, from where she graduated in economics. She completed MA from the University of Pune and is now pursuing her PhD under the guidance of Sahni.

The global conference was organised by Interdisciplinary.net, an institution accredited by British Accreditation Council in collaboration with Mansfield College of the University of Oxford.