First Visually Impaired man gets PhD from AMU
Blind since birth, man gets PhD from AMU, says, disability no barrier to success. Muhammad Samar is the “first visually impaired male student to earn a PhD from Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) Urdu department.” After completing his doctorate, the 32-year-old now dreams of becoming a lecturer to guide and uplift students facing similar struggles. While he has set a precedent for others like him, his journey has been anything but easy.
Hailing from Uparkot, Aligarh, Samar completed his entire education at AMU—from nursery to PhD. From his first day at Ahmadi School to defending his thesis in 2024, his life has been a testament to his resilience, courage and an unshakable will to succeed. He studied at Ahmadi School, completed his 12th at Minto Circle, earned a degree in English Literature, pursued a master’s in Urdu and finally earned his PhD.
Despite the challenges he faced due to his visual impairment, he never gave up. “There were days when darkness felt heavier than usual—not just the absence of sight, but the weight of doubt, struggle and unspoken barriers that came with my disability. But I drew strength from those who faced similar challenges and refused to give up, reminding myself that my dreams were just as valid, my aspirations just as achievable”, he said.
His family’s unwavering support and the perseverance of others with disabilities inspired him to push forward.
Samar comes from a large family, with four brothers and three sisters. His father is in the scrap business.
His academic journey was fraught with challenges, especially the lack of resources for visually impaired students.
Study material was mostly available in print, not in Braille, making it difficult to access them independently.
“It was tough to collect study material without an associate. There is a lack of faculty support for visually impaired students, and even getting Braille scripts is a struggle. During my PhD, AMU’s Braille printer broke down, making things even tougher as such printers are hard to find in the market,” he shared.
His PhD supervisor, Mohammad Iqbal Siddiqui, an Urdu professor at AMU, praised his dedication. “He is a quick learner. I look forward to his bright future,” he said.
Now, with a PhD in hand, Samar hopes to secure a teaching position. “I have applied to a few colleges at different levels, including AMU, where I hope the university that shaped me will give me an opportunity to be an example of determination, courage and perseverance to my students,” he said.
As Samar prepares for the next phase of his life, his message is clear: “Disability is not a barrier to education and success.
To mark 75 years of the Constitution, Sankara Eye Hospital in collaboration with CII Young Indians (Yi) Bengaluru, has brought out a Braille-enabled version of the Indian Constitution. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot launched the Braille version.
This initiative aims to empower those who are blind or have low vision by enabling them to read and understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens. By providing a Braille version of the Indian Constitution, the project seeks to foster a more inclusive society, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their vision ability, has equal access to foundational knowledge about their nation.
Kaushik Murali, president of Medical Administration, Quality and Education at Sankara Eye Foundation, said this launch marked a monumental shift in ensuring that visually impaired citizens are fully equipped to understand and engage with their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Indian Constitution. “The Braille version will be distributed to key institutions for ensuring wider access.”
Blind since birth, man gets PhD from AMU, says, disability no barrier to success. Muhammad Samar is the “first visually impaired male student to earn a PhD from Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) Urdu department.” After completing his doctorate, the 32-year-old now dreams of becoming a lecturer to guide and uplift students facing similar struggles. While he has set a precedent for others like him, his journey has been anything but easy.
