A World Of Colour Restored: Ashish’s Journey To Sight
What happens when a child’s laughter disappears from a home? For Ashish’s parents, the silence was unbearable — until one moment changed everything. Step into Ashish’s journey from darkness back to a world full of colour, play, and hope.
A Sudden Silence Fell Over Playtime
For five-year-old Ashish Pratap from Balua, Bihar, life had started to change in ways his parents could not understand at first. Only a few months ago, he was the centre of attention in his family — a lively boy who loved running around the fields, laughing with his friends, and attending play school with excitement. Slowly, that sparkle began to fade.
Ashish was born with congenital cataracts, and as his condition worsened, his eyes could no longer see clearly. Gradually, he stopped joining games. His laughter became less frequent, and his once-bubbly personality turned quiet.
It was heartbreaking to see him stop running around and smiling,
recalls his mother, Gudiya Devi, who often watched him sitting quietly on the veranda.
Even his favourite toys… he hardly noticed them. We worried every single day, but we didn’t know what to do.
His father, Laukush Singh, adds with a heavy voice,
A child’s laughter should fill a home, but in ours, it was missing. Our cheerful boy became so withdrawn. It hurt us deeply, because as parents we felt helpless.
Finding Hope in the Right Place
The family’s worry turned into a search for answers. Relatives told them about Akhand Jyoti and the possibility of getting treatment there. Though nervous and unsure, they decided to bring Ashish, holding on to the hope that something could be done to bring back his vision.
The journey from Saran to Akhand Jyoti was filled with questions — would their little boy’s sight return? Would he ever run around like other children again?
From the moment we arrived, we felt safe,
says Laukush.
The doctors and staff explained everything to us clearly. They didn’t just treat Ashish — they cared for him like their own. That gave us the courage to go through with it.
A Life-Changing Surgery
The day of the surgery was filled with fear and prayers.
It felt like the longest hours of our lives,
Gudiya remembers.
We sat outside, waiting, hoping everything would be alright. When the doctors finally came out and told us it went well, it was like a huge weight lifted. We could breathe again.
When Ashish opened his eyes after surgery, the family knew something had changed. For the first time in months, there was light and awareness in his little eyes.
That moment, we will never forget. It felt like we had got our son back,
says Laukush.
Rediscovering Joy and Play
The change in Ashish was visible almost immediately. Within days, the quiet and withdrawn boy started showing signs of his old self. He picked up his toy bat and ball, laughed at small things, and soon began running in the courtyard again, chasing imaginary cricket balls.
Now he plays like before — running around, laughing, full of energy. It feels like our child has returned to us,
says Gudiya with a smile
Ashish himself describes it in the simplest way:
I can see my toys again. I can run with my friends. I am very happy.
A Family’s Gratitude
For Laukush and Gudiya, the surgery was not just about restoring sight. It was about giving their son his childhood back.
We were miserable when he couldn’t see. Every parent dreams of a bright future for their child. Today, that dream feels possible again.
Protecting Childhood Through Early Screening
Ashish’s journey is also a reminder of how important early screening is for children. Without timely treatment, many like him risk losing their childhood along with their vision.
Through the Bal Drishti Initiative, Akhand Jyoti is reaching villages, identifying children with vision problems early, and ensuring that no child loses the chance to learn, play, and grow because of preventable blindness.
With my son smiling and running again, I feel our prayers were truly answered,
says Gudiya softly, her relief and gratitude clear in her voice.
