{{short description|Indian wildlife photographer, playwright, painter, editor, and director}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Swagat Thorat | image = | birth_date = 20 March | occupation = Writer, poet, painter, photographer, director, editor | title = Braille Man of India }}
'''Swagat Thorat''' is an Indian wildlife photographer, playwright, painter, editor, and director. Known as the Braille Man of India, he published India's first registered fortnightly Braille newspaper in the Marathi language, called ''Sparshdnyan.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Menon|first=Sudha|date=15 January 2008|title=Marathi magazine to be launched in Feb is first Braille fortnightly|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/4vVRvrvpIu68VzrnvfDvwL/Marathi-magazine-to-be-launched-in-Feb-is-first-Braille-fort.html|access-date=23 November 2020|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> He has also directed plays with blind performers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 February 2018|title=Braille Man of India - who gave new vision to the Blind.|url=http://www.riseforindia.com/braille-man-india-gave-new-vision-blind/|access-date=2 December 2020|website=RISE FOR INDIA|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Swagat Thorat was raised in Chandrapur in Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2012/03/120320_braille_paper_ak|title=A dream come true|date=6 September 2013|work=The Hindu|access-date=14 April 2020|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 1993, he created the documentary ''Kallokhatil Chandane'' for Pune Akashwani. As a theatre director he staged ''Teen Paishacha Tamasha''<ref>{{Citation|last=Rowe|first=Maggie|title=Counselling the Visually-impaired Adult|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780429486845-9|work=The Visually Impaired|year=2018|pages=85–95|publisher=Routledge|doi=10.4324/9780429486845-9|isbn=978-0-429-48684-5|access-date=11 July 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and ''Apoorva Meghdoot''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 April 2017|title=नवी दृष्टी देणारं 'अपूर्व मेघदूत'|url=https://www.loksatta.com/manoranjan-news/apoorva-meghdoot-drama-with-cast-of-19-visually-challenged-artists-1458688/|access-date=11 July 2020|website=Loksatta|language=mr-IN}}</ref> with a cast of blind artists. He also published ''Sparshagandh'',<ref>{{Cite news|last=Salgaokar|first=Shakti|date=3 May 2011|title=Special: Shining some light for the blind|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-special-shining-some-light-for-the-blind-1549739|work=DNA India|access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref> the first Braille Diwali magazine, in 1998 and worked for some time as editor and publisher of ''Sparshdnyan'',<ref>{{Cite news|last=Westhead|first=Rick|date=22 May 2011|title=Braille newspaper shows blind new world|url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/braille-newspaper-shows-blind-new-world|access-date=12 July 2020|work=Sunday Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Ankit|last=Ajmera|date=1 May 2011|title=In touch with the headlines|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/In-touch-with-the-headlines/articleshow/16123091.cms|access-date=12 July 2020|work=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dhinda|first=Archisman|date=8 August 2013|title=Swagat Thorat on why he started India's first Braille magazine|url=https://gulfnews.com/general/swagat-thorat-on-why-he-started-indias-first-braille-magazine-1.1218131|work=Gulf News|access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 May 2011|title=Braille newspaper helps thousands stay informed in India|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2011/05/11/braille_newspaper_helps_thousands_stay_informed_in_india.html|access-date=12 July 2020|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref> the first registered fortnightly Braille newspaper in India (founded 15 February 2008). He has also been Chief Editor of ''Reliance Drishti'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reliancefoundation.org/reliance-drishti|title=Reliance Foundation Drishti – Providing Vision – Reliance Foundation|website=Reliancefoundation.org|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2012/03/120320_braille_paper_ak|title=अब दृष्टिहीन पढ़ सकेंगे हिन्दी अख़बार|work=BBC|date=20 March 2012|language=hi|access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> the most widely printed and read Braille fortnightly newspaper in India, which was founded in March 2012.
== Awards and recognition == * Real Heroes Award from CNN-IBN and Reliance<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hingorani|first=Priya|date=20 March 2012|title=Reliance launches Braille newspaper with Real Hero|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/reliance-drishti-457399.html|work=News18|access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thorat, Swagat}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:Marathi-language writers Category:Indian newspaper editors Category:Indian magazine editors Category:Indian wildlife photographers Category:People from Chandrapur Category:Disability theatre Category:Blindness in India
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