Moral Courage Beyond Physical Strength: The Heroism of a Visually Impaired Child in Arup Kumar Dutta’s The Blind Witness
| Author |
| Leimakhujam Neetu & Binata Nongmaithem |
| Date of Publication: June, 2026 |
| Volume: XXVI, No.- XXIX |
| DOI:10.65734/tgi.ssei.avp.ijcsss.ti.26.29.13 |
| Abstract |
| Child heroes in children’s fiction exhibit moral values and courage to young readers. The themes of this genre often include adventure, fantasy, social injustice and eco-consciousness. Such narratives play a vital role in shaping moral and ethical awareness among child readers. In India, children’s fiction often portrays child heroes who fight for justice against social prejudice, environmental exploitation and crime facing difficult circumstances. Arup Kumar Dutta’s novel The Blind Witness portrays the motif of child heroism through its protagonist Ramu, a visually impaired boy whose determination and moral conviction enable him to bring justice for the death of his neighbour Gopalan despite societal scepticism. The novel narrates the mysterious murder of Gopalan, Ramu’s neighbour and close friend. Gopalan treats Ramu as a normal human being, unlike others who pity or discriminate against him for his blindness. He encourages Ramu to cultivate self-respect and teaches him that true courage lies not in absence of fear but in overcoming fear to do what is right. Following the murder, Gopalan is falsely accused of being a thief and society shows little concern to uncover the truth behind his murder. However, Ramu goes against this injustice and approaches the police with his friend Sunil, stating the clues he has gathered. Ramu’s blindness is a bar to interrogate him, though he witnessed the crime. People doubt that he will provide the right information, so the police at first hesitate to meet him. However, the story turns hope when the superintendent of police believes him after recognising his extraordinary hearing ability that allows him to recognize voices, footsteps and movements so intricately that a normal person is unable to do. His ability to read a crucial clue in Braille eventually helps the police uncover the truth about Gopalan and capture the criminals. Drawing on the moral development theory of Lawrence Kohlberg, this paper argues that Ramu’s actions reflect a higher stage of moral reasoning in which individuals act according to principles of justice rather than personal benefit or social approval. Therefore, this paper studies The Blind Witness through its portrayal of moral courage beyond physical strength and as a challenge to stereotypes surrounding disability. |
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