How Alok Kejriwal Built ISH News to End India’s “Information Blackout” for the Deaf Community

Alok Kejriwal, founder of India Signing Hands (ISH News), turned his personal struggle with inaccessible news into India’s leading Deaf-first media platform. Through Indian Sign Language news, sports, creator culture, and educational content, ISH News is redefining accessibility and representation for millions. 

Who is Alok Kejriwal and why is his story important?

Alok Kejriwal is not just an entrepreneur. He is one of the strongest voices advocating for accessibility and Deaf representation in India’s media ecosystem.

A graduate of Gallaudet University, the world’s leading university for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, Alok has spent years working to bridge a communication gap that millions of Deaf Indians quietly face every day.

Before entering the media, he built a successful corporate career as Chairman and Managing Director of AAPL Solutions, a pharmaceutical packaging company. But despite professional success, there was one frustration he could never ignore.

He could not fully access the news in his own country.

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What inspired Alok Kejriwal to start ISH News?

Alok often speaks about experiencing what he calls an “information blackout.”

During major national events, he would sit in front of the television without any real way to understand what was happening. Most Indian news channels lacked Indian Sign Language interpretation and accurate captions.

For millions of Deaf Indians, important information simply remained inaccessible.

That personal experience became the foundation of ISH News.

Launched on November 22, 2018, under the parent organisation India Signing Hands, the platform was created to serve India’s estimated 1.8 crore Deaf citizens with fully accessible news and entertainment content.

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Who founded ISH News with Alok Kejriwal?

ISH News was co-founded by:

• Alok Kejriwal
• Aqil Chinoy, a Deaf tech professional
• Mansi Shah, a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults)

Together, the trio built a platform that understood both the Deaf and hearing worlds, creating content that could connect across communities rather than isolate them.

What makes ISH News different from mainstream media?

Alok designed ISH News around one clear idea: accessibility should not feel partial.

The platform follows what it calls a Triple-Layer Format:

• Indian Sign Language (ISL) is the primary mode of communication
• voice-over for hearing audiences and families
• captions and visuals for reinforcement and literacy support

This structure allows Deaf viewers to consume content independently while also helping hearing family members engage alongside them.

The goal was never just translation. It was equal participation.

How did ISH News expand beyond regular news reporting?

Under Alok’s leadership, ISH News quickly moved beyond traditional news bulletins.

He realised that inclusion also means being part of cultural conversations. Deaf audiences deserved access not only to serious news but also to sports, creator culture, entertainment, and trending internet moments.

ISH News became one of the first platforms to provide Indian Sign Language commentary for cricket tournaments like the IPL and T20 World Cups, collaborating with broadcasters including Star Sports.

The platform also started translating creator and journalist content into sign language, including interviews and discussions involving digital personalities and journalists like Faye D’Souza.

This helped the Deaf community stay connected with conversations dominating the online world.

What role did ISH News play during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The pandemic became one of the clearest examples of why accessible communication matters.

Government announcements, health advisories, and WHO guidelines were often released without accessibility features. ISH News stepped in to bridge that gap.

Alok and his team translated critical COVID-19 information into Indian Sign Language, helping Deaf audiences access life-saving updates in real time.

Beyond health information, the platform also expanded into:

• financial literacy through “MoneyTalks”
• legal awareness
• educational explainers
• digital literacy content

The focus remained on empowerment, not dependence.

Why is Alok Kejriwal strongly protective of Indian Sign Language?

For Alok, language is identity.

He has openly opposed attempts to replace Indian Sign Language with American Sign Language in Indian contexts, arguing that ISL carries its own cultural and social identity.

He often points out that many ISL signs are rooted in Indian culture itself. For example, certain gestures reflect Indian traditions and lived realities that cannot simply be replaced by imported systems.

His advocacy goes beyond accessibility. It is also about cultural preservation.

How has Alok Kejriwal influenced accessibility conversations in India?

Over the years, Alok’s work has reached national platforms and institutions.

He has spoken at TEDxGateway and collaborated with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on accessibility and universal design conversations.

More importantly, ISH News has changed representation inside the media itself.

The platform is not built around hearing people speaking for the Deaf community. Instead, Deaf professionals lead the newsroom as anchors, editors, designers, and storytellers.

That shift in ownership is what makes the platform different.

Why does Alok Kejriwal’s work matter today?

At a time when digital media moves faster than ever, accessibility is still treated as optional in many spaces.

Alok Kejriwal’s work challenges that mindset directly.

Through ISH News, he has shown that accessibility is not charity, extra effort, or an afterthought. It is basic inclusion.

And for millions of Deaf Indians, that inclusion has finally created something many had been denied for years:

The ability to fully understand, participate, and belong in the same conversations as everyone else.