What began as a personal struggle has transformed into a globally recognised innovation. Aahan Ritesh Prajapati, a 17-year-old student of Adani International School, has developed a machine-learning model that modifies textbook diagrams and maps for colour-blind students, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.7 percent.
Born with red and green colour blindness, Aahan faced challenges in lab experiments and art classes from an early age. Diagnosed in Grade Four, he soon realised that many other students might also be struggling silently. This led him to launch a social project, Aiding Colours, through which he conducted Ishihara tests across government and private schools. His efforts revealed that over 120 students were affected by colour blindness.
With consistent support from his school, Aahan expanded his initiative, setting up camps with his classmates and testing more than 300 students. His work culminated in the creation of an AI-powered solution that makes educational content more accessible. The project won him the prestigious Crest Gold Award (UK) and recognition at international platforms, including the Indo-French Conference on AI and Healthcare at IIT-Delhi.
Reflecting on his journey, Aahan credited his school’s role: “My school supported me a lot and gave me a platform to pursue my vision. Receiving the Crest Gold Award has been deeply meaningful, but the real reward is seeing children finally feel understood.”
Aahan’s mission began in Anand, Gujarat, with the support of the Dr Shivani Bhatt Charitable Foundation, where he organised colour-blindness screening camps across four districts, testing over 10,000 students. For many, including an aspiring Army cadet, the diagnosis proved life-changing.
Beyond his AI model, Aahan has also designed bilingual awareness leaflets, inclusive stationery, and teacher-friendly guides to build empathy in classrooms. His research is set to be published in the International Journal of High School Research, New York.
Namrata Adani, Promoter of Adani International School, praised Aahan’s achievement, noting that his story reflects the institution’s vision of nurturing changemakers who use education to touch lives.
Looking ahead, Aahan aims to scale his project to more schools across Gujarat and India and advocate for policy changes—such as mandatory health checkups for colour blindness and textbook modifications to make learning more inclusive.
“If even one child can understand better because of my work, I consider it a success,” he said.