MBE for Harringay resident

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A blind osteopath who pioneered Indian head massage and teaches it globally has been honoured with an MBE for his work with visually impaired Asians.

Narendra Mehta, 61, of Harringay, who has been totally blind since the age of one, is from Mumbai and is known as "the guru" of the British Indian head massage movement.

He has lived in the UK for 30 years and trained here at one of the only physiotherapy schools educating blind people at the time. He went on to set up the charity Association for Blind Asians in 1986. It helps people who do not read brail by recording Asian magazines onto audio cassettes, as well as organising daytrips to Blackpool and other destinations.

He was nominated for the MBE by long time assistant Moses Chundi, 32 who also mentioned the support his wife Kundan offers.

Mr Chundi said: "He was delighted. He has a favourite line that he always says. He never thinks he's blind because he sees the world through his wife's eyes. She is the one who is always 24/7 with him wherever he travels."