Chen never claimed to be a rabble - rouser , says law professor . An eye injury left him blind as a child ; his parents were farmers . He is an advocate for farmers and the disabled in China . In June 2005 , three months after beginning his investigation , Chen organized a lawsuit against local officials and traveled to Beijing to meet with legal experts and tell international journalists about his findings . The case that brought him to international prominence was in China .
Chen never claimed to be a rabble - rouser , says law professor . An eye injury left him blind as a child ; his parents were farmers . He is an advocate for farmers and the disabled in China . The case that brought him to international prominence was in China .