Inspiring story of a blind Indian MBA taken from rediff site
Years ago as an NMIMS Mumbai student, during placements a corporate house
told Ashish Goyal to find himself a job in the government sector, since it
has a quota system for the physically challenged. Having turned blind in
his
teens because of an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, Ashish did
not take the advice lightly.
He not only got himself placed at ING Vysya but also stood second in his
batch at NMIMS. Later, Ashish went on to do an MBA from the Wharton
School,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Today, the Mumbai boy has a plum job at JP Morgan's London operations.
Over the years, Ashish has not only earned milestones in his professional
space but also done plenty in his personal life -- from learning to play
Brazilian drums and learning the Argentine tango to boxing and performing
on
stage, besides many other things.
He was in India to receive the National Award for the Empowerment of
Persons
with Disabilities, 2010 from the President of India.
PagalGuy.com's Lajwanti D'souza talked to him what success means to a
visually challenged person, what inspired him in life, how he handles
depression and... his dream date woman.
What does this award mean to you in real terms. Do awards make a
difference
at all?
This award means a lot to me; it's special to be recognised and I am
really
humbled. Frankly it has not sunk in, meeting the President, meeting other
award winners. I am really excited. The difference that this will make,
well, the most important thing is that encouragement works wonders for
everyone I would think.
We get lost in this race called life so much, that a special moment like
this makes you take a step back, acknowledge the recognition and thank God
for all that has happened. It's reinvigorating to keep doing the best you
can. Also, if this award helps spread awareness and change people's
attitudes towards people with disabilities... that will be the best
outcome.
Describe what you do for a living and whether it has enriched your
existence
and vice-versa.
I work for JP Morgan's Chief Investment Office and we help manage the
bank's
exposure in various markets across different geographies. It's a very
significant and satisfying role at a bank like JP Morgan, which has a huge
balance sheet and large exposures. Proper balance sheet management can
make
a tremendous impact to all stakeholders from depositors, clients to
shareholders and employees.
Vice-versa, well all I can say is that I am happy that I have been able to
live up to expectations and hope to keep doing the same going forward.
Also
being a student of macro-economics and geo-politics, my job keeps me sharp
and interested in this ever changing dynamic world.
Do you think Indian B-schools are responsive to people with mental or
physical challenges? There is this physically challenged boy fighting a
long
legal battle with the IIMs after being denied admission.
My answer will be a little dated, as I have not lived in India for 5 years
now and I applied to Indian business schools back in 2000. The main
difference in my two experiences (in India and in the US) is this: abroad,
there is a clear process and system to deal with students and applicants
with disabilities, of course helped by regulations.
Internationally, as with Wharton, it was pretty easy when it came to
following the process and providing a level playing ground. Where as in
India, the process was not streamlined and a lot of ad hoc decision making
would need to happen on the basis of perceptions even though regulations
existed.
This was not just the case in B-schools, I would say that was true of most
institutes. What Wharton did, was it gave me a level playing field to
compete and learn on merit and that's all we require I guess... the rest
is
up to ability.
Is there anything that you are doing or would like to do in the sphere of
helping those visually challenged?
I have fleetingly been in touch with this organisation called Enable
India.
It's a great model, training disabled individuals to become independent
and
acquire the right skill sets for a job, then working with companies to get
them to hire these people, and finally making sure that the first few
months
the transition goes smoothly.
I am also involved with 2 other issues, education through Pratham which
reaches out to the poor and educating kids for free, and the Akshay Patra
Foundation, which is Asia's largest mid-day meal programme.
Is there a better sense of concern for those 'challenged' abroad than in
India? Here, even getting a ramp made in a housing society is a big
hassle.
Yes, as mentioned, there is a difference in terms of infrastructure and
facilities, but hopefully that is changing, as the government and a lot of
non-profit organisations are working towards that change. But most
importantly I feel individuals like you and I need to be more receptive
and
accepting.
One important thing that needs to be mentioned is that people with
disabilities are individuals who have gone through various circumstances
and
are very different to each other. It's not fair to club all of them as the
same... and even less fair to club all kinds of disabilities as the same.
I
have no idea what I would do or how people in a wheelchair cope or what
about people with not-so-obvious disabilities or challenges like learning
or
mental disabilities.
What kind of vocations would you advise physically challenged persons take
up given the job market scenario? The Indian government has gone only as
far
as giving out PCO booths.
In India and abroad, I have met disabled individuals like me doing all
kinds
of jobs. I believe it comes down to ambition and practicality combined.
When
I was going through recruiting from NMIMS, I was shocked when one of the
companies told me that I should begin my career in a government
organisation
as they have quotas and that they would not interview me. I could have
given
up hope then and there, but I really don't see a lot of issues for
disabled
people doing various things. There are lawyers, media professionals,
bankers, IT professionals, teachers, you name it...
Have you thought of designing products, furniture or gadgets for those
with
disabilities and challenges?
I have offered to be a tester for a couple of products and whenever I have
any idea, I speak to my friends who work in a similar field. There are
people and companies across the world working on this.
Have you learnt cooking? That's what you said you wanted to learn, the
last
time around.
Yes, but do I cook? No, I hate the entire cleaning process that follows.
Where do you see yourself five years down the line?
I want to definitely do something for the country (India). Don't yet know
in
what shape or form. The way my life has evolved, I think 5 years is a long
time, but hopefully I will have discovered my calling by then.
Is there something you'd like to say to those who think their lives are
always on the downturn?
I don't feel any issue is too small or too big. I think one can make it
small or big. If there is an issue, finding a solution and working through
it is the best approach because only we can affect that change instantly
or
attempt it. If we feel there is no hope and don't see a solution it will
be
difficult for others to help. It's most important not to run away from
those
issues, but work with them and take them head on.
What do you do when you get depressed?
Eat chocolates. Nope, kidding. I guess I call up my closest friends and
talk
about it... go change my mood... ponder... and sleep... its depressing
being
depressed, so I try and limit it :) .
You are one lucky guy to have your family with you? Not all
physically-challenged people are as fortunate.
I can't even imagine my life without my Guruji and my family. I feel very
fortunate to have such an amazing support system, blessings and some great
friends. I don't know if I can advise anyone here, but I would say for
others, when you see someone like this, please lend them your hand. Being
nice to people doesn't cost anything and your simple act could change
someone else's world. I can't even enumerate the number of times living
alone in a foreign land, absolute strangers, who I will probably never
meet
again, have helped me or made life easier for me.
Who is your ideal date?
Too personal a question (don't wanna spill the beans actually... haha...).
Well I enjoy the company of intelligent and interesting women in general.
Would you have achieved so much had fate not been cruel to you when you
were
in your teens and when you lost your vision to retinitis pigmentosa after
being born with proper vision?
My guruji Dr Balaji Tambe has been my guiding force and I would have
crumbled without him. I have pondered at length about this question and
about the saying -- everything happens for the best. If I had regular
sight,
I could easily see myself being a very average spoiled kid, doing nothing
with my life and living an inconsequential existence.
Well, that would be taking the worst case scenario for sure, but this
disability made me focus and work hard for everything, and most
importantly
it made me believe in myself and gave me an attitude to keep trying,
giving
my best, and enjoying every experience.
Do you think your MBA degree has got you where you are today? Or do you
believe you had it in you to circumvent every obstacle?
The people I met in my MBA years, the opportunities I got have been
overwhelming. I would relive my MBA experience anytime. An MBA can make a
major difference in your life if you know what you want out of it. There
are
so many things you could choose from and so many ways in which you can
shape
yourself... and improve your career and social life. It's easy also to not
do anything sometimes, but believe me that would be such a waste of
opportunity.
Response on Rediff from one of reader
While this is a very good or shall I say excellent achievement for a blind
person.
I know quite a few blind people who work in many industries.
1, A local blind man who livid near me in UK (has since passed to lords
abode) was a machine operator in local Rubber factory he use to operate a
press that molded seal for medical industry.
He was blinded as a child in WW11.
2)Another young man I know of about 30 years old who is a first line
engineer in a Computer related company called LogicaCMG ( WHO ALSO HAVE
COMPUTER INTERESTS IN INDIA) This young Lad is totally blind ye is a very
competent engineer.
3) A gentleman from Pakistan who runs his own business called Sun travels
in
Birmingham UK and is totally blind.
4)Another person (I have forgotten his name0 who runs a saloon in Mumbai
near the gateway of India,he shaves beards of men and is totally Blind.
and what about Mark Inglis who lost both his legs(not blind though still a
disabled person)who lost his both legs yet climbed the Everest to the
summit.
there are lot of people who do not wish to just sit down and seek sympathy
but achieve something which even able person sometimes feel a challenge,
let
us all learn and encourage who are less fortunate then us to get up and
make
their mark as Ashish Goyal has done he puts some of us able people to
shame.
get inspired and inspire others do do the same rater then just sitting ob
their back side and say WHAT CAN I DO I AM A DISABLED PERSON.
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