It is hard not to be thankful for what you have and to rediscover the fire within you when you read IIM C PGPEX Alum Disha Chhabra’s ‘Because Life is a Gift’ – a book that traces stories of people who conquered all odds to reach their goals
When a young boy is thrown out of school because he has special medical needs, does he ever think of graduating one day from one of the leading B-Schools – the Indian School of Business?
Getting into ISB is a dream for many. But it is not often that an institute like ISB is equipped to have a physically handicapped person in its MBA Class. Meet Sai Prasad, whose indomitable spirit has caught the imagination of the entire world.
Similarly getting into IIMs is no cakewalk. Isn’t it remarkable when a person who is 100% visually impaired not only gains admission to the B-School but also graduates with flying colors? That’s the story of Suresh, who redefined the word ‘impossible’ when he became the first 100% visually impaired person to graduate from IIM Calcutta.
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Sai Prasad and Suresh Reddy are living proof that given the right infrastructural support, differently-abled people can cross all hurdles and lead exemplary lives.
While Suresh’s stint at IIM Calcutta was a big shift for him, it also sensitized the teachers of the need for providing e-books, ensuring Suresh had the material in an online readable format, which he could then read with the help of JAWS software. The institute acquired a tactile adoption kit which helped Suresh visualize graphs, tables and other graphical elements.
Suresh never made blindness an excuse for missing any exam or assignment. He would listen to presentations, participate in group tasks and deliver class presentations for his evaluations.
Sai, on the other hand had only one year of work experience when he applied to ISB. Instead of rejecting his application straight away, the institute decided to give him a chance. The institute made all the efforts required to ensure everything – right from his hostel room to the classrooms and even the washrooms were all made accessible for Sai.
Sai did not disappoint the institute either. He not only achieved academic success but was able to launch ‘Sahasra’, a social change venture from the campus of ISB.
Kudos to the institutes for their sensitivity towards the needs of the differently-abled. Kudos to Sai and Suresh for not just appreciating these little things, but also endeavoring to achieve so much that no one else faces the same hurdles/questions that they both once had. Their stories illustrate amply that if we truly want an inclusive India, we do not need reservations and quotas but the creation of a support system for enabling people.
Sai’s and Suresh’s journey from darkness to light, from obstacles to success and their victories over not just societal discrimination but their own doubts too is the focus of a newly released book Because Life is a Gift, authored by IIM Calcutta MBA (PGPEX) alumna, Disha Chhabra.
The book has stories of 15 differently-abled people who have risen against all odds and obstacles in their lives to achieve milestones not just for themselves, but for the society and the country as well. The book drives home the message that support from family, friends and institutions can really go a long way in enabling lives and creating miracles. Question, then is not ‘why’ but ‘how’.
Some people the book covers include the first disabled Indian to skydive from 14,000 feet, a Major who lost his leg in Kargil war but became India’s ‘Blade Runner’, a child prodigy suffering from a progressive degenerative disorder of muscle tissue who became India’s youngest patent holder and a thalassemia survivor who cleared civil service exams, was rejected due to his condition, fought a battle with the authorities and won.
This is Disha’s second book – her first one was My Beloved’s MBA Plans, which carries stories of real life couples struggling to balance family responsibilities and career ambitions.
Because Life is a Gift is available on Amazon at this link and on all leading online and offline stores. We also have a giveaway contest running on our Facebook page so participate there and win your copy. Click here to visit OneYearMBA.co.in’s Facebook page.
