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In this second part of the interview with Shruti Pushkarna, Mahesh Narasimhan speaks at length about his growing up years when he started to lose his vision and his subsequent courageous journey through school, college and work.
Mahesh Narasimhan was diagnosed with macular degeneration at the age of seven. Macular degeneration is the deterioration of the macula, which is the small central area of the retina of the eye that controls visual acuity. The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye and it controls our ability to read, drive, recognize faces or colors and perform any other visual task that requires us to see fine detail.
Mahesh’s sister also suffers from the same disorder. But their parents never let them give up. They taught them to put up a brave fight to survive and thrive in life. Both Mahesh and his family believe that the problem is not the disability itself but how the mind perceives it. They feel that every human being is ‘crippled’ in one way or the other. This might not be a visible disability but just a mindset that ‘cripples’. So one has to overcome this mindset of disability and embrace life wholeheartedly to step forward.
Photo: Mahesh with his parents at their home in Delhi.
Inerview:
Question:
What is your eye problem?
Answer:
Till the age of seven, I could see. And after that macular degeneration started, because of which my eyesight slowly deteriorated. But since last twenty odd years, it is arrested. No further deterioration has taken place. I have about 10 percent vision.
Question:
What are the problems you faced soon after you lost your vision?
Answer:
First of all, I was unable to play with my friends. In that age, playing was the prime activity. I was unable to play cricket or football. I used to ask my parents as to why I couldn’t play. My mother told me not to worry and focus on things I could do. It took me about four to five years to accept my limitation.
Question:
Did you have any dreams at that age?
Answer:
Yes. Before I started to lose my vision, I had an ambition to join the Indian Army. I wanted to be an engineer in the army. But because of my disability, I slowly realized I cannot live up to my dream. And then when I was around 13 years old, I thought I’ll live life as it comes.
Question:
Did you set up any new dreams for yourself?
Answer:
I just thought of one thing. Whatever I do, it should be the best. I should give my 100 per cent to whatever I take up.
Question:
You studied in St. Xavier’s school in Delhi, not a special school for the visually impaired. Did you face any difficulty studying at school?
Answer:
I did. Class III and IV were relatively okay. Although in Class IV, I faced difficulty in reading the blackboard. So I used to go closer to the board to be able to read the teacher’s notes. Some of my friends also helped me. But then from Class V and VI onwards, the problem worsened. The teachers allowed me to sit closer to the blackboard and they even read out notes to me. Most of the teachers were helpful, especially the Headmaster and the Assistant Headmaster. They used to specially write the question papers in large font for me rather than handing ou
t the regular typed question papers.
Question:
It’s a general perception that a visually impaired person cannot take up a sport. But you told me you were fond of playing basketball in school. Did you face any difficulty in playing the sport?
Answer:
I really liked playing basketball. I didn’t think it was difficult, I enjoyed it. Sometimes I did find it difficult to see the ball, when fellow players would throw the ball at me. But if I stood at a distance and the ball approached me with a bounce, I could handle it well. So the difficulty didn’t prevent me from enjoying the sport.
Question:
After school, you took up BA Honors in Economics at Kirori Mal College? What prompted you to pursue Economics?
Answer:
Actually my first preference was Mathematics. I was always good at Math and I thoroughly enjoyed the subject. But when I consulted some Math professors, they apprised me of the difficulties I would face if I took up Math. The Math course being extensive and several papers with their respective constraints, they said they wouldn’t be able to extend enough support for me to keep up with the course. They told me since I wanted to handle some analytical paper, I should pursue Economics.
Question:
Did you face any difficulty in college?
Answer:
No. All the teachers were extremely helpful. They are helpful till date. In my MBA, there were about four or five papers which dealt with economics. In case I had any query, I would call them up for help. They would never refuse help.
Question:
Apart from the help you got in school and college, how did you study at home?
Answer:
At home, my father helped me a lot. He used to read out things to me so that I could write my own notes in large font. Several times, he helped me study till late in the night. I’d like to mention one incident here. In Class XII Math I had a study topic, Indifferent Integration. My father bought me a question bank so that I could practice well. One morning he read out 100 questions to me and asked me to solve those 100 questions, after which he said he would read out the next 100 questions. He gave the questions in the morning and I solved all 100 of them by the evening. Math was intoxicating to me! My father put in a lot of extra effort in preparing me to keep up with the class.
Question:
After college, you also took up a computer training course. What prompted you to do that?
Answer:
I had appeared for an exam for a Probationary Officer with the Corporation Bank. I cleared the written exam and I was called for an interview. It went off well but they asked me if I could handle computers. At that time I was computer illiterate. So I said no, but given an opportunity I would like to learn it. Subsequently I was not selected for that job. Then I found out about the computer training course offered at the Blind Relief Association (BRA). When I went there to enroll they asked me if I knew how to type. I didn’t. So before the computer training I took up a course in typing. After that I applied for the course at BRA. It was a four month course, I topped it.
Question:
Do you think access to computers at an earlier stage would have made things easier for you?
Answer:
Yes of course. When I was studying, there were no such facilities. I am not sure about the schools, but I think colleges now have systems with talking software. This sort of modern infrastructure can be of great help to students with visual impairment. I’m sure if I went back to school and college today, I would easily top my class!
Question:
You have been working with the Oberoi group for the past ten years. What is your area of work?
Answer:
I work in their Printing Press as a Sales Coordinator. I joined here ten years ago as a Graphics Trainee. I was supposed to continue as a trainee for two years but looking at my ability and performance, they offered me a permanent position within thirteen months. As a Graphic trainee, I was meant to work in the graphics department. It involved the pre-Press part of printing. I was supposed to learn how things were being created and projected on a metallic plate. Then those things would be forwarded for printing on offset machines. So the pre-printing involved all this including coordination with the clients. That part where we coordinated with the clients, I saw that as my potential area of work because I wouldn’t have been able to handle any graphic function. I recognized my forte.
Question:
Did your employers make any sort of special provisions for you at work? Did you feel that you were treated differently than the other staff?
Answer:
They treated me well and they treated me like they would treat any other member of the staff. They didn’t really make any special provisions for me but they were always sensitive to my condition and needs. Whether it was my supervisor or my colleagues, they were immensely helpful and encouraging. I can only think of one instance if we talk about special provisions. My supervisor had instructed the staff that they had to look out for me whenever I go near the printing machines.
Question:
What has the job at the Press taught you?
Answer:
It has taught me a lot. Earlier I didn’t know how to interact with clients. But this job taught me how to interact and communicate with them, understanding their needs and meeting their requirements. And most of my clients don’t even know that I’m visually challenged! That’s because all my interaction is over the phone or via email. I never wanted any soft corners for myself. I wanted to be judged on the basis of my merit. This world is ruthless and full of competition. If I’m able to compete with the so-called ‘able-bodied’ at par and I’m able to succeed, that means I’m a winner. If I’m able to achieve my goals and objectives as well as any able bodied person, that’s what I call a victory. My clients would be surprised to find out that I’m visually challenged!
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