Image:
Mahesh Narasimhan topped the 2016 batch of Executive MBA at the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi. This, after he was wrongfully denied admission into FMS in 2014. But Mahesh stood up and fought for his rights, gained admission into the course and dazzled everyone with his hard work.
Mahesh was diagnosed with macular degeneration at the age of seven, which causes loss in the centre of the field of vision. But his parents never let his disability overwhelm his desire to live and grow. His father spent many a sleepless nights helping Mahesh prepare for his MBA course. Keeping a strict routine, Mahesh managed to complete his MBA alongside his full time job. From Day 1, he knew he had to prove his worth which was questioned in the form of denial of admission. With his immense hard work, he topped his course receiving a gold medal.
In this interview with Shruti Pushkarna, Mahesh speaks about the challenges he faced during the course and how he managed to overcome them.
In this interview with Shruti Pushkarna, Mahesh speaks about the challenges he faced during the course and how he managed to overcome them.
Inerview:
Question:
After working for nearly 8 years with the Oberoi group in their Press, you decided to do an Executive MBA. But I believe you had to put up a brave fight with the system to secure admission into the course. Tell us what happened.
Answer:
I applied for the two year Executive MBA programme at FMS Delhi for the academic term 2014-2016. I received a letter stating that there will be an interview on June 18 following a written test on the same day. I was ready for it. The test required me to write an essay on small scale industries. Given my background in Economics, I handled the topic well. The test was followed by an interview, it went off well. When I checked my result online, I found that one visually handicapped and four orthopedically handicapped candidates were selected and my name was first on the waitlist. As per the law that reserves 3 per cent seats for Persons with Disabilities, a total of six candidates should have been selected and not five. Also the 3 per cent reservation includes 1 per cent each for the blind, hearing and speech impaired, and persons suffering from locomotor disability or cerebral palsy. And when I dug a little bit deeper into the law, I found out that the law reads, ‘not less than 3 per cent reservation’. But the common implication is taken to be maximum 3 per cent. I knew this was wrong at many levels and I wanted to fight it.
Question:
So what did you do next?
Answer:
I knew I had done well in the written test as well as in the interview. And when I saw that four orthopedically disabled candidates were selected, I felt I was wronged. There was injustice done. I felt extremely disheartened and that’s when I reached out to Eyeway. I was sure that I had to do something about it. At Eyeway, I was advised to file a written complaint with the Dean of FMS, which I did. The Dean went through the letter but he said he was complying with the law. According to the Dean, if he admitted a sixth person, it would exceed the 3 per cent quota. Therefore, I was declined admission. The Dean told me they might consider my case next year. Next with the help of Eyeway, I approached the Office of The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) at the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. I submitted a written representation of my case with the CCPD on July 7. Almost four weeks went by and I didn’t hear from them. I didn’t want to lose an academic year, so I filed for legal action. My lawyer drafted a letter and submitted it to the Registrar of Delhi University. The Registrar would have forwarded the case to the Dean. Then on July 28 I got a call from FMS asking whether I was interested in taking admission. I said yes. I was asked to come to FMS the following day at 5 in the evening. At my lawyer’s advice, my father and I showed up at FMS next morning itself so that it would put pressure on the administrative staff to act. The Dean came out to see us after a while and told us that they’d sent a letter a week ago to the Registrar’s office but hadn’t received a reply yet. And it being the last working day of the month, he told us it seemed difficult to give admission now. We approached the Administrative Officer at FMS several times during the day to remind him of the letter to be brought from the Registrar’s office. Finally the letter came in at 4.30 pm. The Dean signed it but told me that it was already two months late in the current academic cycle and first term exams would be due in another two months. He said I should take admission in the next academic year ‘gracefully’. I said no, I want to take admission right now.
Question:
Did you face any difficulty in your MBA classes?
Answer:
Initially I did feel challenged because of my condition and also because I’d missed out on two precious months. Everyone was much ahead of me. But I was determined to do my best. Every course was being handled through PowerPoint presentations and I couldn’t follow anything. After the first week at FMS, I explained my limitation to the faculty members, and they accommodated me accordingly. They said they would help in whatever way they could, which they did. From then on, they would read out the presentations to me. My Finance professor helped me in his extra time to go over all the portions I had missed out on. My classmates also pitched in to help.
Question:
How did you manage studying and working together?
Answer:
During my MBA, I only slept for four hours every night. I had to work hard. I used to work during the day. In the evening I had classes at FMS. By the time I came home it would be 9 pm. Then from 10 pm to 12 am my father and I would sit down and he would help me study. I would wake up at 4 every morning and put in a couple of hours to study before I reached work. I used to feel sleepy but my zeal and passion kept me engaged. And the fact that I was denied admission worked like a catalyst in my mind. Justice was denied. I had to fight for my right and now I wanted to prove my capability. I had to particularly work hard on Finance. My father retired as a Zoology Professor from KM College and so he had no understanding of finance. I helped him familiarize with basic concepts so he could help me study. My course also involved a lot of flowcharts and diagrams. My father helped me a lot to understand those. He would draw the flowchart/diagram in big size, one diagram or graph on one page, so that I could see and comprehend. He would draw it in stages and show it to me at every step so that I could understand. Then from my understanding I would guide my father to draw it. This is also how I practiced to guide a scribe, so that at the time of exams, I could be clear with my instructions for the scribe to easily comprehend and reproduce. My father became my scribe in that sense. My boss (Mr. Shanker) was extremely understanding and helpful. He had given clear instructions for me to leave office by 5 pm so I could make it to my class in time. On Saturdays, since I had double class, he had arranged for me to leave work at 2 pm.
Question:
What was your reaction at hearing your result?
Answer:
My friends were sure that I would top the batch but I was eagerly waiting for the official announcement. As soon as the results were out, I was elated. My friends called to congratulate me. I didn’t call my parents immediately, I waited to get home. After I thanked God, I told my parents and sister. They all thanked God and got emotional.
Question:
Was it difficult fighting the system?
Answer:
Yes. It was my persistence that helped me win. I left no stone unturned.
Question:
Who do you attribute your success to?
Answer:
I attribute my success to my parents, my spiritual guru and above all, God. I would also like to acknowledge the support I got from my classmates and teachers.
Question:
What are your aspirations? What do you want to do next?
Answer:
I must climb higher professionally. My supervisors are contemplating relocation and a promotion for me. If that happens, then I will stay on. Else I will look for better options. In my present job, there’s less of a strategic role to play, so ideally I would like a job that gives me the option of a strategic role along with a communications role. I would prefer to stay with the Oberoi group if they offer me a suitable higher role. If the ecosystem is fair and supportive, I see myself in a leading position in a job. I can definitely be a number two or three in a corporate unit.
Question:
What systemic changes do you think can be brought about so that life is a little easier for the visually challenged? Also what attitudinal changes you think can be adopted to make them feel at par with the able bodied?
Answer:
The ecosystem must be more conducive. If we are given proper provisions and facilities, that little help is sufficient for us. For instance, my Statistics professor or even other professors would teach with the help of PowerPoint presentation, but they used to read out the presentations for me. That little help is sufficient. In terms of the physical environment, proper pathways should be marked for the visually challenged. There should be ramps along with the stairs. It would help if the classrooms are placed on the ground floor instead of higher floors with staircases. Sitting arrangement in class should be made keeping in mind the comfort level of the visually challenged student. Little changes at the systemic level can make a great difference. Attitudinal changes are also important. If you have two or three close friends who are sensitive to your needs, it makes life a lot easier. If the top management adapts a more sensitive attitude towards the visually impaired and makes room for them in the system, then that attitude is bound to trickle down to the peers.
Question:
What message would you like to send out to people with visual impairment?
Answer:
I would simply urge them to work hard and be disciplined. Everyone needs to keep their passions alive because that’s what will make them achieve success one day. Put in your 100 per cent and keep at it!
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR PART II OF THE INTERVIEW
Facebook comments