The Light From Within - Aparna Sekhar - April 2006

I’d like to have your complete attention for the time it takes you to read this article. So here is the twist of the story before the introduction – he is blind. While it may seem like I’m being insensitive, I think I’ve just announced his biggest strength. In this issue we feature a gentleman whose story could have made a successful and inspiring film. Meet Mr. K Ramkrishna - General Manager with IDBI, a leading financial institution in the country. He completed his Masters of Management Studies (equivalent to MBA) from SP Jain Institute of Management and ResearchAparna Sekhar - April 2006.

 Losing sight  - attaining vision
“My vision since childhood has been to be different from others, not to be run-of-the mill. I have always been doing things differently. I was born with congenital cataract in both eyes. Though I underwent numerous operations, my eyesight gradually deteriorated. Thus, I had to discontinue my education by the time I was thirteen. During that period I met Shree Gyananda Giri Maharaj of Thapovanam, Tamil Nadu and after he blessed me I found my life’s mission. It was to be the first MBA among the visually impaired. In 1966 I met Mrs.R Fazalboy, who was the Development Officer of the National Association for the Blind, India (NAB) and her efforts were my ticket back to school. She and Padmashree Dr.Rajendra Vyas, have been instrumental in for my achievements at school and college, where I consistently scored a First Class.

By 1972 I lost my eyesight completely due to retinal detachment. I did not let this deter me and in 1974 I completed my graduation from St.Xavier’s College in Mumbai, specialising in Economics and Statistics. I went on to do my post graduation in Economics in 1976 from Mumbai University with a specialisation in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics. I then worked in the electronic industry for six years and later appeared for the entrance examination for the MMS course of the University of Mumbai. In fact I was the first student in the world to compete with normal students in the challenging, speed oriented and highly quantitative entrance exam and obtain admission to a B-school that was ranked among the best in India. I specialised in finance and graduated with  an A grade. I then joined the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI).

The secret of my strength
My success formula would be the slogan – ‘Mediocrity unto excellence’. Why? Because my quest for excellence has led me to where I am today; because I was blessed with sightlessness, which has been the single most decisive cause of my strengths.My blindness helped me  internalise the truth that the mind is all-powerful and can process sensory data and graphic inputs to produce ingenious outputs. Focus on the process and you end up fine-tuning your mind to high levels of efficiency. I was born with sound engineering thinking and am proficient in quantitative, mathematical techniques. My supposed handicap has developed my graphic mental perception, systematic thinking and my ability to relate to all the aspects of the job. During my time at the NAB, I could further my vision and fructify my dream. I came to understand that I needed to be extremely focused like the Hindu mythological character, Ekalavya. The going wasn’t easy. I was the butt of many jokes and was actually discouraged by many. But you can’t let your dreams be determined by what other people believe. It would be perjury committed by you unto your self. I learnt that the best solution is to quietly sweat through your work and let the results speak. I have to say that my success did give a very fitting answer; it is the sweetest form of revenge.

“I have been successful at my work since I use a number of electronic gadgets that give me complete independence at the workstation and thus I am able to complete my work precisely and punctually. I use tools such as speech synthesisers, text-reading machines that convert any printed matter into electronically synthesised human voice, talking calculators and a computer with multimedia that is programmed to read screens, enabling me to work with the Internet and various software on the windows platform. Also, my family, friends and the NAB are my pillars of strength.

To want more, be more
“You can never compromise with injustice, towards yourself or others in your search for excellence. You can fight against it with perseverance, not aggression. It may sound clichéd but discipline, integrity, hard work and self-confidence - these are the keys to realising your dreams. You have to be tough to face all eventualities, failure is the stepping-stone to success and you have to be ready to learn from everyone, even children. A problem like mine forced me to think differently; it helped me find that twist in the problem so that I could exploit it to my advantage. I am sensitive to how others feel, which I believe makes me a good communicator and leader. We are social animals and are subject to the combined influences of our environs. This means that you can’t have your way all the time. You need patience; don’t shy away from persistent efforts because ordinary work will not result in extra-ordinary results. It is only in the dictionary that achievement comes before work.

Besides this, I am also proficient in vocal devotional music and have performed many times in languages such as Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit and various South Indian languages. Despite these accomplishments I believe I still have more to do. My conviction is that I am on the path to success. Are there things that I have missed out on or lost in life due to my visual impairment? Yes, I have missed out on playing cricket, driving cars and opportunities to serve my country by working in the armed forces. I have also lost the right to commit mistakes. If someone like you makes a mistake, it is normal. If I commit one however, it is ascribed to my impairment. I knew that I would have to work doubly hard to achieve half of what others achieve; I would have to be extraordinary to withstand competition and produce ordinary results.

You cannot have more unless you are more. I don’t regret my blindness since I was blessed with the ears to hear opportunity knock at my door, the strong arms to grab it and the intelligence to convert them into benefits. I believe it is worse to have no vision than it is to have no sight.”

Mr. Ramkrishna’s story is one of courage and a will that surpasses even the phenomenal. When one looks for inspiration, one looks to identify with the subject at hand. We may not feel the same as Mr. Ramkrishna, but the opportunity to learn from his experience is too enormous to ignore. I hope this article has managed to convey the essence of success.

Here are  a few of Mr Ramkrishnan’s numerous awards and achievements.

• He has received coverage in a volume titled ‘Abilities Redefined: Forty life stories of courage and accomplishment’ brought out by the All India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) and released by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam
  
• A documentary has been shot under the programme titled ‘Strivers and Achievers’, spanning two episodes on his life and achievements
  
• He received the Third National Centre For Promotion Of Employment For Disabled People Association’s ‘Helen Keller Award’ in 2001 from Sh. Shivraj Patil, Hon. Home Minister, for outstanding achievement in profession in spite of visual impairment and for bringing harmony between management and music.
  
• Received the AICB Millennium Award for outstanding achievements from SH. K C Pant, Ex Deputy    Chairman, Planning Commission in 2000.