Disability not only limits the physical strength of a person but it can also target emotional and psychological stability. Only a resilient person can break the barriers and rise above the disabilities, an example being Mr Ajay Gupta who stood against all odds with a locomotive disability and founded many institutions. His story is more than an entrepreneurial journey as this can be influential for others going through a locomotive disability. In an exclusive conversation with OnlyMyHealth, Mr Ajay Gupta- Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools and Co-Founder of Rishihood University shares his journey of conquering hurdles and making a name in the industry.
What Is Locomotor Disability?
We often tend to categorise disabilities into two types: visible and non-visible. However, what we overlook is that there can be a spectrum of visibility, so while some disabilities may become more visible in certain circumstances, other disabilities may become visible in other circumstances. Locomotor disability exists on this spectrum as well, and it is not strictly a visible disability, as most of us assume while thinking about wheelchairs, crutches, and prosthetic limbs. For instance, joint issues, chronic pain, and muscle weakness also impact a person’s mobility, and they also require support and accommodations for their ‘invisible’ locomotor disability.
Locomotor disability is prevalent on a much larger scale than we acknowledge, and it profoundly impacts the ability of a person to perform even daily activities such as getting out of bed and using the bathroom. This fact greatly highlights the importance of greater awareness in striving towards an accessible and inclusive world.
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“Childhood with locomotive disability was an adventure”
Mr Gupta shares that he was loved and supported by his entire family. However, what he believes is that even family support cannot eliminate the total impact that any disability has on a person’s life. “We have to fight our own challenges while they become our backbone. So, while my siblings went to private school, I was enrolled in a government school that was near our home. One of the workers at our sweet shop used to take me to school and bring me back by holding me in his arms. I could not even go and use the washroom without his help, and sometimes I had to wait a whole day for that when he could not come in at lunchtime,” recalls Mr Gupta.
“That said, it was all an adventure of its own. My grandfather even used to say that I need not work my entire life and he would get an FD done for me. That’s how much I have been loved, and that’s how I remember my childhood for the most part,” he adds.
What are the challenges that came his way while growing up?
“I started my schooling late due to the stigma and stereotypes that are generally associated with disabilities, for most people tend to think how educating a PwD even matters when he might not be able to make use of that education to achieve something in life. If it hadn’t been for the headmaster who pursued my family to enrol me in a school, perhaps I wouldn’t have been where I am today,” answers Mr Gupta.
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Continuing the story he was admitted directly into the third class and had to catch up. He explains by saying “The lack of accessibility is an issue that persists even today, and back then, it was even worse. While my classmates used to go to watch movies and explore the world around them, I had severe limitations in how much I could explore. What to say about public spaces like cinema halls when I didn't even have an accessible washroom in school? It was also one of the major reasons that later I decided to pursue my graduation from correspondence. “
“And then around the age of fourteen, the time came for me to start using callipers and crutches since I could not be lifted up in arms anymore and carried to school. That certainly gave me a sense of autonomy, but that also gave me wounds and injuries every now and then.”
These challenges related to everyday life go beyond any particular person with disabilities. More than a billion people suffer from such challenges worldwide. The question therefore is, what are we as a society doing for those billion-plus people?
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The motivation to keep going despite all the odds
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Mr Ajay Gupta shares, “Two people have had a great motivating influence on me and my life. One of them was my grandfather, who even though made it a point to ensure that I do not have to work my entire life (given my locomotor disability), provided me with a typewriter and a room (two things I had asked for) so that I could embark on my entrepreneurial journey. The second influence was that of my uncle Mahender Gupta who taught me the value of self-confidence and boldness, in living life as well as in doing business. He made me drive a car for the first time ever, and perhaps he was also the first one to give me my earnings.”
When there are such people who believe in your abilities and continuously encourage you, it gets less difficult to keep going despite all the odds. A supportive network of family, friends, and mentors always plays a crucial role.
“Moreover, I had this constant urge to rise above my disabilities ever since childhood. I refuse to believe that PwDs are not capable enough of doing anything. Everyone is capable, and this is a truth that everyone needs to accept,” highlights Mr Gupta.
Idea Behind Starting Hum Honge Kamyab Foundation
Reminiscing about the same, Mr Gupta shares, “While I was setting out with our Bachpan Play School chain and working on expanding it throughout India, I had to travel by train as well as airline flights to reach various locations. During those years, one fact became absolutely imprinted on my mind more sparkly than ever. Railway stations, airports, and also other means of transport are not as accessible as they should have been, and what’s disheartening was that the government was not taking strict measures to address the issue. Even my home was not accessible to me in the initial stages. We always happened to get our home on floors other than the ground floor, and I had to go up the stairs using my callipers and crutches, which turned into a harsh journey of its own.”
After 33 years of using callipers and crutches, he was transferred to a wheelchair. Having faced numerous issues, he decided to encourage others to overcome fears and discouragement through Hum Honge Kamyab Foundation.
We hope his story makes people think beyond disabilities and find strength in weaknesses.
