One Touch At A Time - Dec 2009

December 3

rd

International Day of Persons with Disabilities ONE TOUCH AT A TIME – DECEMBER 2009

MindTree Foundation Journal | Raja Shanmugam

Dec 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, as declared by the UN General Assembly. The day is meant for highlighting the cause of people with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world”. MDG – Millennium Development Goals. The day is used as a rallying point for driving change in the way the world treats its differently-abled citizens – most of them are still marginalized, treated with pity, considered as burden for the families and the society. Meetings, rallies, seminars and functions will be held around the world. Speeches will be given. Walkathons will be conducted. Awards will be given. Role Models will be felicitated. Songs and dances (most of them by the people with disabilities themselves) will be performed. Promises will be made. Free assistive devices – Wheel chairs, prosthetics, hearing aids etc., will be distributed. New social schemes and concessions will be announced. Dec 4th, life will go back to its usual grind. For those people with disabilities, hopes of dignity, acceptance and inclusion will continue to be a distant dream. “Mainstreaming” a mirage. For the care givers, NGOs and the families, the struggle will continue – against apathetic support systems, incompatible infrastructure and an insensitive society. Their only hope is that all these awareness creation activities result in changes in behavior – of the so called “non-disabled”. Throughout history, our environment, our systems, policies, customs and our infrastructure have evolved with very little consideration to these silent minorities. Their voices and aspirations largely suppressed. This can change. Because WE can change. It is not that difficult. Let’s begin with acceptance – that we are all different in some ways and very similar in others. Significantly similar in most of our aspirations and needs and wants – to be treated as equals, to be loved, to be accepted, to be believed in, to be challenged to do our best. The rest will follow. Miracles happen. I present to you three of them in the following pages. I am proud that they wear MindTree badges. These are by no means the norm. We are way behind the recommended proportions of differentlyabled people among us. Still, these are sparks that I hope could ignite more long lasting flames. Let the fires burn bright. Sincerely, Raja Shanmugam

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org

My Professional Journey in MindTree ………………………..Prashanth Kamath I joined MindTree in August 2007. In these 2+ years, I have worked in at least a couple of interesting roles. First, I was part of the People Function (Genie Team) for well over a year. Then I was actively involved in the creation of a book – authored by Mr. Subroto Bagchi (one of the co-founders of MindTree). And since the last 6 months or so I've been working on a couple of Technical Projects in the area of Assistive Technologies. All this is a reference to where I stand today in terms of my professional career / life. As I'm putting this write up together, I just happened to ask myself – What is so special about anything that I've done so far? Quite frankly, nothing much. Many of my colleagues in office (a good 7 years younger to me) have more number of achievements to their credit. Not only that, they also enjoy a fruitful / fulfilling family life of their own. What sets me apart from most others – is that I'm physically challenged. In my own experience so far in life – disability brings with it several odds / challenges. First, you are at a huge disadvantage in terms of what you can do and how much you can do. Then of course, you have competition. How can you possibly stand out – when you're already at a disadvantage? Also (in my case) everything came after a long wait. I had to wait 6 years before I could get to School, another 4 years before I could step into College and another 5 years before I could get a job. So I can say, I'm probably the oldest among my colleagues – I hope it makes me that much more mature. And above all, you can take almost nothing for granted – right when you need it the most – your own voice, your own hands, your own body – can fail you. When faced with such overwhelming odds, it's usually not a fight between you and the rest of the world. It is an almost never ending struggle involving only one person – yourself. For instance, my typical day would start with me asking myself – How will I get to Office today? Once in office, I ask myself – Ok, now how do I get to my work desk? It just goes on and on. More than anything else – it's about Survival. Every chunk of work successfully completed is a reward in itself. And every accomplishment (no matter how small) calls for nothing short of a celebration. Coming back to my career in MindTree – I can say it's been an eventful and memorable one so far. Just to put it into perspective, I had almost no prior work experience before I joined MindTree. I never knew if I could survive – even for a couple of days. I can certainly say – I wouldn't have survived – if it had been any other company. During the first couple of weeks, a stark realization set in – my performance levels were much lower than my own estimates – and quite frankly, there was nothing that I could do about it. I knew I was good at certain things – but how could I add value to the company with my 'hidden skills' – this was the biggest question on my mind. Fortunately for me, I was part of the Genie Team – one of the best teams in MindTree - without a shadow of a doubt. I still have fond memories of all my colleagues there (in particular – Lalitha, Faizal, Swapna, Meena, to name a few). I really cannot find the right words to express the sort of understanding, encouragement and support they have given me. Wherever I am today – I certainly have them to thank for it. And, wherever I may be in future – I simply cannot forget any of them. I've already spoken about challenges. However, often every challenge brings with it an Opportunity. Sometimes, we can create opportunities – where, seemingly, none existed. This is exactly what I ended up doing. That day I just happened to write a ‘Thank you’ email to all the Top Bosses at MindTree – although I wouldn't recommend anyone else to try it out. What followed was an email from Mr. Subroto Bagchi – who asked me to be his Research

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org

Assistant for his recently launched book “The Professional”. Opportunities such as this seldom come to anyone – and when you get one, you have to be smart enough to grab it. That's what I did. This role was a lot different from my previous one. It was more on the creative side – which I always loved. It also meant that I had more time on my hands. I used this time to enhance my own literary skills. The book took just 9 months to move towards completion. By that time, I had learnt a lot. I had little understanding of the process that goes into the creation of a book. Now, I do have a firsthand experience of the same. I believe you shouldn't always wait for things to happen. So, even as I was working on the book – I started looking out for a safer / long term role. I found it. I had always wanted to be involved in some technical work. So I took up a casual project of development of a small software utility that I had in mind. The result was truly amazing. I managed to get into R&D Services – just in time, when I'd be done with the book assignment. Right now, I feel I've more or less settled down here in R&D services. In Dec 2007 (the year of my joining MindTree) – I had a chance to visit one of the stalls in Osmosis. Ever since, I somehow wanted to be a part of it. I have now got my wish. In this year's Osmosis, my project was featured a couple of times alongside other projects from MindTree. We got a good response from everybody who visited our stall. I can say, this has been the highest point of my career so far. It's a great feeling to say the least. I had almost no technical background or experience in the past. From there, to getting featured in a Tech Fest like Osmosis – it seems incredible beyond my wildest dreams. I ask myself – did I have so much potential? Well, maybe. But the real credit goes to everyone in MindTree. They are the ones who helped bring out the best in me. MindTree is indeed a different kind of company. Here you are not seen in terms of what you lack. And, in case you do lack something (which I imagine most do) – you're given the space / opportunities that you need. And the help /support you get here have no parallels anywhere else – I can personally vouch for this. Then of course, it's up to you to make the most out of all the help / support / opportunities you get. In short, my career thus far in MindTree has been much more than a fantasy. Fantasies are not meant to be real – but this is....... Three Cheers to MindTree!

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org

My Work Experience

………………………………………………………..G Latha th

I joined MindTree on Aug 1999 for Front Office job as a trainee. It was just 2 weeks since I stepped into my 10 Std. Only the founders (10 people) were in the office on my first day. All elderly people and I was the only young girl of 19 years. The atmosphere was completely new; I was made to sit in the hot seat (front desk) after the official introduction on the first day itself. I had never spoken to anybody over the phone in my 19 years of life. The word COMPUTER was just a word; I had never ever typed a single word on the computer. I was made to understand one thing for sure, that if I don’t prove myself in my work within 6 months I will be sent back to my school. These words were nightmare for me. I tried my level best to prove myself. My day started at 7 AM in the office and lasted till 7 PM in the evening, including Saturdays. I was scared to say NO to any work in the office.

Though I had studied in the English Medium School, it was difficult to understand the IT terms and the language they used, starting from addressing my colleagues in the office. Every day was a learning day for me, from telephone calls, attending visitors, attending to the housekeeping, receiving couriers etc. My colleagues were completely supportive, guided when I made mistakes and included me into every activity which took place in the office. I was given a Stipend of Rs. 4,500! Can you believe it, with a profile like mine? But it is true; I had started my earning, paying my convent fee, buying good clothes, spending on commutation and eating good food.  I had to travel from my convent (Chamarajpeta) to my office (St. Mark’s Road) all alone in an auto. I had Never travelled alone anywhere in my life. I was completely dependent on my teachers in my school till I joined my work. IT WAS LIKE A BABY OUT OF THE MOTHER’S WOMB. This soon faded away. My Manager Mr. Moses was my reporting boss - very sweet, down to earth, and very encouraging and loved me like his own sister. He taught me many things and also made sure I attend grooming classes. Which manager will take this initiative? Many colleagues (Lady Minds) used to ask me, how I find time to dress up so neatly after the training. Moses has never let me down, I feel very proud and I am blessed with a lovely gentleman. He celebrates all my achievements and he feels proud that I have grown with the company. th

I got my confirmation before 6 MONTHS! I was on top of the world. I completed my 10 Std successfully without th giving up my job. I gained the confidence that I can go forward but need to work hard and I completed my 12 Std also. I took the initiative to learn to operate computers, without going for classes. I made good friends in my company and they taught me to use the computer, though not in depth but to a certain extent - where I knew to switch on, open Outlook, look for contact numbers and switch off the machine. During my free time I learned to browse and use MS Office. I won a Spot Award for the Power Point Presentation, Instructed / nominated by our st Chief Operating Officer. I am pursuing my 1 year BBM through correspondence from ICFAI University. I have managed the front office for 7 years with employee strength of 5,500 and I was called ‘The Face Of Banashankari Branch’. Finally, my hard work did miracles. I was appointed as the custodian of an entire branch responsible for admin requirement of over 450 employees, for 1½ year. The confidence and trust which the company, my Manager and the wonderful 10 Founders had on me was the biggest AWARD for me. They have molded me into fine shape. My Manager knows me as – Latha the Arduous girl!

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org

I trained 2 of my schoolmates who are placed In IT Companies and are earning well. Apart from that I have trained 4 of my colleagues on the Front Office Management to work for our own offices in different locations. I am now designated as Associate Manager – Administration & Facilities. Still learning and enjoying my work. I have my own vehicle to commute to office and I am completely Independent. This would have not been possible if my company had not helped me to invest a big amount on this special vehicle. The top management studied my enthusiasm and the will power I had to ride the bike and decided to sanction the loan. My Manager stands and watches me ride the bike very proudly. I have completed 10 years in my company. This is the biggest achievement in my life! My MindTree is like a Hens Wings for any physically challenged individual. My company did not show pity on me, instead encouraged a lot to win all the battles in my life. Latha is now known to many people and she also has a dignity in this world. The Credit goes to my MindTree. I settled my sister and brother in their lives, got them married and helped my mother to lead her independent life with the help of my earnings. I got married recently, living with my husband who is also physically challenged. Our physical problems have not stopped us from anything; we are leading a perfectly normal life. This is also an achievement for me. Nothing is impossible, one has to put in the effort to work hard and the WILL Power is the tonic to lead a successful life. One can help a horse to a lake but cannot feed water to it. It is the horse that has to make the efforts to drink the water and quench the thirst. When a chance is provided, make good use of it and prove yourself. Where there is a WILL, There is a WAY!

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org

My Experience ……………………………………………………..…Vaishanavi Kasturi Having born with disability with club foot and having rectified it by a surgeon when I was 9 months old, my parents thought everything was fine from now on when I started walking. But that was not so. th

I began schooling as a normal child and was among the top ten in the class. When I was at in the 8 standard, I was diagnosed with a visual disability called Retinitis Pigmentatio. This is a form of degeneration of the eyesight. My family and I were shattered but backed ourselves by saying that I should be successful as any normal child and would face challenges. We had to make lot of adjustments right from the way I would study and write my exams. I never learnt Braille and my mother used to teach mathematics (especially figures) by drawing them on my wrist so th that I could feel and understand to dictate to the scribe. The first decision I took in 8 standard was not to choose Economics and Sociology and instead opted for Maths and Science. This helped me understand that I can perform under severe challenges and also prove it to others. I got 82% in maths. The next challenge was to join a college and I am proud to have been a student of Jain College. The biggest thing that could have happened in my life was meeting the Chairman of Jain collage and my study from there was always at a peak. I had to put in double the effort of a normal person. I had to also learn the use of computers after schooling and this has helped me and is helping me even now. During the Degree course, to choose the next career option was a big decision and having finished MBA made me very happy. When my 89.29 percentile in CAT did not get me an admission in IIM Bangalore, I chose to challenge them in the court. As a result, IIM selection process has now become much more transparent. They had made remarks as to what I would do after MBA and I wanted to show that I am capable of working. th

The other biggest day came in June 7 when I joined MindTree Ltd. When I met Mr. Raja Shanmugam for the first time he made me feel so confident, even in the subsequent interview. I was thrilled when I got the offer letter. The day I joined was very well planned by Ms. Lalitha and it made me and my father feel so happy. I knew I was in the right place. The department where I joined had again good people and lucky to have Mr. Gaurav, Mr. Rupesh, Mr. Shobhit as my superiors.

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org

The next cabin had Ms. Dixy who took care of me for everything and eventually met lot of colleagues during lunch breaks. I was looking forward everyday to be with them during lunch. I was able to mix freely and in one of the training programs I met Mrs. Shuba and from there on the group increased a lot in strength. Right now I have made lot of friends from other departments. This friendly atmosphere and the care I received in Mind Tree have made me feel as happy and confident as a person. As regards to work I was trained in MindTree to do my projects which I have done successfully. I did face lot of challenges in executing the projects which were completed successfully with guidance from superiors. I look forward to a long career in Mind Tree in the mainstream and becoming very successful. I would like to contribute to the growth of MindTree. For this, I would like to expand my working capabilities by learning new concepts and thereby increase my skill level to be much more successful. As I understand that I am the first visually challenged person in Mind Tree and if I am successful it will give opportunities for lot of others with similar disabilities. MindTree, as I see, has given opportunities for disabled people, which is an excellent thought. I would like to be part of this organization which cares for disability and good career.

One Touch at a Time

December 2009

www.mindtreefoundation.org