“Becoming India's first IIM graduate with cerebral palsy will always be the greatest moment of my life. But, if you think getting a job with a fat cheque afterward would be a cakewalk, you could not be more wrong! More than 50 interviews later, finally I landed a job. The reason? Your guess is as good as mine.”Sumanth KV

 

“Facing a condition which hindered his body movements and speech, Sumanth knew things were going to be a little difficult. He realized soon, there was no point cribbing about it. With the help of Spastics Society of Karnataka, Sumanth pursued his early education and was integrated into a normal school a few years, later. Thereafter, he went on to pursue graduation in commerce from Jain College, Bengaluru.

 

After completing B-Com, he joined Thomson Reuters. He worked in night shifts, crunched numbers and had a fantastic time at work. Meanwhile, the preparations for CAT exams, which would get him into the hallowed corridors of IIM, continued in full swing.

 

In 2010, in his fourth attempt, the dream came true! he went on to crack CAT and joined IIM Indore. The two years spent at the management institute will always be the best time of his life. After graduating from IIM Indore in April 2013, the sense of pride and achievement was overwhelming.

But, reality struck him soon. If you think getting a job with a fat cheque afterwards would be a cakewalk for him, you could not be more wrong! Interview after interview, Sumanth kept getting rejected for inexplicable reasons, which left him shocked. More than 50 interviews later, he landed a job with Flipkart as an Operations Analyst recently he became a manager.

 

Challenges in Sumanths  life has been a plenty and hindrances have been rampant at all stages. But as Bill Gates rightly points out, ‘life is unfair, get used to it’. Sumanth  did so early in life and managed to turn things around.

The dreams are limitless, and he intends to achieve them by putting forth one step at a time. Sumanth was comically referred by his friends as someone, ‘who walked like an old man and talked like a kid.' In their very own words, that kid is an inspiration for them now.

The paraphernalia of the Indian society is unique! Everyone seems to always be in a hurry, to reach somewhere, and yet no one reaches on time! Misconceptions about disability are borne mainly due to lack of proper education. “We don’t have the maturity to accept different kinds of people. Even the urban, educated class is also mired in outdated thoughts. Sympathy is not what the differently-abled people need, it’s an equal opportunity platform that they strive for; rest they can easily handle on their own” Sumanth KV.

 

 

The words of Abraham Lincoln ring so true for people with disabilities:

We conquer the World, 
Not in any brilliant fashion. 
We conquer the World, 
Just by doing our daily Job."

Sumanth faces cerebral palsy. But, that doesn't define or deter him. He is different, yet the same as everyone else around him.