In Helen Keller’s words: “Life is either a great adventure or nothing. The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart. Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it”.
Mohammed Asif Iqbal, consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and an impressive motivational speaker perfectly fits into this philosophy. He is visually challenged but has made a mark in the cutthroat corporate world. I have observed him since the last few years as a motivational speaker. When I compare his attitude with young corporate and student managers who have all faculties as per normal parameters of the body, I am tempted to once again to quote Keller who has said, “It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.’’ I recently invited him as a motivational speaker to address and inspire the new batch of student managers of MBA programme of Sri Balaji Society.
Despite all odds, Iqbal managed to complete his schooling in the US, return to India and then go on to become the first visually-impaired student to graduate from Kolkata’s prestigious St. Xavier College, and then the first visually impaired student to be awarded a PGDM degree from Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development. He now works as a Principal Consultant in Human Resource Management with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Kolkata.
Mohammed Asif Iqbal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Global Conference on Cyberspace in New DelhiIqbal has always been finding ways to beat challenges, which are double for him given the fact that he is visually impaired. However, he has found ways and means to beat any hurdle that comes his way. Technology for example, has really excited him. So, while you have ‘normal’ people crib about how they can’t be technology-savvy, Iqbal is a part of designing smart city applications. Says he, in an optimistic tone, “I am working on designing smart city applications for our upcoming smart cities which can provide inclusive access to citizens as well as government officials with disabilities. If I am successful in rolling out these solutions, my management will ensure that it gets a wider national release to all the smart cities. Earlier, I couldn’t file my income tax returns because you have to read the CAPTCHA (CAPTCHA’s are special type of verification codes, which we normally find at the bottom of the registration pages.) I was able to present solutions on an alternate authentication mechanism and convince the government to implement it. Now when you go to the income tax site, you get an OTP for the visually disabled. Even for IRCTC portals, we managed to incorporate changes to ensure that even visually impaired people can now make train reservations.’’
I share my life with my audience. I connect with my listeners, whether they are students, HR professionals or corporates. I do not preach or talk in clichés. I speak from the heart. I don’t use nonsensical terms like ‘Be flexible’, ‘Strategise’ or ‘Energise’
— Mohammed Asif Iqbal
Mohammed Asif Iqbal being felicitated at Sri Balaji Society, PuneBesides innovation, Iqbal has a fiery passion to communicate to people and so carves out more time as a motivational speaker. Says he, “I share my life with my audience. I connect with my listeners, whether they are students, HR professionals or corporates. I do not preach or talk in clichés. I speak from the heart. I don’t use nonsensical terms like ‘Be flexible’, ‘Strategise’ or ‘Energise'. What does that even mean? We can read jargons like that in textbooks. People are giving you an hour of their time. You should ensure that you don’t bore them at least. People don’t want to be talked down to. They want to be told stories, and that is my strong suit.’’
However, I asked him whether there is any discrimination due to his visual impairment. He said in a tone of positivity, “The companies won’t say it in black and white, obviously. However, it is the ground reality. There is no overcoming this other than by consistently proving yourself. After 12 years, I still struggle to win over minds. In my case, deep down I know I have the top management’s commitment, but it took me a long time to earn that trust.’’
Iqbal rues the fact that a lot of people and companies are still doing lip service regarding employing physically- challenged people. Even large companies are saying that they aren’t ready to accommodate disabled people. When will they be ready? he asks.
Mohammed Asif Iqbal with Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian, Editor-in-Chief of Corporate CitizenQuoting an example of apathy towards the differently abled, once again there is a note of ‘problems are opportunities’ in his tone. There’s no bitterness even if he faces an untoward situation. He says, “Once, I was on my way to catch a flight, and the cab driver, who was a wicked fellow, left me 200 metres away from the airport. I had a choice to make. I could cry at my misfortune or find a way to catch my flight on time, and I had only 10 minutes after which I wouldn’t get a boarding pass. Fortunately, a lady directed me to the airport gate and I reached the airline desk two minutes before the boarding time was over. There are good people and bad people in this world; I choose to believe in the good people rather than wasting time on the bad. I formulate a plan of action based on the situation rather than brood and lament on misfortunes.’’
Iqbal feels that over a hundred million people with disabilities live in India, and these are just the ones on record. They are neglected because they have no voice. However, he is very clear that, “frankly, I believe we need solutions and not just lip service. We don’t need to be patronised. We need to be included.’’
Iqbal says it’s not about just people with disabilities. You have to look for opportunities. You have to strive hard to grab them. In our country, so many people don't reach university level. On some level, people also have to take responsibility for their success, and work hard. Nothing will be handed to you on a silver platter, disability or not. Eventually, it is your potential, which will take you places, he says.
I keep telling the youth that you complain too much—I don’t have this, I don’t have that. Instead of complaining, stop, pause and thank God for what you have
— Mohammed Asif Iqbal
Mohammed Asif Iqbal with wife and daughterHis advice to young corporate and student managers is: “I keep telling the youth that you complain too much—I don’t have this, I don’t have that. Instead of complaining, stop, pause and thank God for what you have. If you do that you will see the transformation that it will bring and it will be remarkable.’’
Citing USA as an ideal example of inclusion, he says, “The development and inclusiveness in the US today is simply because of the hard work of the previous generations. The same thing applies to India as well.’’
Stating that he would like to do his bit for the next generation, he plans to become a full-time motivational speaker by 2030, by which time he says he would be financially stable enough to give up his job. Says he, “I like meeting new people, which is one of the reasons I am a motivational speaker. I love listening to music and travelling with my family.’’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is his greatest inspiration as he was part of a group to discuss with him, technology initiatives for the visually impaired. “His warmth and genuine desire to help have stayed with me even till now,’’ says he.
Praising his wife for being the pillar of support, he says of his six-year-old daughter, “She realises her dad can’t see, and she is very sensitive about it. If I drop something, she picks it up and gives it to me. My entire family is very sweet and supportive. I wouldn’t be where I am without them”.
Beauty has different meanings to different people. For Iqbal, “Beauty is anything that gives me satisfaction. A long walk, my daughter’s laugh, meeting new people, these things are beautiful to me.’’
Mohammed Asif Iqbal is unlike any person you will meet. Extremely humble, he is a pragmatist who understands the challenges that a visually impaired person has to face in India, and more so if the person is a corporate leader. He is full of wit, has a commoner’s charm and is stylishly tech-savvy. Corporate Citizen chats with Asif about his life as a corporate, the challenges faced by disabled people, and what a regular day is like for someone like him
This is a global problem. This is not going to be eliminated overnight. There can only be a long-term solution for this. There was a time when women were discriminated against at the workplace and over time that injustice has been largely eliminated. I feel the same way about the disabled or any other marginalised group. The journey towards the solution has been initiated. Education and awareness is extremely important, which is why I never miss an opportunity to speak at any public forum about equality irrespective of handicaps.
When it comes to infrastructure or technical capabilities to accommodate disabled people, India is still a long way off. What is more important, however, is providing a support system for the disabled. We must learn to inspire hope in their hearts, give them the confidence to attain any goal. We must give them wings to fly. We need to make the effort to broaden the mindset of the people.
Mohammed Asif Iqbal with family at Kaziranga National ParkLike most corporates, I have to travel a lot, and for that I have to plan my day in advance. Meticulous planning and coordination is the key. If I have to travel to another city, I can book my air-tickets and plan my route using JAWS, a software which reads out information displayed on my computer screen. I do, however, need someone to drop me to the airport, where the airport staff help me to my seat. Similarly, when I land, the airport crew escorts me to the arrival terminal, where I call my driver and arrange for a pickup. The most important thing is effective communication. After checking into a hotel, I immediately familiarise myself with the room’s layout, so I can move about comfortably.
That’s a good question. See, I work in a team, and the team has certain deliverables, and everyone has a role. My strength lies in envisioning a solution to a business problem, but my weakness lies, for example, in making a PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate a solution. That is where some other member of my team shines. The best work is done when everyone contributes to their strengths, and this holds true for every job, irrespective of their disabilities.
It all boils down to perception. I suppose if I had normal vision, I could have grown more. Also, I have to constantly face naysayers who feel a disabled person shouldn’t work. The underlying problem is people like the status quo and don’t like to challenge it. That being said, there have been, at least, some good leaders in every company who saw the potential in me and gave me an opportunity to prove myself. I am constantly growing at my work, and the day I feel I am not, I will move on and take on a new challenge. And this is my advice to young professionals. Self-growth should never stop. Every day you learn something new.
I am constantly growing at my work, and the day I feel I am not, I will move on and take on a new challenge. And this is my advice to young professionals. Self-growth should never stop. Every day you learn something new
— Mohammed Asif Iqbal
The last assignment I was doing was for competency frameworks, which I didn’t know much about. I did a lot of research on Google using the JAWS software, called up a few friends who work in that field, and in a few days I was up to date with the subject. The only difference here is that I would have to spend some more time to learn about a subject than my sighted colleagues, but that is a sacrifice I am happy to make.
Meeting former president APJ Abdul Kalam to discuss technology initiatives for the visually impaired. His warmth and genuine desire to help have stayed with me even till now.
In case you would like to invite Mohammed Asif Iqbal for a motivational lecture to your company/organisation/ institution, you may get in touch with him at these following contacts: Mobile No: 9830059830
E-mail: mohammed.asif.iqbal@in.pwc.com
Dr (Col.) A. Balasubramanian
