My interactive session “Winning Challenges” with Vaibhav Kothari

23 August 2020: On the eve of Independence Day I had an interesting session, a webinar called Winning Challenges, with Vaibhav Kothari who is a very talented deaf and mute youngster, a motivational speaker and young achiever who used the American Sign Language with the help of interpreter Mathais Louise for the session in which over a thousand people logged in from across the globe.

I had met Vaibhav many years ago and had spent some time with him in London and he came across as a dynamic young man. No surprise he has done so well not only for himself but also for motivating others. However, it was my first experience in interviewing someone deaf and mute with the help of a sign-language interpreter.

To speak of Vaibhav, he was born in Kota, Rajasthan. He is differently-abled since birth – deaf and mute but was very sincere and bright in his studies. He earned a degree in entrepreneurship from US College at Boston and is a qualified System Engineer. In the USA, Vaibhav did 20-minute talk show with entrepreneurs. He returned to India and started working in his family firm Om Metal Business Group.

Overcoming the difficulties of his disability, Vaibhav started an inspiring talk show ‘OMVAI’ where he interviews successful pioneers, leaders from different sectors. The interviews are conducted by Mr Kothari in sign language and he aims to gather inspirational experience from the game-changers who have positively impacted the society.

Vaibhav had also directed a short film “Not Anymore” on how a deaf entrepreneur works in a dynamic and challenging Indian environment professionally by breaking language barriers.

I had prepared a questionnaire for Vaibhav and asked him – “How important do you think it is to promote the Indian Sign Language (ISL) by incorporating it in the list of existing 22 Scheduled Languages under the Constitution of India?

Vaibhav responded by appealing to the Government to listen to its millions of deaf and mute citizens and empower them by promoting the Indian Sign Language (ISL) to gain higher education and effectively contribute to nation building. This was widely reported in the print and online media across the country.

Vaibhav said it was necessary to incorporate the newly-evolved Indian Sign Language (ISL) into the list of scheduled languages. This would immensely empower millions of Indians suffering from hearing impairment to achieve higher education and catch up on the missed opportunities.

I may mention that, though home to one of the largest numbers of hearing impaired population, India still does not have a formally recognized sign language under the Constitution. Vaibhav also supported the idea that one Parliamentary seat in India should be reserved for a person with hearing impairment. Only such a person would ably articulate the demands and aspirations of millions of deaf and mute citizens of India.

I decided to have this deep conversation personally with Vaibhav instead of doing it from my Foundation or any other organisations’ platform. I wanted the world to get to know him and learn from his many experiences, how he never gives up but instead keeps his goals in mind all the time. In times like these, we need more people like Vaibhav to draw inspiration from, to keep moving forward

I feel that India’s hearing impaired community have faced immense difficulties during the corona virus lockdown unable to access notices, clarifications or call helplines. Under the new online education system, deaf children are unable to study as most parents don’t know the Indian Sign Language (ISL). The New Education Policy must educate Indians on ISL and make it an official language.

I also asked Vaibhav about how he looked at the Corona pandemic and his reply was very unique and gave us a perspective from someone who has had to struggle to be where he is now.

Vaibhav’s plans to do an International film on the subject of deaf and mute with only deaf and mute actors. This, I think, is a very good idea.

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