— Pranav Nair If you’re born with a disability, people tend to define your life only by it, however my mother had some other plans for me. A software engineer by profession, she left her career when I was born and chose to be my primary caretaker after I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Call it genes or destiny, I too developed an interest in computers when I was in either Class 7 or 8. I loved writing programmes. Struggle to take up Science However, it wasn’t easy as because of my physical condition, I wasn’t able to perform certain tasks. I was not allowed to take up Science. So, initially in Class 11, I took Commerce but couldn’t develop interest in it as I really wanted to be a software engineer. After studying Commerce for nearly 7 to 8 months, we filed a case against CBSE. The case went to the Supreme Court and after nearly five months, we won the case and I was allowed to take up Science. For the experiments/ practical, I was allowed to give MCQs. I completed my middle and high school from Muscat, Oman where my father was working as a procurement manager at an automobile company. When I expressed my desire to study at IIT, my parents suggested that I can even pursue an education abroad. I however, wanted admission at any Indian Institutes of Technology as they are the most prestigious and coveted institutions in India for engineering. While I studied Class 11 in Muscat, I moved to Kota in Class 12. Due to my logistics shortcomings, my parents shifted with me to Kota. I am so glad that they did, because in an atmosphere like that where everyone is preparing for the country’s toughest competition, students need a support system. My family was my pillar of strength there. And, I secured an all India rank 35 in JEE Main 2020 under the PwD category and AIR 27 in JEE Advanced 2020 (PwD category). Life as a specially-abled student Due to my rank, I was getting seats at every IIT, but I got Computer Science Engineering only at IIT Guwahati. I live in the hostel with other students, but my parents have also shifted to Guwahati to further support me. In terms of difficulty, my experiences are gradually getting better and IIT Guwahati has been the best so far. Being a differently abled person, I do face some logistical challenges such as movement from college to hostel but the college has been taking my feedback really positively and have been prompt in finding solutions to it. Over here, I stay with a support person. The institute has provided me with a double room with an attached washroom. In our education institutions, accessibility is a big issue. I remember not getting admission to several schools in India just because they did not have a lift or because I was a student with special needs and hence would require a little extra help. Our educational institutions hardly have proper infrastructure to support PwD students. Is the road leading to the ramp smooth and accessible? Can the ramp or elevator be used all by oneself? Is there a wheelchair toilet? If yes, can a wheelchair enter and move around in that toilet? It is about time people understand that just building a ramp or hostel is not enough, the road leading to the ramp, and facilities inside the building should also be disabled-friendly. Moreover, faculty, staff and everyone need to be sensitised about students with special needs by providing them minor modifications and logistical support so that they can fare like every student. The education system could also evolve into allowing the use of technology in a fair scope in classrooms and examinations that enable a student with special needs to be more independent. College years at IIT Guwahati At the institute, I have been a part of various clubs and societies — entrepreneurship, coding, MUN, debate to name a few. These four years have been quite memorable for me, the first year was online, second and third years were spent in college activities and in this last year, I am focussing on things I haven’t done before, exploring nature and more. Learning, future plans and giving back to the society IIT-Guwahati has taught me a lot — patience, persistence and dedication. While being at IIT, I learned self-survival and interpersonal skills. At a place where nearly 8,000 students are filled with ambition and constantly doing something innovative, you get inspired to be at your heels. I feel more responsible of making key contributions to India and giving back to the society that has given you so much. The last couple of years have taught me nothing is impossible. Not to give up on something until you finally achieve it. And that an IIT is not what makes a student great, but the students whose passion and zeal that makes IITs great. Moreover, technology has eased my life, and it has been another one of my driving reasons to find a career in this industry, to contribute with some new tech ideas that could make the lives of the mass population easier. Since childhood, I’ve had this wish to have a Wikipedia page of my own in my lifetime, to be remembered by humanity. Once I graduate, I will be joining Google India as a software engineer (where I interned in May-July 2022 and 2023), as I bagged a job there through my campus placements.
