Despite having to struggle moving and communicating, Mumbai’s Amit Thakker has worked his way to success by taking up mutual fund advisory. He is an inspiration for differently abled people to become financially independent.
Just eight months after his birth, Amit Thakker, 44, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy following a brief illness. He has speech and movement disability. Cerebral palsy is a permanent, non-progressive movement disorder that causes physical disability, mainly in the areas of body movement. “My parents grew me up with great pain and difficulty. I first realized about my disability when I failed in third standard as I was not able to write my exams properly,” recalls Amit sitting in his home in Mumbai’s Kalbadevi area.
Amit’s struggle began very early in his life. He had difficulty writing as well as communicating which posed a major hurdle during his school exams. Despite this setback, he managed to get through till fifth grade by writing exams himself.
From sixth till ninth grade, Kalpesh Shah (his neighbor) became his writer in examinations. Kalpesh couldn’t help write on behalf of Amit in 12th grade as he was in a higher grade which disqualified him to write exams for Amit. Amit didn’t give up so easily. He wrote 12th grade board exams all by himself and scored 56 percent marks! He scored 76 out of 100 in economics, which is his favorite subject. In 1995, Amit finished his Bachelor of Commerce from K.P. Hinduja College of Commerce.
Amit had a severe difficulty in communicating. His speech was incomprehensible.
To help Amit overcome this challenge, his father Bhupendra Thakker consulted a prominent speech therapist. The doctor gave recommended some speech exercises. Over the years, Amit’s speech has improved dramatically due to the therapy.
He did not let this challenge turn in to a hurdle to succeed in his professional life.
Amit had joined a computer learning program at Spastic Society of India at Chembur. His parents were worried about his financial independence. But life was not so harsh for Amit who had a knack for selling. A few months later, he got an opportunity to work as a Management Trainee with Spastic Society. He had to get advertisements for the annual souvenir (in house magazine) of Spastic Society. Surprisingly, he canvassed the highest advertisings for the magazine.
There he came into contact with the marketing manager of Spastic Society. Impressed by his marketing skills, the manager encouraged Amit to take up LIC Agency. “My parents were always worried about my financial independence and this break of becoming an LIC agent was a boon in my life and a step toward financial independence,” says Amit.
This experience helped him in selling LIC policies too. He also got empanelled with UTI and slowly, things started falling in place for Amit.Amit happened to meet his father’s boss (a renowned Chartered Accountant) who became a mentor and guide in his life. “He involved me in doing audit of his clients and introduced me to the world of finance by giving me business of mutual funds, bonds etc.” recalls Amit.
Unfortunately, his mentor who had substantial investments in mutual funds, passed away in an accident. His younger brother, an eminent tax lawyer, had no idea how to trace these investments. Amit offered to help as he was already dealing in mutual funds. Amit helped the lawyer streamline all investments in one place. This lawyer is still a loyal client of Amit.
Today, Amit is doing well for himself and is proud of his achievements. He leaves home every day at 9 am and comes back home in the evening around 7 pm. In fact, Amit uses Mumbai’s public transport to meet his clients. When asked how he manages to communicate with his clients, he says “People find it difficult to comprehend my talk in the first meeting. After a few meetings, they are able to understand me.”
With a limited clientele, Amit manages assets under advisory of Rs. 40 crore in mutual funds.
His unflinching zeal and hard work has been recognized in various forums. In 2012, he received the “Best Entrepreneurship” award from “Able Disable All People Together” (ADAPT) by Shyam Benegal. Very recently, he received the ‘MFRT Samman’ award.
At 30, Amit met his better half Harsha who is a spastic. Despite the many challenges, Amit, Harsha, his retired father Bhupendra Thakker and wife Ramaben are happy with whatever life has given them. Amit has a son Nishith who studies in eighth grade.
Amit’s message to the society is that we need to be more sensitive and empathetic to differently-abled people. “Please do not belittle any person. We are differently-able, not disabled. I feel pain when people treat me like a mentally retarded or mentally challenged. Cerebral Palsy is not a mental disease; it is only a physical limitation. Our country needs to be more sensitive and empathetic to ‘differently-able’ people. Treat us with respect, dignity and love. We blossom notwithstanding adversities or challenges of life,” urges Amit.