From the diverse routines that individuals follow to protests in which they strive to garner attention, people prove themselves to the world in several ways. An unequal world exists where despite sections of a society soaring to great heights only a handful realize their significance. Ankur Kankonkar who hails from the village of Kindlem in Canacona is an example of people who swam against the tide and joined forces with 2 like-minded people to devise “Kapslock.in”, a platform that enables budding entrepreneurs to kick-start their vision.
Although the individuals who started this venture along with Ankur are no longer involved with the company, their presence lives on through a digital agency that handles clients across various sectors in Goa, India and the world. Gradually losing his eyesight due to a condition called ‘Retinitis Pigmentosa’ his eyesight began deteriorating in 2009 when he was in the 2nd year of pursuing his Bachelors in Pharmaceutical science at ‘Rajaram and Tarabai Bandedkar’s College of Pharmacy’ by the ‘Ponda Education Society’.
As a result of his medical condition he found it difficult to view the practical examination, other papers and was forced to quit his course. The transition of a sighted individual to 100% visually impaired person was sufficient to drive him to depression and initiated a stage where he didn’t know what to do. Prior to losing his sight Ankur used to cherish sports and he was an extrovert. Eventually he got back to operating computers using screen readers, and started going out with family and friends which also doubled up as sources of support.
His morale was further boosted when he heard the inspirational story of another blind person from Delhi called Kartik Sawhney. He was the first blind person from India to pursue the science stream in 12th std from ‘Central Board of Secondary Education’ (CBSCE) board, though he wanted to get into the ‘Indian Institute of Technology’ (IIT), that didn’t deter Kartik from the path he wanted to choose. He completed his education in the U.S and currently works at Microsoft.
Reading about Kartik was sufficient to inspire Ankur to do something with the abilities that God has blessed him with. Ankur began exploring various options and settled on B.Sc. Computer Science. It initially proved to be an issue since Ankur had discontinued Mathematics in his 12th std. As he approached ‘Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education’ with his academic plans, the board was doubtful regarding a blind person’s ability to cope in Mathematics. His persistence prevailed in the end and he was able to answer the examination of Mathematics and Computer Science in the end. When he returned to do the course of B.Sc. after a period of six years, he was much older than all his classmates. Despite these differences the staff, teachers and students were very cooperative.
His curriculum comprised of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science. Before his class could begin he had resolved to obtain the highest results in his class and achieved the same in the first semester itself and then proceeded to obtain 94.5% in Goa University in all the nine subjects in his curriculum.
This made him the source of a few headlines by the chief minister of Goa late Manohar Parrikar in the Goa Legislative Assembly. He continued this trend of obtaining the highest marks in his class while pursuing an M.Sc. in Information Technology from Parvatibai Chowgule of Arts & Science
Instead of working for someone for experience, he opted to start a firm of his own. Just like Ankur everyone has a responsibility towards various things along with a point to prove. Elections are in example of circumstances where people have a point to prove. People leverage various tactics to lure people to their side like resources to purchase members of their rivals, kicking of several initiatives just a few months before elections and the famous tested plan of mixing politics and religion.
At times when I hear ‘entities’ terrorizing other religions and calling themselves ‘Indians’ I wonder whether such individuals are responsible for swapping ‘humans’ for Indians. Will people have the guts to replace such divides with harmony and focus on issues like jobs which should matter
