Yash Avadesh Gandhi, a 21-year old Mumbaikar who has been battling cerebral palsy, dyslexia and dysarthria, has made his way into IIM-Lucknow for the academic session 2020-22. With 92.5 percentile in CAT 2019, Yash has defied all odds and his story is serving as an inspiration and more, to all those who’re in search of motivation right now.
A Warrior like No Other!
In an interview, this prodigy was quoted saying, “I face problems with numbers. So, I had to put in extra effort, particularly in the quantitative ability section. It was tough, but not impossible.” His father, Avadhesh Gandhi also added, “When he joined school, he faced difficulty in learning and was not able to compete with his peers. But he picked up gradually. He has always had to work harder than normal children.” Further, he stated that while studying for CAT, Yash was suffering from depression and had decided to almost give up. Yash’s mother, Jignasha mentioned, “I told him that he has the capability to do anything and should not stop making an effort. After this, Yash started all over again,”
Harshit Hindocha, who is regarded as Yash’s mentor and “spiritual brother” further mentioned, “Yash’s success is a perfect story of grit and commitment. He remains calm and composed even in the most trying circumstances, he never gives up. Even when I exempted him from taking notes due to his writing issues, he would always jot down points,” Harshit said.
Gandhi had started prepping for CAT in July 2018, when he was still in the second year of his graduation, at the Mithibai College in Mumbai. He graduated with a degree in accounting and finance and even secured a place among the top five of his batch. Yash also received call from IIM-Kozhikode and Indore but he chose to proceed with IIM-Lucknow because it ranks higher than the other two.
Where there is a will, there’s a way
Yash appears for his exams with help of a writer and as of now, he has been attending online classes from his Mumbai home. He faces difficulty in walking but still doesn’t shy away from travelling in local trains in his hometown. Although he slurs while he speaks, it doesn’t deter him from putting across his ideas and emotions with absolute clarity. His dedication is surely commendable and the proverb, “where there is a will, there is a way”, holds true in its entirety.
