Inspire Someone Today
Inspire Someone Today
E148 | The Unbreakable Spirit of Dr. Sai Kaustuv
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What happens when the human spirit refuses to be defined by physical limitations? Dr. Sai Kaustuv Dasgupta's life provides a resounding answer to this question with breathtaking clarity. Born with brittle bone disease that has caused over 50 fractures throughout his life, Dr. Sai now designs with one finger, speaks to thousands, and radiates joy that's simply contagious.
The magic begins with his parents, who, upon learning of his condition, didn't ask "why us?" but instead declared, "If Sai is disabled, we will be special parents for him." This foundation of unconditional support allowed Dr. Sai to view himself not as disabled, but as he beautifully puts it, "a limited edition." Growing up, his parents insisted he attend regular school rather than a special one, setting the stage for a life where he would continuously defy expectations.
The darkest chapter came between 2009-2015 when his condition deteriorated significantly, confining him to bed for 65 days. Facing depression head-on, Dr. Sai discovered that happiness wasn't just a feeling but a crucial tool for survival. Starting with just one functioning finger and experiencing tremendous pain, he taught himself computer skills, taking 15 minutes to move a cursor at first. That perseverance led to becoming a graphic designer, certified happiness coach, and a speaker who has delivered over 1,000 talks globally.
Dr. Sai's perspective on accessibility transcends the physical realm. "Inclusion is not a luxury; it's a mindset," he explains, advocating for universal design that considers psychological and emotional dimensions alongside ramps and hardware modifications. His philosophy resonates with profound wisdom: "Pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice," and "Happiness is not the absence of hardship; it's the courage to face hardship and pain."
Now on a mission to make India wheelchair-friendly and create a museum of happiness, Dr. Sai offers three guiding principles: be your own motivator first, follow your unique path rather than comparing yourself to others, and focus on what you can do rather than what you cannot. His journey reminds us that our greatest limitations often become our most powerful platforms—if we have the courage to embrace them with an unbreakable spirit.
Ready to be inspired? Listen now to discover how Dr. Sai transforms fragments into fullness and challenges into opportunities with his signature blend of wisdom, humor, and unforgettable resilience.
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Introduction: Unbreakable Spirit
Speaker 1If Sai has born to us, then we have to take care of him. Anyway, unlike to the parents I meet every day, when they feel like helpless, they feel like why us? They feel like why God had chosen us for a special thing. My parents were classed apart. They felt if Sai is disabled, if doctor says saying the same thing, medical treatment is saying the same thing, then we will be a special parent for him. We will do everything, whatever needs to be done, for Sai to grow up and be someone. So because you say inspire someone today, so my first inspiration were my parents, who took care of me the way and now I have become what I am today.
Speaker 2Welcome to Inspire Someone Today podcast, a show where we dive into the stories and insights that has the power to create ripples of inspiration in your life. I am your host, shrikant, and I am thrilled to be with you on this journey of inspiration. Listeners of Inspire Someone today, welcome back. This is episode number 148. Yes, we are getting closer to the landmark 150 episodes. I can't be more thrilled than today to have this wonderful, wonderful guest joining us.
Speaker 2What do you do when life hands you brittle bones and an indomitable spirit? Well, in today's episode of Inspire Someone Today, we meet Dr Sai Kastu Dasgupta, a designer who types with one finger, a speaker who is at his thousands and a soul who has built a life of joy from what may I would call fragments. He has been fractured more than 50 times, but it's not the bones that define him. It's the unbreakable will behind that smile, from the design studios to TEDx stages across the world. Dr Sai Kausto, his journey is not about disability but about discovering delight in the unlikely. It's an absolute joy to have Dr Sai joining us for this episode of Inspire Someone Today. Welcome to the show, dr Sai.
Speaker 1Thank you, Srikant. Thank you so much for having me here. It is really an honor to be in Inspire Someone Today and I'm so excited about this episode with you.
Speaker 2Likewise, it's been a long wait, but for sure the wait is worth what. We have been wanting to have this conversation with you, sai.
Speaker 1Yes, it's called in Hindi summer couple meeta hota hai. I think universe has its own timing for everything and we have to follow that signal. So yeah, looking forward for having a great conversation with you today.
Early Life with Brittle Bone Disease
Speaker 2Likewise. So, listeners, as they say, your body might be fragile, but your purpose doesn't have to be, and that's what defines Dr Sai. And let's dive in Dr Sai. If you want to kind of get started with it, let's begin with your story. What was your childhood like? How did your journey shape to the person that you are today?
Speaker 1see the story. I always tell that story of anyone whoever is inspiring. Today, millions of people always start with some dark side, or the black and white side, or the suffering, something, because that's what made us strong and it was in my story also. The same thing happened, although I was born in a very beautiful place called Sileburi. It's in the north side of India and if you have to visit Darjeeling, bhutan and all these places you have to go via NGP, that is in Semigudi, and my parents were born and brought up there. So I really had a very beautiful cultural family. The background and everything was very beautiful. The place is also scenic. Beauty of the place is very mesmerizing. So I was born all okay. I was born in the month of October, 6th of October, and it was all fine. I was born normal and nothing doctor found anything wrong while I was born. The main story started when I had my first fracture and it happened when I was three and a half months old. My mother was, you know, after feeding me, transferring me to my grandma's lap and after a while I started crying and she was very clueless why I started crying, because I'm full with food and all. So my grandmas also were very surprising. Then, after some, while my mom felt my right hand is just moving unusually and might be I'm getting some pain near the shoulder, so she then found something wrong. My father came and then they made me to go to a nearby doctor's place, thereby seeing me. Only doctor found I'm having a fracture in my below the right shoulder. And doctor was also a little bit surprised, and same way my parents, that how can a small baby, without any MISAP or accident, is having a fracture. Anyway, the doctor did what they had to do and I came back and then after that incident, within a year, three more times I had similar mishap in different position of the body. And that's how my parents found that I am having this multiple fracture, so something wrong with my bones.
Speaker 1Then they took me to Kolkata, because I'm talking about the time when Shri Gudi had no much advanced medical facility. So when I went to Kolkata I was one and a half year old. The doctor there, you know, clinically diagnosed the brittle bone disease. They told all the symptoms are matching. After that they did not do any medical diagnosis or any DNA test or nothing they did. Only they did what that clinically they saw my symptoms are matching with the disease. They described me and they first diagnosed me I am having this OI.
Speaker 1So my parents also were very new to the disease. They never heard of anything that what kind of precautions or medicines I can take? And to their utter surprise, there was no medicine. Doctor told you have to take care of him, take care in bracket, extra, everything you have to do extra for him, because his bones are so brittle and it can factor anytime anywhere. We cannot predict his future, his way of living, we cannot say what is going to happen.
Speaker 1So my parents were with a mix of emotion. They found that okay, if Sai has born to us, then we have to take care of him anyway, unlike to the parents I meet every day when they feel like helpless. They feel like why ask? They feel like why God had chosen us for a special thing. My parents were classed apart. They felt if I is disabled, if doctor says saying that same thing, medical treatment is saying the same thing, then we will be a special parent for him. We will do everything whatever needs to be done for thai to grow up and be someone. So because you say, inspire someone today, so my first inspiration were my parents who took care of me the way and now I have become what I am today.
Childhood Adaptation and Parental Support
Speaker 1So that way my childhood started with a lot of pain, suffering, as I say, all the darkness, all the unplanned childhood, all the fear of factor and fear of society way of looking towards me. You know pressure of childhood education, everything Not mixing up with the society, not mixing up with the people, who had zero idea about this kind of critical disease. So I was actually finding something in my childhood to be strong, because I knew that people say you drink Horlicks, bonvita, complain, be strong. But in my case my bones were very fragile. I had to be extra strong to protect myself from the factor. So by the time I grown up, multiple fractures happened, more than you know. I still remember the number like it got to 50. So more than 50 fractures. I'm saying with smile, but it's not something to smile. It was too much I had to go through. But I was actually a dancer my first three years and then I had to stop it because of the physical disability.
Speaker 1I came into music. I was a good student. I never been into special school. My parents never felt like giving sight to a special school. My parents never felt like giving side to a special school. They felt, if I can do good education, why need to be sitting with the special children? He can go to normal school. So I was, you know, grown up that way To see my disability as a normalizing thing, to balance my life with my talent of music, dancing, and then I have a good talent of, you know, mixing up with the people. I used to be very good, very good in indoor games because I never had a chance to go outside and play football at the game. So my childhood was all together a different story. But if I sum up up, I always was happy to be myself and under the guidance of my parents, and I knew I am different, but I was proud of my difference.
Speaker 2That was it wow, that is all I can say. I am spellbound with your outlook towards what has happened to you and still having that happy smile reflecting on things that has happened. Credit and kudos to your parents for that belief, for the trust that they have had. Hats off to each one of you. Fast forward today, 2025. You have not only kind of overcome a lot of these barriers in what a beautiful way. You are from a little brittle bone side to Dr Sai Kaustubh Dasgupta. That is something special. Tell us, tell me and my listeners, what is Dr Sai doing in current state today?
Speaker 1Dr Sai, doing in current state today. Dr Sai is on a mission now to make the nation wheelchair friendly, to make all the parents know their children are what special they are about, and to a mission about knowing your true happiness, knowing your true self, and always be grateful of what God has given to you, because inspiration is not outside. Inspiration is a medicine you have to create from your inside, and that inspiration comes when you are your real self. Most of the time we are not in our real self. We are someone who we feel we have to show. In our offices, we are the good employee In our schools, we are good students In our home, we are good husband, we are good son, we are good brothers, but very often we are good husbands, we are good sons, we are good brothers, but very often we are real selves, and the real self is all about your success and your future whole story.
Speaker 1So, after all the tragedy, all the suffering, all my pain, everything I had gone through, ultimately I found that nothing can define me if I allow myself to define what I really choosing, because life is all about a choice, because I think pain is inevitable but suffering is a choice, so I would have suffered. If I had to choose more of my suffering, I could have chosen the corner of the room to stay whole day. I could have chosen to be inside the confinement zone, but I chose the opposite. I chose to stand in by using my vision. I chose that 90% disability. Yes, it has broken me, but I'm not bitter, so I'm having my spirit as it started.
Speaker 2Unbreakable spirit is something God has given me as a software, inbuilt one, and I'm using it every day, every moment, to make other people happy how wonderful, what an outlook that you have, sai, and it's easy said than done, right to kind of going through what you have gone through, to say that keep that chin up, keep that spirit high. I'm sure you would have had your fair share of ups and downs, more downs than ups going up. How did you build this mental resilience? Was it a given you had it or you built on it? How did you go about building that resilience, that mental resilience?
Turning Pain into Purpose
Speaker 1Mental resilience is something you know over the years. I had to build it because I am now a mental wellness advocate. When I talk to the people I always talk about my story and my journey, my takeaways to my learnings of the life. When I saw the indexes going up and down, I never felt that only up should be there, because I know when I'm in down I know there is an opportunity to make myself more strong. Because every moment I have to feel vulnerable, because I knew I'm fragile. I have more damn fractures than anyone in my surroundings could ever imagine. But those suffering those fractures, those pains other side of my life made me strong enough to give the van. There were moments which I never expected, never wished for, but they still came to my life. You know, I feel that people sometimes see my smile and they feel that they assume that it's always effortless when I give talks all over the world. If they feel you are a satisfied happiness coach, your mental resilience is top, you are the happiest person. That stood the ideal life of the happiness coach. That is a perfect one. But I'm telling you today frankly, it's not always that, because if you are all still happy, you absolutely have to be still happy. But happiness is a wave of length, it's a sequence, it's a vibration, and you cannot be all of those sequence in that same vibration. So happiness is not in absence of hardship, it's the courage to face the hardship and pain.
Speaker 1As I told you, when I get pain nowadays, sometimes I get muscle pain and all these things. Yes, fracture stopped because I am now more mature enough to work my disease and doctors also predicted the same, and the good thing is that I have now given all the tests and now clinically and all those medically also proven that I actually am not having that hardcore disease. It was actually a problem in my bones which made me brittle. So anyway, that's a separate chapter. What I'm trying to say?
Speaker 1That accepting myself with all the disease and with all the journey which I had on, even when the path was not fair for me. I never wanted to be in pain, in the discomfort and limitation, never had planned to be in wheelchair all my way, but each day I am choosing to be resilient more, to be more open up, because I feel that if you are not opening up your disability or your issues or your pain, you cannot stand stalling the adversity. So that's the mantra, I think the more you be yourself, be vocal about your true self, talk about your issues, and you can feel that you are more resilient towards adversity. Feel that you are more resilient towards adversity and adversity for me actually became a gift, because I knew that people will talk to me as a disabled, but now I have that enough power to talk to them and that I'm not only a disabled or specially abled, I'm a limited edition.
Speaker 2You're a limited edition. That's what a superb outlook to have. And again, like I said, I go back. Reddit is not easy for you to kind of wake up every morning, to have that kind of an attitude that you're having. What are those moments? How did you kind of pick up those pieces every day to kind of show up the way you show up what? What practices did you adapt? What are some of those unique stuff that you did for you to be who you are, to beat those negativity, to beat those toxicity?
Speaker 1Okay. So practices? Yes, I do practice meditation, I do practice spirituality. I'm a spiritual guy. So that was, you know, magically came to my life From my grandmother to my ancestors. They were very spiritually grounded people. That spiritual energy after they helped me to overcome a lot of fear, a lot of unpredictable things in my life. So you know, how do I balance when I feel that I'm authentic or not? Or will we be staying positive without slipping into the tap of toxic positivity?
Speaker 1People say being positive, eating positive, is very important, but sometimes we actually do not feel positive. We write those things in the social media or we show our positivity but end of the day, while going to bed, you have to ask yourself are you really a positive person? Let me be honest to you, sikant. When people see me smiling, delivering motivational talks or, you know, designing colorful visuals with one finger, and then they feel that it is all about positivity and that's the truth. But sometimes it is positivity to gain through my parents' wisdom. When I go out, I meet people. It is not an inbuilt something. We have to practice those affirmations and you know, I speak about happiness. You can sacrifice happiness when I feel that I talk about my wheelchair, my little phone, the silence, my in-hospitals. Along with them. I also talk about my achievements, my hour award, my recognition and my overcoming. That's how I balance both of them, because if you are being positive 24 into 7, that's only possible in a movie.
Building Mental Resilience Through Spirituality
Speaker 1In practical life, when we actually showcase positivity, we have to balance the positivity with our negativity also. And it is very easy to be negative, as I have experienced in the society, when you are into a society where people are ready to say more to you. I really feel that negativity is something. People always be with you, negative people, their mindset, their outlook towards you. But in between all these things, if you are really having positive booster doors with you, nobody can make you down because you have to take charge of yourself, the real remote control in your hand, so that people can I don't know completely cannot take away your real things. You have your control in your hand. That's also the authenticity is. Always talk about your darkness, dark period, but positivity, it's way around of life, the light of being yourself, one small spark at a time one spark at a time.
Speaker 2So lovely, so beautifully stated. There you're right it is not to be positive, to have that sense of 24 by 7, positive on, but that authenticity, that having the right set of people around you, the practices that you mentioned are all tools for you to get towards that. And in this process, you are also an happiness coach. Now you're an evangelist of happiness. How did that come along? What do you mean by happiness coach?
Speaker 1when I came out in the wheelchair this wheelchair where I'm sitting now, it's the electric one I had a new life altogether. So, 2009 to 2015,. Due to the severe down side of my physical disability, I had to confine in a small way, and that was the time the word called happiness went out from my life, because I was never expected to be in that condition, nor my parents. Due to the multiple factors, the side effects of my bone condition all together made my life upside down. So I had to leave my education. I had to leave my music classes I am also a musician. I had to leave all the passionate things from my hand. Only 65 days. I was sitting down with the rest back rest, and my parents were feeding me. Then I lied out the hole.
Speaker 1That is the time I, you know, I was diving deep into my life and I was feeling what is actually happiness. Is there anything which made me happy today? Or is there anything what I can do for my happiness? Because every day I was going through the situation I was meeting face to face with depression. There is a so-called hashtag in this life. People feel like if I'm not having depression, then I'm not someone to talk to, but it was not a hashtag in my life. I was meeting depression. I was feeling depressive, very, very deeply depressive, because from the childhood I was someone always to be lighting up my whole self, my surrounding, my body and my skill set and everything. But that was the time I was helpless. I used to cry, I used to shout and, as I told the viewers, people feel that happiness goes like this picture perfect, not that there is so much struggle behind to be in the condition of happiness. So at a moment when I felt truly that I cannot save myself, I was feeling like dying. That's the moment I heard a voice from the inside. You can call it the voice of heart, voice of soul or anything you would like to call it out. That sound was very strong and that was the sound, that was the instruction, that was the statement, and it was very strong that if I lose, then what about? The thousands of people outside? All other sides will take care of them.
Speaker 1That was the time I started feeling like am I losing myself? And if I'm losing myself, then what can be the definition of happiness? In a family of a special student, what kind of message will go to a parent who will be seeing that if Sai's parents can't do it, then we can't do it. That kind of message should go. And I have no right to lose my Because it's not only size lies and connected with millions of soul around me who are looking at me as a motivation, inspiration, as someone to look after, as a beacon of hope. So I have to come out anyway For that, any extent I can. And that's the reverse journey started and I felt if I have to reverse back, I need a tool. And then I found that happiness is the most important tool, because when you do something with happily, you love your work, then nobody can stop you to be a successful person.
Speaker 1That time I had nothing no career, no education, only one finger working with pain, no other body parts at work. One of my friends came and suggested try out, you know, computer for diplomas and all you can get some in it. And I was very much depressed and I don't know how to do that With one finger. Have you ever had someone doing designing or computer? He said you can try at least, because if you cannot, then you cannot come out and talk with those people who are looking for you. If you have to do something, do something big. And then I borrowed one computer and I felt like, let me start With one finger working with a lot of pain, I started holding my mouth and moving the cursor in the desktop. I had a desktop that time and it took me 15 minutes to move the cursor. It was too much painful but still I did.
Speaker 1And one year time I completed my diploma and two year I began graph. So, as I say, there is a will, there is a way, it is all about your spirit, it's all about your choice to come out. And then when I made my graphic designing the happiness I got, I said I never. I said it's the new beginning. I came out in the wheelchair. I saw the blue sky, I felt the happiest being in the world because I was trying and that was a tears of happiness and my parents were again felt like you know. Finally I have seen a new day and there was no look back.
Speaker 1I started talking my story, I became a speaker, but then also I was finding some gap.
Speaker 1That what is that gap? When I started going to people and then I found if I have to talk to people confidently, I have to have some certification, especially in India, nobody listens to you without NBD. So I started my education and I started researching on happiness and I got certification from a Transformation Academy in Florida, became India's first certified happiness and that's the most great recognition I could ever have, because I am not talking about happiness by reading a textbook or watching a YouTube or listening to a podcast. I experience deep mind, in my bones, in my nerves, in my heart. So people when call me as embodimental happiness I truly need so when people touch my hand, they feel the radiation of happiness. So it happened because I practiced over the years to be a happy, to be your real happiness, because it's a pure thing from the heart and that's why my signature and I always carry it unconditionally to everyone passing through me over today, because my mission, as I told you in the beginning, to create a happy, inclusive, accessible world.
Journey to Becoming a Happiness Coach
Speaker 2What a noble and large mission that you have. I am wishing you, on behalf of all of my listeners, for continued success on this wonderful mission and along the way from being depressive sitting in that room for days, together to what a transformation that you have had Just now becoming a happiness coach sitting in that room for days, together to what a transformation that you have had just not becoming a happiness coach. You are seen as a leading light in the field of accessibility and disability in india. You are seen as an advocate, as a change maker. Tell us a bit about it and along the lines if there's one policy change if you would recommend that will help a lot of the accessibility issues that is prevailing in the country, what would that one change that you would recommend that will help lot of the accessibility issues that is prevailing in the country? What would that one change that you would recommend?
Speaker 1Accessibility issues in India are diverse, because accessibility is not a word in dictionary. Accessibility is all around. When we are listening to this podcast, someone is watching. There are different modes of accessibility. You know, people with hearing impairment will be not able to listen to this podcast, but they may retain copies later. And when we talk about accessibility, we feel it's a ramp, it's a, you know, accessible devices. These are the crucial. I know these are all crucial things, but it is not only thing that accessibility means.
Speaker 1When we talk about accessibility, it actually happens into a lot of verticals. It actually happens into a lot of verticals Physical accessibility, mental accessibility, emotional accessibility and then psychological accessibility. So physical accessibility is all about your disability rights and making the public places, infrastructure, surrounding areas equally accessible for all kinds of people. That's the starting work. But when we talk about mental accessibility, it is all start to mind. As I said, inclusion is not a luxury, it's a mindset. Inclusion starts from your own sense and from your home. Until you feel yourself inclusive, you cannot go out and talk about. So it's all about practicing the right thing in the right way in the right time. And when I talk about psychological accessibility, it's a breach which brings the gap of too narrow mindset, the mindset with less awareness, the mindset with lack of education towards the closer of the people who has the ability to make them understand. What is this accessibility all about? So trying to get equal access in your day to day lives makes you accessible. When we go into a washroom you may find there are two kinds of washrooms. One is Indian and Western, and we cannot say that both ways. You have to use this because it's accessible, because it starts from you. You can access Indian washroom. It is accessible for you. If you are not able to use some kind of things in your life, that makes your life lack of accessibility.
Speaker 1So when I started going out talking to people about accessibility, people were always, you know, knew that okay, I have to make damp and all the lift need to have lower switches and all. Then you should have textiles in the public places, metro station for people with visual impairment, all the movies should have captions for the people with hearing and speech disability. Those things people already knew. So they asked me what is new? What is the newness, why you are so much into accessibility? What is the newness? Why are you so much into accessible? I told them a very simple thing and that made them to think. I told them that you use stair, we use ramp Boat. Are making you to go into stair like me? Then why you have to make this sign boat with wheelchair, showing the ramp towards us and looking to me and saying that this is for you.
Speaker 1That's the most exclusive way of showing us that we are disciplined and it is for us because the destination is same and it doesn't matter what the way I am choosing. I may choose a ramp, you may choose a staircase, but where we are going is the same. So, making our places equally accessible and those things are not something extra, ever are it is the human design principle to make a place equally accessible, especially in the outside India. They always think over it first and then they make a video. But in India if I call a restaurant or phone or a cafe, if I ask about exam, then they say we do not have it. The next answer you should not come to our cafe area, enjoy somewhere else. That's the behavior of people or mindset we are having in India and it takes some time.
Speaker 1I'm trying my best to be an accessible advocate through my campaign, through my social media, and then we are trying our best, I'm trying my best, to make people first aware you do not have to go outside and spend money to make a damn part. First understand who I am, to be there, what is the benefit of a ramp, then go out and take the part people and make it happen. So I have in my mind to make an app in future. If anyone listening to my audio and to this podcast, I really have a plan to make a universal app which easily helps you to understand what is inaccessible in your life, what is an injury in your life, and that way you can procure it and help yourself to be a good person. Let's see if God bless all your support I get, and I definitely plan to make some app which makes you a good person.
Speaker 2Absolutely. That is not a far out cry. I am sure the cosmos will conspire and make this happen. And to a lot many ways I was reflecting on this, Disability is not a limitation. Design is. In a lot many ways, that is what you are kind of highlighting it Disability is not an issue. Design is the issue.
Speaker 1See, designing is not an issue. Design is the issue. See, designing is not an issue. Actually, if you are really having an open mind, as I said, universal design to make your workplace accessible, all these things are not one-day thing. It is like when you are entering into your office from the entrance to the workplace, then cassette area, your front of the mind of all the people included, then the laptop screen, mouse, mic, table chair, everything required in a town hall will be automatically, by default, accessible. You can use it anyway and it can be used by any people until, regardless, they are disabled or able. So that kind of atmosphere we have to build, so that the design should be universally equal and the design should inspire you to contribute. That is what I feel like we have to do in the future. When you feel a platform is enough, universally designed, accessible way, that design makes yourself contributing your best self in the forum, because all of us here with a purpose and until we find the right platform, we cannot fulfill the purpose. And that makes us frustrated, that makes us less. That makes us less, that makes us going to that period of time when we feel that maybe I have not chosen my right career or maybe I am not worthwhile to build a good family, maybe I am not worthwhile to be a successful person Because we are having lacking of that platform which design the way we need.
Accessibility: Beyond Physical Accommodations
Speaker 1You know, equality or equity. People are talking about these two terms nowadays. Equality and equity are very important and both are fully different. Equality is giving one thing equally to everyone and equity is giving everything to everyone the way they need. So if I am expecting my communication towards my office or any public places need to be accessible, I need not to go to a little accessible cab or car, the railway, the other. Every communication way should have a plate equally for me.
Speaker 1I still now I cannot fly into a flight because it's not accessible 100% the way it has the policies. There are hundreds of, you know, misalignment in the policy. So design is important. Then you have the limitation, because limitation for everyone is different. You are a locomotive disability Someone has made fire according to it. So you cannot define limitation the way it is existing. But you can definitely define your design the way everyone is equestrian. But you can definitely define your design the way everyone feels their voice in heart, everyone feels their skin, everyone feels their value, that universal design. We all are elvishing for looking for and hoping.
Speaker 2That's true and all of your journey side, any instances or any anecdotes of empathy or inclusivity that happened quietly than being shown as a tokenism.
Speaker 1Lot of times. You know I have given multiple talks into different forums Now a thousand plus talks I have given to globally, even in the Google head office, and all when I started this journey. I used to, you know, build my presentation. Being a designer, I'm very good in my presentation. But when I had to send those to the people, higher authorities, the organizing committee sometimes I used to be in that call and they used to ask me that okay, we have made it accessible for you, sai, and look at it. If it is accessible for you, or we have to do something else. And then I saw a comment in the chat. Someone is saying why it is made accessible. So they wrote there because Sai is disabled, so he made some accessibility feature.
Speaker 1So that is, I think, silently making us feel like we are the class apart. We are not ever feeling to be class apart. I always tell that we also have a right to go to an iloft and watch a movie. We also have a right to go in the ice cream parlor and enjoy ice cream. Why we have to go always is the last in the line, because it takes time to go and have our ice cream, or it is people's patience or the way of looking towards us, the judgmental way that pastor is taking time in to let he or she go to the last. The able people come to the path.
Speaker 1Ability and visibility is a silent talkerism. Always we are doing indirectly or directly in our conversation. We never feel so much enriched in our thought process. That's why I always tell people think before. Think. You are thinking about one's ability. You are judging my disability in your own mindset or with a blend of your own thinking. So that's why that's the moment I replied to those people that you should not make a document accessible for me alone, because I can read anything in any document. Why I told you to make the document accessible? Because that is the correct way. You are not giving me something special because I am a speaker. It's the way you should do it and that should be the default setting.
Speaker 1Yes, that's what I think in different different forums. In my childhood itself, when I used to be in the railways and going somewhere as a vacation with my parents, I was so thin. I was so steamy and thin because of lack of mind, strong lifestyle and a lot of calcium intake and all I never had to have good food. My stomach was not able to digest. So I still remember a lot of people used to trade with me and they used to tell my mom and dad that you guys eat all the food right, Feed this too. And they used to see me as a person to talk about. It is not the right way to steer your support. Like, human being can be in any shape, any way, any gender, color, body shape All these things are not defining who you are the moment. People should come out of those lengths of tagging us. They will be less frustrated, they will have less complaints and they will have that ideal mindset to respect each and every individual so very true, this is out of script.
Speaker 2If I can have your permission, can you rekindle the musician in you and get you to kind of time one or two lines for the benefit of our listeners?
Speaker 1Definitely Out of script is everything Shikant. We are having this podcast because not scripted. I'm telling you now all the question answer. I just had some of your questions handy to me. But our life is all without script Because we do not know what is going to happen. We never knew this war has happened between India and all. So we never knew that India will have COVID. So everything is without script. Only Nothing is scripted, and I do believe that's the game of life and that should be the life. If everything is scripted, we know what is going to happen, there's no maza. So definitely love to sing something for you. It's one of my favorite songs. I sing it for myself, I sing it for audience and every time I sing I sing it for myself.
Speaker 1Hope inspired. Someone today will be inspired by this song. All the audience will listen to it. And oh, my soul is so weary when troubles come. My heart, but then be. Then. I am still and waiting in the silence Until you come and stay a while with me. You raise me up so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on your shoulder. You raise me up to more than I can be. You raise me up to more than I can be. Thank, you.
Universal Design and Inclusion
Speaker 2Oh, that's powerful, thank you. Thank you for this impromptu song. If you are ready, we will get you to the power of three round yes, yes, I am always ready. So, the first of the power of three round question to you, sai. If we were to have this conversation five years from now, what would that?
Speaker 1three pieces of advice that you would give to your future self first one is what I believe now also the same thing always stay rooted to your purpose and not perform. So I believe in purpose. Performance can be. You know, like you are down you always something, because it's not in our hand but purpose in our hands. So stay grounded and humble. And the second is that I believe more. Let my remain your superpower. I truly am love of my smile and anyone with mine. I even love your, my stuff.
Speaker 1So thank you let it be a superpower. And the third, and I think the guidance I should give to my future self, that lead with love even the world.
Speaker 2Forget to love yourself beautiful, such a beautiful advice. Right, three micro experiments listeners can embrace to develop an inclusive mindset. What are those three micro experiments that you do to have that kind of a mindset?
Speaker 1That's a good thing. I do a lot of experiments, but if I have to say three, sometimes I spend my day in my laptop or phone just by using the voice command or the way people with hearing abilities or speak abilities are using those. That makes me more value into my eyes and ears and mouth. That's the habit I have of being inclusive to try to put myself into their shoes and just try experimenting with apps and all how they work.
Speaker 1That's one thing I do and sometimes I, you know, start some project with my family because I believe family, the support system, is your oxygen. They will never say no to you, they will never leave you alone. So if I am starting some project, I always take their permission and sit with them, do a study circle, all with them, take their guidance. So I do value family culture. That I do the practice for being inclusive. And third thing is that I try to follow at least three inspiring people each week through my social media, through my circle or connection or network, so that I can learn three new things in a week to carry forward my next future day.
Speaker 2That's a nice experiment out there. Thank you for sharing that. What are three things on your bucket list, Sai?
Speaker 1My bucket is full it's so heavy. But if I have to choose the upper one, the top three. First thing is that I wish to fly the accessible way and to visit Dubai with my family. Dubai is my dream place. I usually will happen at it by seeing the nets of Dubai, the buildings and all. So I really would love to fly there. That's my first thing.
Speaker 1And then I would like to deliver a motivational talk or TEDx talk any talk in the United Nations Headquarters, mainly on the subject of global disability, inclusion or sustainable development goals, which I actually do represent in the United Nations. So I would like to go in person and give the talk there in front of all the officials. It's just because I wish all the topmost people of the world should listen to my ideas. It may change them or it may not change, but if I get a platform to deliver my ideas, I'm more than happy. Hard thing in my future if God gives me strength, enough financial condition or enough love and support from all the people like you. I'd like to build a museum of happiness and that gives you everything A to Z about happiness. It gives you the 250 degree experience of happiness and lot of nice things should be there to go through as an experience and if you are a sad person, the destination would be that museum to go and come back as a happy person, and that should be 100% accessible for everyone.
Speaker 2that's my bucket list. Wonderful bucket list there. The last of the power of three questions, sai. What three book or podcast recommendations that you have for bucket list? Wonderful bucket list there. The last of the part of the questions, sai. What three book or podcast recommendations that you have for us?
Musical Moment and Future Dreams
Speaker 1okay. Okay, this question is very important because it's also very difficult, because I'm a fan of a lot of the reading books and all a lot of authors and a lot of podcasters around me. Whenever I get chance I books and all lot of authors and lot of podcasters around me. Whenever I get chance I listen to some and all. If I've got a couple of books. First, the book Visibility Visibly it's edited by Alice Ong. It's a beautiful connection, powerful connection of many essence of disabled activists or the more top people all over the world. So Disability Visibility that book is like one of my good collection books. And second is Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. It's a very spiritual book but it has given me enough vision for my, as you say, future self and my present self, because I am not much into my future, because I feel one day at least, as I said, one spark at a time, one day at a time, one step at a time. So I do believe in present If you really have to have a future and how to make it concrete and strong on the ground of spirituality. That book made me and I do love Paramahansa Yogananda's ideas and all. And one of the last book is Light's Amazing Secret by Gauza Palda. So that also beautifully transformed many of my thinking and when I become a motivational speaker, that was really handy. So these three are the books.
Speaker 1If I talk about podcasts, I know that a lot of things happen. I'm not going into that deeply but I love TRS podcast because we cannot judge a person just by an incident. I have learned many, many things from TRS podcast personally. So I love Ran person just by an incident. I have learned many, many things from CRS4. And personally I love Ranveer's podcast. Secondly, there is a very beautiful podcast called WTF. It's with Nikhil Kamath. So Nikhil Kamath and Nikhil Kamath both are very inspiring people for me and I do really know their mother, rebati Kamath, personally. So I do follow their, their mother, rebati Kamath, personally. So I do follow their things.
Speaker 1And the podcast which made me, you know, strong enough in my entrepreneurship ideas, in my accessible clothing ideas and all those things how to be inclusive for everybody, know what and Laugh but Know is one of very favorite podcast is inspire someone today. I do follow you from long year. I do follow your podcast man. This is one of my happiest day to be a person in your podcast today, because I do inspire from you today and maybe millions will inspire from me after this streaming, and it should. A chain of change and transformation. I love the name. Inspire Someone Today because, as I believe, live in today. Do not think about your yesterday or tomorrow. Live in your today, because everything you can do to make beautiful today, do it Because kal ho na ho.
Speaker 2Kal ho na ho. That's so wonderfully, so aptly said right Before we sign off. Like you rightly said, inspire Someone Today is a platform to create ripples of inspiration. So what is your Inspire Someone Today message to all the listeners before you and I sign off from this episode?
Speaker 1I already have given my message to everyone. I think, if I sum up my conversation towards whatever we discussed today, that actually tips me three things, as we are doing, the three things in our life. First is nobody can motivate you unless and until you allow. So be your motivator first. That way, you are the first step towards your success and you don't have to be active every day. Sometimes, waking up in the morning and be grateful for everything also is a big recognition you are giving to yourself. So do not feel that Sai is a national awardee. Sai is a world record holder, so Sai can talk all these things.
Speaker 1Do not have to be Sai, but follow what is good for you. Follow your own path, because nobody's footsteps or fingertips are equal. Everyone is special and everyone is good at something. And, last but not least, rather on focusing what we cannot do, because most of the time we are indulge ourselves on our cannot do things, what we are not able to do or what we are not finding good for ourselves. Let's change the track. Follow your childhood, follow your tick marks or your ability or your rescue stress. Follow all your good things and you will feel that you love yourself the most way and you feel that you are the most truly human person in this world who can do anything and anything.
Speaker 1Because, as I said, if you have the dream to achieve your goals, you cannot sleep in the night, you cannot sleep in the day because you are living in the dream and when you sleep, that sleep is for you to go and active your dream. So I always tell that life is all about trying new things. So why not trying to be happy If, after all these fractures, my physical disability, my hearing impairment, I am using my hearing aid to listen to Shikant's question After all, suffering anxiety, problem, depression? Today you can Google my name as the world you know, global icon. Each try can do what is stopping. All you can do and never, ever forget to smile, because that makes your face so good, makes you beautiful. Thank you so much for having me. Love you all.
Speaker 2Dr Sai couldn't have asked for more. If spreading smiles and inspiring lives had a name, that name is yes for Dr Sai Kaustubh. Thank you so much for this wonderful conversation and wishing you loads and loads of luck and success as you traverse towards this path of making a difference to the world. Thank you so much. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Inspire Someone today. This is Shrikant, your host, signing off. Until next time, continue to carry the repulse of inspiration, stay inspired, keep spreading the light.
