Meet Aliya Amreen

On this bright Saturday morning, I went to spend some time at the NAB campus with Aliya Amreen, my colleague and friend.

She was a little nervous about being the subject of the first real blog post. 'I don't know what to tell you', she said with her characteristic shy smile. She tried to suggest other good subjects for this post - the Integrated Education Centre or perhaps Haridas Sir, a lovely visually challenged gentleman who has been teaching at NAB for 29 years - but I was determined to learn more about her quiet determined style and her compassionate heart. Here are some excerpts from the interview:

K: Amreen, please tell me a little bit about your background.

A: I am from Bangalore. I did my BSc degree and a two year diploma in Software Engineering from NIIT where I was a faculty member for 16 months. After that I joined NAB.

K: How did you move from NIIT to here?

A: Actually, because all the computer courses are designed by NIIT, they had sent me here once as an invigilator. I noticed that some of the students were lagging behind and they were still so eager to learn. I viewed it a professional challenge. And also I believe the best way to learn in life is to share your experiences, rather than buy education.

K: That is an interesting view. What made you look at life this way?

A: My grandfather... I have been brought up by my grandparents... told me that when he was young, he had the responsibility of bringing up his three siblings singlehandedly because his parents died very early. He really had to struggle and one day he found himself standing at a bus stop. It was very hot and he didn't have shoes. He couldn't afford them and was feeling very bad for himself. Just then he noticed as disabled person next to him and he was struck by the fact that he could always buy himself shoes in the future but this man could never change his disability. That's when he realised that the only way to learn in life is through experiences. He could not have learnt this any other way. I was very inspired by this story.

K: That is very powerful. Could you please introduce the Computer Centre for the benefit of the readers?

A: The centre is formally known as the Mrs. Ratna Atmaram Rao Computer Centre. It was started in 2000 and has since trained more than 250 trainees in 27 batches in the Basic Computer Programme. To them we teach Microsoft Office, internet surfing and email. We have also trained 6 batches in the more recently introduced Advanced programme in which they learn programming languages like C++, SQL and VB 6.0 by which the visually impaired can compete with sighted people. Our students have got jobs at IBM, Infosys, Oracle, Perot Systems as admin assistants and programmers. The duration of these programmes is 180 hours. To be eligible for these programmes, they have to be visually challenged, either completely or partially, between the ages of 16 and 35 years, with a high school degree and for the Advanced programme, they have to have a college degree in any discipline. All training and accommodation is provided free of cost. The only thing is that we have limited computers so we cannot take more than 22 students. We also take in students from different states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra), not just Karnataka.

At this point, some volunteers entered the room. Saturday is Volunteer Day and some new people had come to see the NAB Campus. Amreen excused herself to show them around the Computer Centre.

While she was speaking to the new volunteers, I popped into the adjacent room where my students were speaking to the volunteers who come in on Saturdays. In this picture, Pawan (extreme right) is sharing some of this thoughts with the volunteers (left).

When Amreen returned, I wanted to understand a little bit more about what motivates her to work at NAB.

K: Tell me, Amreen, if you weren't at NAB, where would you be working? How different would that be for you compared to working at NAB?

A: Probably doing a Tech Support job at one of the big IT company. It would only be different in terms of money and maybe the office might be closer to my home. I travel 2 hours each way to and fro NAB and home.

K: That is an enormous distance!

A: (laughs) Yes, it is. But besides that and the fact that I am not making a lot of money, I am empowering people to become self-reliant and independent so they can live like us - I wouldn't get that in any other job. To give you an analogy, I feel attracted to this job in the way that the positive and negative poles of a magnet attract. If it is positive-positive it won't attract, right?

K: That is true. So in your journey so far, what would you say have been your challenges, anything you wish you had or could change to make your job easier?

A: Actually, it has not been difficult really... (pauses) I mean...

Haridas Sir, who had been sitting with us, said, 'Oh Amreen, it is okay for you to say that there are a few problems. Everyone has them. The thing is, Kaberi, the Computer Centre needs a new teacher. Now Amreen is handling all the teaching alone.

A: (smiles shyly) Actually, it would be nice to have someone help me a little because along with the teaching, I have to do a lot of administrative work. I am also responsible for creating Braille versions of the Hoopla Club magazine, which are then distributed to various other organisations for the visually challenged. But NIIT will be sending a new teacher in the next few weeks.

K: That's good to know. How was your experience in the first few months of teaching visually challenged students, being a sighted person?

A: It was a little tough initially because we can see everything and take so much for granted. We know in one glance when a Word Document is open, what is where. I had to shut my eye to see what they were feeling, how they navigated their way around the page using JAWS. But after a few months, these issues went away and I think we have a good understanding now.

K: Can you tell me about some of the students you have taught who are working now?

A: Many of them have done well. Someone I can think of is Kaumudhi Joshi who is an HR Job Verification role at Infosys. She will be coming to NAB in early May to speak to the current students. You must meet her. She has got a really... infectious personality! Then there is Shilpa who is working at Oracle in Tech Support. Her story is particularly inspiring because not only is she visually challenged, she also has hearing problems and other health issues for which she has to take two injections a day. But she doesn't let that stop her from doing what she sets her mind to. Her personality is shy, quiet but below that, she is extremely smart and interesting. Also, there is Rajat who works at TCS and is a team leader, training others.

K: Amreen, if you could granted some wishes, what would you wish for the Computer Centre right now?

A: I would wish for more computers so we can admit more students. And obviously, there should be more instructors. We also need a better library of braille and low vision books. And we also need more headphones for the students. Actually, what they also need are sort of grooming sessions to help them prepare for interviews. It is great that you come and teach them business. Now they know so much more about what is going on in the world and how everything is connected. Also, Indrani Ma'am and Snigdha Ma'am help them a lot with their communication skills which is so important for them to succeed in the real world. But still, more can be done.

Haridas Sir nodded in agreement. I requested him to pose for a photograph with Amreen because I really wanted to capture the essence of NAB Karnataka - dedication to the common vision of empowering others - whether is has been 2 years or 29 years. He was most touched.

As Volunteer Saturday ended and all the students started going to the dining hall for lunch, Sapna and Pawan came to say Hullo to me and find out what I was doing at NAB on a Saturday. They were also eager to see what goodies Amreen's grandmother had packed for her lunch. We all giggled while helping ourselves to some rich delicious payasam.

Sapna said to me, 'Kaberi, do you know why we like Amreen so much?' 'Why?' I asked. 'Because she is not just our teacher, she is our friend.'

Noone could have said it better.

Note: To be a volunteer on Volunteer Day (Saturday), please call +91 80 2528 1590.