There comes a time in all our lives when everything changes and life turns upside down. Ajay Dhanak, Lead HRBP, can testify to that, because that moment cost him his eyesight, pushing him to literally look at life differently. “Fighting against time and circumstance is futile, it’s always better to evolve instead,” he says.
As a child, Ajay, who has retinitis pigmentosa, was an outdoorsy person, spending most of his time playing sports. But life came to a standstill when he lost his vision, and to continue studying, he had to move from a small town to New Delhi in the ninth standard. It was hard; for the first few years of developing this condition, the world was a very lonely place for Ajay.
Giving up was never an option though. He learned Braille and how to operate a computer using assistive software. He immersed himself in audiobooks, finding joy and peace in the expansive world of literature, delving deeper and deeper than most people would have the patience to go. But Ajay had few distractions.
After graduating in English literature from St Stephens College, his interests diversified. Ajay completed his MBA from Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, and joined DRL in 2009. As HR Business Partner at FTO-7 in Vizag, he worked to build diversity and inclusivity in the workforce, and soon after, moved to Hyderabad to lead the HR operations of the company’s Proprietary Products business.
With dedication and tenacity, Ajay has developed strong relationships in the company, where he is much respected. His greatest inspirations lie in human interactions, and he takes an interest in mentoring people to reach their true potential. Driven by immense willpower and all-round support, he takes challenges in his stride and sets independent benchmarks. “Addressing issues by following my instincts, which are validated by data, makes me who I am.”
We’re taught to be apprehensive about change, which, ironically, is the only constant. Ajay talks about his journey as an example, where he initially struggled but eventually emerged stronger. His advice? “Take life as it comes.”