Our founder, Nimay Gupta's story
Growing Up
Growing up with albinism, my experiences were varied. While my parents have been super-supportive, the reaction from teachers and friends was mixed. Some teachers ignored me, where others were overprotective. I’ve had some great friends, but the majority of kids seemed to act strangely around me; I was mostly ignored in group activities, and some kids thought that they’d start looking like me if they stayed around me for too long.
While school presented an alienating environment, my family was always there for me. I grew up in a joint family, surrounded by grandparents who’d go an extra mile to ensure a happy childhood, and cousins who played with me like I was as “normal” as them. My parents imbibed in me a love for knowledge and reading from an early age, and the world of my books was always a place for me to be.
Reading authors like David Walliams and Enid Blyton made me laugh to tears, and at times imagine myself as the sharpest detective. More importantly, engaging with literature, I realized that everyone was different in their own way- the guy who had a stepmom, the deaf and dumb swan, the girl who felt like a boy. Suddenly, my own differences didn’t seem too out of the ordinary.
Reading the literature made me think beyond the limitations of my condition. In fact, I realized that there were some benefits to having albinism. A really low eyesight allowed me to witness the world from my own judgment free lens. Striding beyond what was visible, I forged friendships with those who weren’t ‘well-dressed’ or ‘good-looking’, and developed an early understanding of discrimination on account of race, caste, and gender. From a very young age, I could actually see.
Discovering my own identity and passion
As I grew up, and shifted schools in 7th Grade, I found a much more welcoming environment. I made some wonderful friends who have stood up for me, inspiring me to stand up for others around me. I’ve also discovered a passion for math and physics, participating in various Olympiads, programs and competitions. Moreover, I’ve carried forward my passions for music, chess and writing from my childhood, activities I do to decompress and relax.
I’ve also developed my own identity, to not be worried by standing out and being comfortable in my own skin. From making up silly reasons when people ask me ‘why I am white’ to convincing random people that I’m a clueless foreigner in India, I’ve had my fair share of fun as someone with albinism.
Vision for people with albinism
I aspire that someday every person with albinism will get the guidance and support they need to succeed. I believe that I have been incredibly privileged to have had people believe in me, and I want that to be the case for every child or person with albinism.