Unearthing a Talent

The doors slid open and Roshan Perera stood on the threshold of FedEx, the international courier company. FedEx had given him hope of initially training with them and thereafter he could apply for a job in the company. He started work in the internal communications division of FedEx using his graphic skills to produce artwork. He had studied at the Al Noor Centre in Dubai and was very pleased to have been given the opportunity to train and work in a professional set up. “I am very happy and I have submitted some sketches in black and white and colour of Christmas cards which my boss liked very much.”

Roshan is hearing and speech impaired. He is also a talented artist and the Al Noor Centre arranged art classes for him to help him enhance his skills. Roshan was thrilled to get a secure job. Communicating with the help of a pen and paper, he said he had put away some money to start a family. He and his wife lived with his parents.

Hamid Osman, the Vice President of FedEx Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Sub-Saharan Africa, who helped Roshan get employment said, “We are fortunate to have an extremely talented artist like Roshan in our company. FedEx has a policy to support and provide assistance to people with special needs. This is nothing new for us. It is the right thing to do. Inspite of the drawbacks he faces, he is doing wonderful work for us. He is an asset and a gifted artist like him is going to add value to the initiative we have taken.”

Although he was not that keen on his academics, Roshan knew he had to do well to get ahead in life. Roshan’s mother, Nalini Kumar, worked as a house maid and tried to earn enough to keep the family together. An active young boy, Roshan could not be like other children his age. In his own silent way, he would rebel against his handicap. His teacher Jayshree did not just teach him English and Maths, but she also taught him how to accept his deafness as a way of life. Roshan has a lion’s approach to life that makes him unique, charming and endearing. He does not let his handicap mar his joy of living. He wants to live as a normal individual asking no favours and being accepted for what he is.

Roshan’s talent was first spotted by the Director of the Centre. She remarked on how naughty Roshan was – and he was often sent to her office to be disciplined. The Director watched him doodle for a while and discovered she was totally engaged in the painting he was working on. It was remarkable: it had depth, intricate details, it was so alive and engaging that you could almost hear the people laugh and talk. Instead of admonishing Roshan, she picked up the phone and called an artist friend of hers who was in Dubai for a special assignment for the Dubai Municipality. She explained to him that he must come at once – she had spotted something in one of the students and she wanted him to assess the student immediately!

John arrived twenty minutes later. He said he shouldn’t have left his work because the Sheikh was due to drop in but “the excitement in your voice was something I will never forget or ignore! I knew it was something special and extraordinary and so it was!”

Roshan eventually relocated to the United States with his family. He secured good painting assignments and his family, wife and two children are happy and doing well.

We can never gauge what will happen next in life – but, as Roshan says, “I was lucky with the opportunities that came to me. I thank everyone who made this possible. Life is a long journey, but you must remember when one door closes (when I discovered I could not hear or speak), at least a window will open a crack to let the sun slowly filter through”.