„Some barriers are just in our minds, the rest you’ll break with SelfMaker”. Read new interview from #selfevolution <STAR> series powered by SelfMaker Smart Solutions

Sincere desire and true commitment can break all barriers that seem to be unbreakable. Our guest has beaten both communication and geographical ones to actively promote SelfMaker in a distant country. That’s why today we can celebrate such a significant growth of a strong, Hindu community in the ranks of SelfMaker Smart Solutions.

Amandeep Sharma, marketer and ambassador of SelfMaker Deaf in India, will talk about the life of the Deaf in a country with over 1.3 billion inhabitants, and how technology can affect their everyday life.

MJ: Hello Amandeep! I am very pleased that we can talk about

AS: Hi! Thank you for inviting me.

India is located 6,000 kilometers from Poland. A long way from here. How did it happen that you are here with us? That you co-create SelfMaker's activities as an ambassador for the Deaf in India?

AAs it usually happens in such situations, the best convolutions of events occur thanks to the people we surround ourselves with. Thanks to cousin Angelica, I was introduced to Kamil (Macius) Chomski, your global Ambassador of the Deaf community. It was him who presented SelfMaker to me in detail, and I noticed the huge potential in the mission to automate the future. I believe in this vision with all my heart and I support it with full commitment.

You are the ambassador of the Deaf in one of the most populous countries in the world. How many Deaf people live in India? AS: At the moment, the community is as large as 18 million people. MJ: Wow! An unbelievable number. It's like half the population of Poland! Do you stick together Are you creating any organizations?

Of course! We are like brothers and sisters to each other, like one big supporting family. Despite the fact that this number may seem large, we perceive it as a very compact and harmonious group that can count on each other. When it comes to organizations, there are also lots of them. Those in which I am personally associated with are Patiala Sports Association of the Deaf, Punjab Deaf Sports Association, Miss & Mister Deaf International, and News Breaking Deaf. I am also a teacher at the school in Patiala.

This unity and support are very visible in your actions. The solidarity of the Deaf is truly admirable. Tell me more about the everyday life of those 18 million people? Is communication in society a significant problem for you?

Unfortunately, about half of the Deaf people live in poverty, which is the reason for huge problems in financing proper education, which leads to communication problems. Lack of writing and grammar skills creates an impassable barrier and causes problems with proper communication in offices, banks, shops, or doctor's offices. It is also difficult to find a job. Those from richer families can count on proper teaching, and this is a great help. However, communication is always a challenge and any situation can result in unforeseen misunderstandings.

Do you see areas of your life where technology could be invaluable help? Would it facilitate everyday life?

Fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s, KFC, Subway are very popular here, but unlike European restaurants, we still lack self-service solutions. There are no order kiosks, automatic cash registers, which is why we are always trying to communicate with the staff, which can be difficult for both parties. We also never know when the ordered dishes are ready because not all fast-foods have devices that show it visually. Daily shopping is another barrier that would be 100% broken by self-service cash registers, by bypassing contact with cashiers. ATMs and bitomats are still missing too. Answering your question in one sentence: Yes, properly designed devices would significantly improve the quality of life of Deaf people in India.

So you see there a place for solutions produced by SelfMaker?

I have no doubt about that. The space for automation and self-service is not properly used at all, even though we are all waiting for it. India is a very densely populated country, and that results in situations that may seem unbelievable at first glance. I can give you an example. It is not unusual to see people going to an ATM with a foam pad or sleeping in a queue at it. They do it, because they know that often withdrawing cash means few hours of waiting for the ATM to be refilled with money. There are far too few devices of this type in relation to the number of people. It is probably the right time to change this state.

I think that this time is definitely coming and SelfMaker will have a very large share in it. However, I wonder how the approach to technology looks like in India? Are you technological enthusiasts? Do you like screens, buttons, electronics?

Oh yes, I like them very much. We like technological innovations, gadgets, new products, who do not like them anyway? I love technology! And if these devices have additional applications that significantly help, facilitate functioning or increase the standard of living for myself and my family, I am in love with them.

Oh! It's good that you mentioned it. From what you say, technology is important, but what is the greatest, most important value in your culture? Is this a family? Society?

AS: We are rather calm and friendly people. Everything we do, we do for our beloved ones. My family is the most important for me. Their health, safety and prosperity is my priority and I will always develop myself to provide them the best future. For me, the second family is our harmonious Deaf community!

Nice to hear that! Finally, imagine that what you are saying now can be heard by people all around the world. What do you want to tell them? What should they know about life without hearing?

I would like the world to hear what I want to say now. Hearing people have the privilege of fully experiencing new technology. I'm talking about telecommunications, radio or even voice-operated applications like Siri. In our case it is not so easy, that's why we keep our fingers crossed for the future and the facilitations it brings. I believe that only SelfMaker is able to do the impossible for the world of the Deaf, and I truly hope that together with Maciuś we are able to make every Deaf person feel for the first time like a hearing person, like a fully functional person. That’s why our commitment to the development of this powerful technology is so strong. Thank you Maciuś for your courage, that you show so clearly for the first time, that nothing is impossible for the Deaf, and President Marek Wieteska for the respect, that he has for us.

Thank you for this inspiring and eye-opening conversation!

Thank you, it was my pleasure!

Interview by Mateusz Jarzombek