This 'bikerpreneur' is setting up a photo studio in India run and managed by differently-abled people
Delhi-based Mohit Ahuja's photo studio will provide people with disabilitiesan opportunity to take control of their lives.
A camera in his hand, clicking pictures gave new hope to Sheshav to conquer his demons. A 19-year-old boy with Down syndrome who faced difficulties in gaining a formal education, today, he has learned to tell stories through the lens and has even bagged an opportunity to shoot for Red Fort Harley Davidson, one of Delhi’s largest dealership of motorcycles.
This all happened when Sheshav attended photography classes with Mohit Ahuja at an NGO that works with differently-abled people. It pained Mohit to watch his sibling, a person with disabilities, do nothing other than painting diyas, making candles and cleaning spices. It struck him that these individuals are capable of much more than just these mundane tasks and that they to have dreams too.
A desire to carve out a niche for them he decided to teach photography to differently-abled individuals at an NGO in 2016. He got dozens of students with various intellectual and learning disabilities, but five of them stayed on and persisted with learning photography from him. One of them was Sheshav. After a few months of teaching, he realised that they could carve a career path with the new skill they have acquired.
A mission with a difference
To enable more differently-abled individuals to gain control over their life Mohit decided to set up a photo studio run and managed by such individuals at Delhi. To make this photo studio a reality they require cameras and lights. He is crowdfunding to support this photo studio.
“The impact of setting up this photo studio is going to be massive. We're living in the digital age where thousands of products come online on a daily basis and we are buying them. Someone, somewhere is clicking these products. If we could provide our services at a lesser than market price it could really work out for our super humans. This can be an opportunity for my students to venture on a career path,” says the 30-year-old.
Lots of introspection and finding the true calling
Mohit is a biker, a photographer, a motivational speaker and now a special educator who calls himself a 'bikerpreneur'. He ended up pursuing BBA and then a course in advertising and PR, followed by a nine-year stint in advertising agencies like JWT, Percept and BIG FM as a copywriter.
With a zest to find his calling he ended his nine years stint with corporate career, and in 2011, he started 'Bikers for Good', the only motorcycle community in India that rides for social causes. Started by one man the community has is now 7,000-member strong. In the past six years, they have made a significant difference in lakhs of lives.
Currently, Mohit is teaching photography to children in a remote village of Uttrakhand. When not teaching or riding, he is part of a group called Counselors that dresses up like clowns, goes to paediatric hospitals and cheers up kids suffering from various diseases.