Published 10/30/2024 by Praniti Gulyani
So far, the interviews that I’ve conducted as a part of the We Are Cal column have filled me with a rainbow-colored blur of emotions. Even though this surge of warmth has been constructively confusing, I’ve always been able to differentiate between joy, intrigue and affection, emotions that are a part and parcel of the interviewing process. However, after my conversation with Moksh Vinod Kothari, this apparent simplicity took a significant detour. For the most part, I was filled with a blizzard of bewildering bliss, something I couldn’t quite describe.
It all began during the initial half of our conversation when I went over my regular questions with Moksh, and he gave me the answers that I was somewhat expecting. As our conversation continued, I could infer a sense of restlessness in his demeanor, and understood that he wanted to talk about something that extended beyond the typical international student experience at UC Berkeley. This is when I decided to take a step back and give him the floor. “So, what are the greatest challenges that you’ve faced during your time here, at UC Berkeley?” I asked him.
Little did I know that this seemingly ordinary question would sprout little hands and give Moksh the push that he needed to delve into the heart of his story.
“In addition to staying away from my family and loved ones, I think the biggest challenge that comes with being at UC Berkeley is staying away from my brother,” he says. Assuming this to be a usual demonstration of sibling affection, I smile and proceed to move onto the next question.
However, Moksh has not finished speaking.
“My brother has cerebral palsy. It is a motor disability that stops an individual from walking, talking and speaking. But, the thing about individuals suffering from cerebral palsy is that they’re able to do something really well. They have one extraordinary ability that most of us don’t have,” he explains. “For instance, my brother has a really sharp memory! He’s able to remember everything, such as what came into the house, when it came etc. Even though he’s not able to verbally communicate, I’m always impressed by how well he’s able to get the job done,” he adds. Moksh goes on to describe how his relationship with his brother was just like any other sibling association. “I particularly miss my brother because I was really close to him. I used to spend a lot of time with him, and we used to play board games together. I think that’s what I miss the most,” he says.
Surprisingly, Moksh’s transition to UC Berkeley has helped strengthen his relationship with his brother.
“I think that being away from my brother has taught me a lot. I’ve realized how my experiences with him have given me some really important lessons that I continue to put into practice during my time as a student at Cal. For instance, my brother has taught me the art of being resilient! In India, other than his commitments at school, he goes through several therapies and activities. This, combined with the constant pressure of not fitting it, requires a lot of resilience and my brother possesses this in great quantities,” Moksh says.
Above everything else, Moksh describes how his experiences with his brother has fueled him with the desire to make a difference in the lives of those with cerebral palsy, something that he wishes to pursue during his time as a student at UC Berkeley. “I continue to be in touch with organizations, professors and experts who work closely with cerebral palsy. This has led me to do a lot of research in the field, leading me to create the prototype of an electronic communication board to help children with cerebral palsy communicate,” he explains.
In addition to facilitating his research interests, Moksh says that his brother helped him become a better person. “As a part of the modern-day competitive landscape, I used to think of every relationship as a transaction. However, my brother has made me a more empathetic person, and I now realize that as a human being, it’s my job to create a safe haven for individuals who might not feel as confident because of their disabilities,” he says.
Shining light on his brother’s strengths, Moksh describes how he is very active on social media. “You’ll be surprised at how tech-savvy my brother is,” he says. “Despite his cognitive and social media problems, he’s very curious, open to learning and is able to imbibe knowledge like never before. Recently, he made an account on Instagram and sent me a follow request. That was so heartwarming,” he says.
As I conclude the interview and thank Moksh for his time, I realize that I’ve finally found a name for the bewildering blizzard of bliss that had engulfed me during our interview, and that is: respect.