Hailing from the land of beautiful beaches - Goa, Harish Usgaonker is a Software Engineer working in an IT organization in Goa. The kid who was punished in the 6th standard for being the most talkative student in class, turned into a quiet and shy boy as he progressed into college. The initial college days of higher secondary studies began with high expectations and a lot of bullying by friends.

During college, despite having a desire, he avoided taking active part in extra-curricular activities and stage events, mingling with friends and talking to girls. Talking on the phone was the last thing he did!

It was during post graduation with the presentations and seminars being inevitable, he decided to work on his speech seriously. This was when he switched on to writing a diary of all his good and bad experiences of his speech. The writing then became a hobby which resulted into a few articles, stories (link) and even poems (link).

With social networking, he began to get in touch with other PWS, where he discovered TISA. His old ID- Silent Scream around this time, captures the problems we typically face when we start our on-line explorations for the first time (link). Introduction to the concept of ‘Acceptance’ had initial hiccups and difficulties, but when he took the path of acceptance, it was a liberating experience. He writes about the turning point of his life in his paper submitted to ISAD 2011 (link)

The path to acceptance started with efforts of setting up an SHG in Goa. After contacting a few known friends and reaching out for the unknown ones on the web, he was able to gather 4 to 5 regular members of SHG. The confidence that came with the SHGs showed into his personal life when he began talking about his stammering to other people at home and at work. He challenged himself further by giving stage performances (link) and joining a public speaking club – Toastmasters.

Harish also organized the first TISA communication workshop in Goa (link) with sheer support and excellent facilitation by JP and the local TM chapter, headed by Dr Farida. This created a great deal of awareness in Goa about TISA, with the print media covering the workshop.

Harish has been the editor of the TISA Quarterly newsletter – Samvad (Dialogue). He thinks that journey with Samvad has been a rewarding and a constant learning experience. His presentation on "Write to Health" during first national conference in Bhubaneshwar captured the essence of this path. One of the most memorable highlights of this journey for him was talking to the Vice President (Sales and Marketing) of his organization and interviewing him on his perspective on Stammering for a story on Samvad titled – “Stammer: What does the corporate think?”.

Harish enjoys being in the self-help movement for the stammering people in India. The most beautiful thing about this journey of self help, he thinks, is that we end up helping others while we are trying to help ourselves. The personal journey becomes a pilgrimage, with many like-minded people walking with us, to a sacred spot within us!

Feel free to get in touch with him, if you wish to write for Samwad or our blog- or just to share any creative idea. Who knows, everything might change for you!