Talent over disability

Talent has no boundaries, it grows when nurtured. One of the most inclusive hotel chains in the country, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group is committed to bringing the marginal intersections of our society into the mainstream. This year, The Lalit is celebrating #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav by expanding their umbrella of an inclusive workforce. The group has recruited three pianists on board from the spectrum of disabilities.

Siddhesh Ramchandra Patil is a visually impaired pianist, who joined the team at The Lalit Mumbai. He also plays the harmonium and the keyboard flawlessly. As a child, he also dabbled with acting and landed a small role in Slumdog Millionaire and other tv shows.

The other gem is Adwitya Kumar Bhatnagar who plays at The Lalit New Delhi. He has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. He feels music at a deep level, which is reflected in his skills. He has completed 8 grades in piano training from the Trinity College of London. One of his expertise is playing the Hindustani classical ragas, along with the western pieces.

Raj Jain who joined The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of five and his vision was impacted. He developed an early liking for music and started to do stage performances at the young age of 13. He has won several awards and accolades for his achievements.

Despite their talent, these artists had limited opportunities. Citing their experiences, they also shared that they had seen people shutting doors on their faces, asked them to leave auditions and quit this field, without giving them a chance to show their talent, just because of their disabilities, and being different from the other performers.

The Lalit has always believed in inclusion and has pushed its team members with disabilities to explore and showcase their skills across positions and roles, from the front office to backend services.  The hotel group renowned to usher inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ communities of the country, has several people with disabilities in their team, including India’s first wheelchair-bound DJ and acid attack survivors.

The group believes in affirmative action that resonates with the organisation’s core values, i.e. respect for individuals and love for all. With this ethos, they are providing equal opportunities to all so as to create an equitable world.