Despite facing the obstacle of visual impairment, Nauraj Rai, hailing from Dekiling in Samtse Dzongkhag, completed his college degree in English History, starting his educational journey at the Muenseling Institute of Khaling at the age of eight.
Motivated by motivational talks on YouTube during his college days, Nauraj decided to embark on a business venture. Reflecting on the stories of luminaries like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, he noted, “I used to listen to motivational talks, and one day I heard about Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg. Then I did a little study about them. After that, I got inspired to do business.”
Encountering skepticism due to his visual impairment, Nauraj faced discouragement. Undeterred, he boldly stated, “Everyone undermined and discouraged me from pursuing what I wanted to pursue just because I was visually impaired.”
Determined to prove them wrong, he decided to move to Thimphu to pursue his dreams. He shared, “I made the decision to travel to Thimphu to prove them wrong, and I’m doing what I want to do now.”
Starting his business with zero investment, Nauraj began with the sale of vegetables. However, the reality of Thimphu’s competitive business environment proved more challenging than anticipated.
Nauraj admitted, “Living and conducting business in Thimphu would be more difficult than I had anticipated.” Despite facing losses and accumulating debts, his unwavering commitment allowed him to overcome hurdles. “Since I am visually impaired, I have to hire additional manpower to manage the business,” he acknowledged.
In the face of financial challenges, Nauraj remains a resilient entrepreneur. Reflecting on his struggles, he shared, “My family refused to invest, and all the financial institutions also refused to give me a loan, and it is disappointing at times.”
In his plea to financial institutions, he expressed, “We will be grateful if the financial institutes can look into ways to support us with a loan with or without collateral.”
Nauraj’s dedication goes beyond personal success; he supports his family with his modest earnings. In encouraging others with disabilities, he emphasized, “To our young entrepreneurs, even though we faced lots of challenges on our way to entrepreneurship, if we have an interest in running a business, we can overcome those challenges.” Quoting Jack Ma, he added, “Stop grumbling, start working—keep this quote in mind and work for your dream.”
Nauraj Rai’s journey underscores the underestimated potential within individuals facing challenges. His story speaks to the importance of determination and resilience, encapsulated by the quote, “Stop grumbling, start working.”
With an inclusive environment and opportunities, people like Nauraj can successfully navigate the business world, proving that vision extends beyond sight to an unwavering commitment to one’s dreams.
By Rinzin Dema
