Based in the remote Garhi Aghanan village, 17 kilometres north of Taxila, 30-year-old Syed Omair Hussain speaks to audiences around the world, drawing on his own experience of disability.

At 2ft 9 inches, Mr Hussain is one of the shortest men in Pakistan.

Throughout his life, he has struggled with the lack of facilities, ignorance and rejection. As a child, he was denied admission into a local government school because he was considered a special child.

His parents were told to enroll him in a special children’s school, but the closest one to them was 30 kilometres away in Wah Cantonment.

Instead, he was tutored at home and only went to a proper school in eighth grade.

That “luxury”, he told Dawn, ended two years later, and he was left with no college nearby where he could continue his studies.

Instead, Mr Hussain continued his studies at home, and gave his exams as a private candidate.

Mr Hussain is the eldest of five siblings. He explained that he did not wish to be a burden on his family, and so, after graduation he began pursuing online courses in chair netting, web design, content writing and English.

“The moment in which I got my first earning from web designing, which was just $5, was unforgettable. It was the first day in which the dream to become financially independent came true,” he recalled.

Now, in addition to motivational speaking, Mr Hussain works as a content writer and web designer for media houses in Karachi, as well as a freelance IT professional.

When asked how he became a motivational speaker, he explained: “I face so many difficulties due to the lack of facilities, ignorance and rejection from society. But I want to become a torchbearer and an example that breaks social barriers, and an icon of struggle, success and dignity.”

He said the opportunity for motivational speaking came through his interaction with foreigners online.

He said people found his story inspiring, and asked him to deliver speeches about his experiences to their groups.

He added that many of his foreign friends had even visited him in Pakistan, from Finland, Austria and Denmark.

Now, Mr Hussain said he has given live motivational speeches to hundreds of groups, including in Europe and the United States.

When asked about the theme for his speeches, he said: “I want them to understand that when Allah himself states that he loves man more than 70 mothers, how can he disown you and leave you with a whirlpool of problems or disabilities?”

He said when people are deprived of one thing, they are given something special in its place.

He added that everything he had accomplished would not have been possible without the support of his family, and his faith in God.

“I always believed that Allah would never be unjust to His people.”

He added: “I just want to convey a message that society should change its mindset towards the disabled, and try to support and rehabilitate them.”

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018