Vinamra Agrawal

People like Vinamra are a gift to humanity.  Boundless intelligence, humility, compassion, and a great sense of humor have converged, like a great math equation, to create a truly special person.  As I write this I can hear Vinamra explaining to me how my “math equation” analogy is incorrect on many levels- like I said, he’s got a great sense of humor.

Vinamra witnessed the journey of WHEN I STUTTER from nearly the beginning of production.  He was part of the NSA chapter (South Pasadena to be exact) that welcomed me with open arms.  In fact, many participants from that chapter are in the film including Josue Marcus, Devin Billingsley, and Luis Espinoza.

When I met Vinamra, he let me know that he tended to be skeptical of many people’s intentions.  With this in mind, I was honored that he dropped his armor and allowed me to interview him.  Vinamra said so many revelatory and vulnerable things during that interview.  However, the most stark revelation was that people in this world had tried to make him feel stupid because of his stuttering.  It hit me like a ton of bricks given his obvious intellectual gifts.  Clearly, he had been on a long journey and he was only 24.

I look forward to the next time I see Vinamra- I have promised to visit and have not yet followed through.  Undoubtedly, I’ll have a list of physics questions that I have accrued from watching too many science fiction films.  I have been known to ask him to explain concepts like the relationship between time and gravity.  His explanations are always too complicated for me.  When I don’t get it after the first 5 explanations, I usually ask him to “explain it to me like I’m a hamster.” He always obliges kindly, gracefully, and somehow manages to not make me feel like a simpleton.  Perhaps the only thing bigger than Vinamra’s Brain is his heart.

 

“I think my outlook has changed from being negative and harsh towards my speech, to being forgiving and focusing on positive change.”

 

What has been the response from others about you in the film?

Saying that the “response from others about me in the film has been amazing” would be an understatement. Many people have reached out to me to share their stuttering experiences and journey with me. Getting a chance to know about their journey and their experience made me feel connected to this global community. It has been an honor to learn how my part in the film inspired them and contributed positively to their lives. I also got a chance to virtually participate in an online fluency disorders class at Emerson College. The course instructor, Dr. Amit Bajaj, reached out to me after watching the movie. We discussed the emotional landscape of stuttering and the influence of culture on speech. Hopefully, I will get a chance to do more of these in the future. I even made a pen (or rather an email) pal from this film. We talk about how different aspects of our lives are influenced by our speech.

What was your favorite or most memorable part of the process of making the film?

I think my favorite part of the process was the scene where I was writing the long proof on the board. I was exploring a challenging area of mathematics at the time, and I often (and still do) write the process on the board to help me understand. I think John wanted to capture some moments of real life. So we did the whole chalkboard scene. I later realized that I made a mistake in the proof <facepalm>. But overall that was a fun afternoon!

What has surprised you about the film since it was first presented?

I think the most surprising aspect of the film was its global coverage and impact. John had poured his heart and soul into the film and I knew that the film would make an impact on the stuttering community. However, I never expected this kind of global recognition, awareness, and praise from people outside the stuttering community. I am very happy that the film has made such a widespread impact.

What’s changed in your life since we saw you in the film?

Actually, a lot has changed since the film came out. I moved across the country from Pasadena to Auburn (Alabama). I realize Alabama is not at the top of people’s list of exciting places :-). I have been working as a professor in Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University. I have been teaching students, and working on exciting research problems… lots of math (as usual). I also got married this year! It’s been about 3 months since we got married. So we are newbies :-). My wife, Prachi, is a psychologist and works with kids on the spectrum. She has been very supportive of my stuttering and encourages me to practice my speech techniques and move beyond my zone of comfort.

What’s your relationship with stuttering now?

My relationship with stuttering has definitely improved over the past few years. I think my outlook has changed from being negative and harsh towards my speech, to being forgiving and focusing on positive change. I still have good and bad days, but going out of my comfort zone has helped me face my stuttering. Teaching has played a major role in this. During the transition from in-person to online classes (the new normal !), I explained to students that I might face difficulties in my speech and that they should feel free to ask me to repeat words. They were open and accepting of the difficulties I might face during the transition. My outlook in day to day speech scenarios has also changed. I am transitioning from dreading phone calls to accepting that they are part of life and I can use it as an opportunity to practice. I still dislike phone calls, but I am trying to face them.

What’s some advice for people who are on their journey with stuttering?

I am not an expert on stuttering, but I can share what helped me. For me, it was important to step out of my comfort zone, venture into difficult speech environments, and face my stuttering. I got help from a speech therapist (in my case, Gail) who helped me face my stuttering and gave me tools to deal with it. An important step in the process of facing my stuttering was advertising my speech. I started advertising my speech during presentations, classes, and even in day-to-day scenarios. It also helped me in my journey of acceptance and constant improvement.

 

Purchase WHEN I STUTTER to watch

Vinamra and 18 other compelling individuals

talk about their journey with stuttering