Who am I?
Born in 1977 in Kolkata, India, Gautam Lewis has weathered and survived more storms than most. Abandoned at three years old after contracting polio he was taken to Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity where he stayed for two years before having a further two years of operations at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCFC) just outside the city. There he met Dr Patricia Lewis, a dual national (UK/Ireland) nuclear physicist, who was working at RCFC for a year.
Gautam became Patrica’s ward and was taken to Auckland, New Zealand in 1985 where he was adopted. At the age of nine, mother and son arrived in London. Here, schooling began at Hill House, followed by Bedales - a stark contrast for the boy who had once boarded with, and was one of, India’s poorest children.On finishing school, Gautam returned to his birthplace and later paid homage to his past by holding photography exhibitions in London of his experiences while travelling through India. The passion for capturing poignant human emotion remains and a recent trip to Mumbai harvested further breathtaking images.
Business Studies at the Southampton Institute was followed by the opening of Level One, a fashionable night club in Southampton’s Ocean Village. During this period Gautam became heavily involved in the music side of the business, a factor that would influence his subsequent work in the music industry. On returning to London at the age of 21, the next few years saw Gautam with a record in one hand and a camera in the other; spinning tunes at London clubs while continuing his love of photography.
In 2001 Gautam joined the quirky and vibrant Ricochet (artist management) to look after artists that included Keith Flint (Prodigy) and Incognito. This evolved into a three year period at Creation Management, another young company set-up by Stephen King and the iconic Alan McGee (the driving force behind Oasis).
Creation became highly successful and the hands on the team were able to experience the roller-coaster ‘bona fide’ rock-and-roll lifestyle. Gautam undertook the full management of bands including The Libertines, The Hives, D4 and The Kills. As well as sorting out tours, recordings and contracts, extra-curricular activities such as the attempted drug rehabilitation of the Libertine’s front man Pete Doherty also came with the job.
Following Creation, Gautam became record label manager for Poptones Records (2005-2006). Exciting up-and-coming acts such as The Boxer Rebellion and The Paddingtons brought new challenges. Coordinating contracts, tours, international release activities, music videos and even undertaking a Department of Trade (AIM Music) Mission to Beijing and Shanghai, gave Gautam the knowledge and experience he draws on today.
Fulfilling a childhood dream, Gautam qualified as Pilot in September 2007, he not only passed all his ground and air examinations first time, but did so in just six months. A long standing fascination for aircraft has always been prevalent, but Gautam never thought that someone with his condition would be catered for in the world of aviation - an opportunity that would have been absent without the support of his mother and grandfather.
Gautam is turning his energies towards new pastures, one that lies right at the centre of Gautam’s heart; the treatment and eradication of polio in India. After learning about the commitment of Rotary International – a non-profit humanitarian service organization that has made polio eradication its top priority - Gautam became inspired and hopes that the marriage of his skills, achievements and drive can help Rotary’s current campaign to eradicate the disease in India and worldwide. After the introduction of polio vaccines by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin and a steadfast immunization effort, these outbreaks became part of history in most of the world.
Yet many still live under the threat of polio, which is why Rotary and its global partners are committed to reaching every child with the vaccine and ending this disease worldwide.
India still has major polio epidemics. Sanitary conditions are poor, knowledge of polio and its treatment are not well known and many people receive inadequate care. It is important for Gautam to help change peoples lives, especially in developing countries where people living with disabilities have little support. Gautam hopes that once polio is eradicated, further work can be done to support people who have suffered from polio especially in later life when post polio syndrome is a big threat to quality of life. There is a time bomb waiting to explode in India, particularly in this area.
Gautam has a deep understanding of how important voluntary organizations are in the world today. The boy from Kolkata is only too aware of the turn his life took when he was rescued. The tragedy is that with the right care and support children shouldn’t need that one in a million chance to shine and achieve. Still dependent on crutches from his own battle with polio, Gautam believes he is in a strong position to sympathise and fight the disease with other sufferers, and to highlight with dignity some of the achievements that are possible in the face of adversity.
Gautam has had great opportunities in his life. He believes that his calling is to help others less fortunate and celebrate in the spirit that the Sky’s the limit.