Long before his name became synonymous with India's food delivery revolution, Deepinder Goyal navigated a childhood where he often felt unseen and unheard. The founder and public face of Zomato has shared a deeply personal account of his early years, marked by a struggle with stammering that profoundly shaped his self-perception.
The Invisible Childhood: Battling Stammer and Self-Doubt
As a child, Goyal felt invisible. His shorter stature, academic challenges, and a pronounced stammer made everyday interactions a taxing ordeal. The issue wasn't a lack of ideas or opinions, but the reality that people rarely had the patience to listen. He recalls instances where listeners would lose patience mid-sentence, turning away or starting conversations with others. This repeated experience, he admits, slowly chips away at one's sense of self-worth, seeding the belief that perhaps what you have to say doesn't matter.
His academic record added another layer to this struggle. In the highly competitive Indian education system, scoring 42 percent in Class 11 felt like a mark that could define his future. However, the numbers themselves were less impactful than the persistent feeling of being dismissed and underestimated, a sentiment that lingered long after school years.
The Long Road to Acceptance and Confidence
While his family provided a supportive home environment, the constant messaging from the outside world—through bullying and impatience—often felt like the "truth." Goyal noted that parental reassurance can feel like kindness, while the external world's reaction seems more authentic. For years, the stammer eroded his confidence, leaving behind a lasting hesitation and a fear of being interrupted or ignored, even into adulthood.
Today, at 42, Goyal's relationship with his speech has transformed. He no longer feels the need to rush his words or experiences embarrassment during moments of pause. He has reached a point of quiet acceptance, believing "the word will come out." This shift, he attributes to time and the process of proving his capabilities through his work and vision.
Success Rewrites the Rules: Earning a Patient Ear
Building Zomato into one of India's most recognizable companies has undeniably altered how the world engages with him. Goyal observes a stark contrast: people now wait patiently when he pauses. They listen intently, not because his delivery is flawless, but because he has earned their attention and respect. "Even if I stammer now," he states, "people will hear me."
He candidly acknowledges that his speech pattern may have closed some doors earlier in his journey, potentially causing some investors to walk away or leading to quick judgments in certain rooms. Yet, he persisted, continuing to show up despite these hurdles.
Deepinder Goyal's narrative is not a classic tale of conquering a flaw. It is, instead, a powerful lesson in learning not to fight a part of oneself. His journey from a boy others were advised to avoid, to the leader of a billion-dollar enterprise, underscores that sometimes, the most significant victory lies in quiet self-acceptance.
