good morning I am happy to be here all
the moments in my life have led to this
perfect moment today I’ve led a full
life I feel whole complete and fulfilled
today I’m going to talk to you about
some difficult moments in my life
how they affected me and what I did I
was one year old when I got polio this
affected both my legs and their hip at
that time I could not sit
I could not crawl in time one leg
recovered this left me with paralysis
from him to toe and a shortening became
both my legs one leg is shorter than the
other today I walked with a full leg
brace and my dear friend my walking
stick Julio happened to me at a time
when society devalued the disabled and
when a woman’s feet rested on her
marriage why do I say t-value the
disabled I’ll give you one example once
when I had gone out and I asked a
security guard for parking since I told
in high with handicap he said him
personally I’ll take you home
agar handicapped oh why do you leave
your home if you’re handicapped that was
the attitude at that time when a woman’s
feet rested on her marriage to be good
marriage material you had to be
physically perfect as you can imagine
immediately my ratings fell I was then
labeled a burden or defective The effect
of these words on my life was monumental
I carried this props on my shoulder for
many years of my life I grew up with
fear trauma many corrective surgeries
faith healers my loving family and a
strong desire to break out of the shell
my fervent prayer to God used to be God
please make me well please God please so
it’s no wonder that I would put my faith
in anyone who would offer me hope a
faith healer came home and he said he
would heal me he used to put little
candles on my leg and then place an
upturned glass he did this for half an
hour daily he promised me that on my
birthday I would be healed and well and
like my friends would run and dance and
play I was thrilled on my birthday I
woke up that morning with a song in my
heart today is the day today is the day
I’m not going to be different to my
friends and I can move as they can
I threw the covers off my leg and look
down it’s the same nothing has changed I
thought okay maybe the shape won’t
change
maybe the strength will come back my
first two faltering steps confirmed my
fears nothing had changed
there was no miracle I remember my
mother had gotten me beautiful dress and
a tiara to wear for my birthday but that
birthday
there was no celebration in my heart I
had been let down in school I came
across this point by William Henley out
of the night that covers me black as
pitch from pole to pole I thank whatever
God’s may be for my unconquerable soul
in the fell clutch of circumstance I
have not winced nor cried aloud under
the bludgeonings of chance my head is
bloody but unbowed it matters not how
Strait the gate how charged with
punishments the scroll I am the master
of my fate I am the captain of my soul I
fell in love with this point I set this
point to myself a thousand times every
day this point was significant because
it made me realize that I am the master
of my fate and I
stopped believing and faith healers and
started believing in myself around my
13th year a family friend told me that
I’m a burden on my parents
she said I have drained them emotionally
and financially for taking me to various
doctors and kaitlin’s I came home in
tears angry with God
and my destiny I locked myself up in the
room and I cried in a fit of anger with
God I took off my braces and threw it at
the big picture of God in the room
saying you like it you keep it that’s
the only time in my life I’ve ever
thrown anything at anyone and anger the
law of gravity took over and my bracelet
fell back I tried to break them they did
not pay I cried when the tears stopped I
said these are my final tears I shall
cry no more today I’m reborn a stronger
person nothing and no one can hurt you
so after the theme of anger and
acceptance with my leg brace I developed
a friendship with it I’ll explain you
know the earlier braces they used to be
two steel rods that were held together
with straps and it had an epoch that
would allow you to bend and sit like
this and stand up besides that I have
one leg that is shorter than the other
by two inches so this height of two
inches was compensated by putting block
in a wood in the shoe so now you have
steel and you have wood my bracelets
were really really heavy I tell my
friends don’t mess with me you know I
can hurt you you listen to what I say I
just have to kick you slightly or just
step on you and you would be in pain so
do what I say guys didn’t work I slowly
began to understand the meaning of I am
the master of my fate I am the captain
of
my soul not from an egoistic point of
view but that we have within us the
control of how we handle the events in
our lives life is a gift each moment in
life experiences come to us these are
gifts we can choose to unwrap these
experiences these gifts not happy with
what we’ve got all we can unwrap these
gifts in an attitude of joy fun
expectancy once I understood this
concept I realized the key is how you
interpret these gifts do they empower or
disempower you I realized if I chose
disempowerment that meant sitting at
home and bemoaning my faith or I could
choose empowerment and see what unfolds
I chose empowerment why because I am the
master of my fate life became then one
joyous exploration unwrapping each gift
I walked the Standard Chartered Mumbai
marathon for several years I learned
Latin American dancing salsa cha cha and
I first passed the first level of exams
I danced at Sandi’s I drove myself
around Mumbai and has even driven up the
mountains from needle to Madeira have
any of you tried that drive no it’s
exhilarating but scary I swam in
swimming pools the leaks the Seas I went
to the gym and lifted weights
I learnt basic rock climbing I did river
rafting I was a rotary president and
conducted various projects and I worked
and supported myself
[Applause]
all these things strengthened my soul
there was a family I knew who hid their
child who had disability she had severe
polio they would hit her either in the
bedroom not bringing her out to meet
people because some way disability meant
that they had failed when I saw this I
said no that’s not my life that’s not
how I’m going to live my life so sure
all the things that I did I felt a fear
and nervousness but I did it despite the
fear I’d asked myself how would I feel
five ten years from now if I didn’t take
this experience when I was 45 I left the
family businesses and wanted a corporate
job I wanted to be with people who I
felt would appreciate my contributions
and I would feel validated by doing this
corporate job of course I faced
challenges by people thinking I couldn’t
do the job
one guy pointedly at the interview said
I don’t think he’ll be able to do this
job you have a disability I mentally
retorted my brains are not in my legs
but I said I’m capable it made no
difference I didn’t get the jobs now I
was handicapped
these introduced declared me to be so it
was a bad time my life took a turn and I
joined the school for education and
rehabilitation of children with
disabilities from a low economic
background I had been a committee member
with an earlier what an amazing
experience here I am with people who
share similar challenges like me and
appreciate my contributions water
validation the discrimination I went
through due to my disability it sparked
in me a strong desire to do something in
this field my friends say I’m driven but
the truth is the work I do complete
something in me during my 21 years
association in this school for
disability I play various roles
from volunteer to committee member to
funds and greeting cards manager to
program coordinator on a macro level I
raised over 10 crores for programs in
education rehabilitation and empowerment
of persons with disabilities I
conceptualized fund raised and built the
adult education and rehabilitation
program I received many awards for the
work I had done the legacy relief is not
as much the work we do but the nights we
have touched I’d like to share one of
these life dinghy at school as I would
go to my office in the corridor I would
pass by this girl she wanted to learn
conversational English
she had cerebral palsy speech and
movement was difficult for her so we
started off hi how are you I am fine and
then got into a slow conversation over
time I see slow because of the speech
impairment conversing was difficult a
little while later two of her friends
join us and they also want to learn
English so every morning we would be
having conversations in the corridor in
English one day they told me that they
admired me that they wanted to grow up
and be like me and do the work that I do
I was so touched as I humbly realized
that I was their role model I was
blessed to be a part of their life
spirituality has been a big and very
important and beautiful part of my life
there are many times in my life when I
know I’ve been guided and carried
through and you know when I say carry
through I mean it literally once we had
gone to Goa there was a bunch of friends
and you know how it is you go to go all
you want to go to the beach so we just
left our bags in the hotel room and
we’re excited to get to the beach there
were these steps leading to the beach on
the third or fourth step
leg brace broke and I had not taken a
spare I didn’t want to go back and miss
out on the joy of being at the beach
with my friends and I didn’t want them
to think that they had come out with
someone who had a disability who needed
extra attention so taking help of one of
my friends and managed to get down the
stairs there was this huge flat folder
that locked access to the main beach
every able-bodied person was able to
walk across but my brace is broken I
knew I couldn’t so I stood there with my
friend wandering discussing how do I get
across should I try and crawl like this
on my hands or shall I try and swim far
out to sea and try and meet them on the
other side out of nowhere this gentleman
appeared and he said I can carry you
across I said no you can’t I’m heavy he
said I won’t know till I try and he just
lifted me and carried me across on the
other side he left me and disappeared I
wasn’t able to thank him properly
today I’m in one of the best phases of
my life I am a consultant with various
NGOs besides that I’m a guest faculty
and speaker I believe life should live
to the fullest within the capacities we
have I believe we can do anything we
wish if we put our hearts and minds to
it and I believe that this disability
was given to me for a purpose and I am
truly grateful for all that I’ve done
I’ve spent a bit of time today talking
about me and my journey and I’d like to
leave you with some thoughts this is
also about you and your journey you are
your own captains would faith in
yourself and your capabilities and seek
validation from within thank you
[Applause]
the moments in my life have led to this
perfect moment today I’ve led a full
life I feel whole complete and fulfilled
today I’m going to talk to you about
some difficult moments in my life
how they affected me and what I did I
was one year old when I got polio this
affected both my legs and their hip at
that time I could not sit
I could not crawl in time one leg
recovered this left me with paralysis
from him to toe and a shortening became
both my legs one leg is shorter than the
other today I walked with a full leg
brace and my dear friend my walking
stick Julio happened to me at a time
when society devalued the disabled and
when a woman’s feet rested on her
marriage why do I say t-value the
disabled I’ll give you one example once
when I had gone out and I asked a
security guard for parking since I told
in high with handicap he said him
personally I’ll take you home
agar handicapped oh why do you leave
your home if you’re handicapped that was
the attitude at that time when a woman’s
feet rested on her marriage to be good
marriage material you had to be
physically perfect as you can imagine
immediately my ratings fell I was then
labeled a burden or defective The effect
of these words on my life was monumental
I carried this props on my shoulder for
many years of my life I grew up with
fear trauma many corrective surgeries
faith healers my loving family and a
strong desire to break out of the shell
my fervent prayer to God used to be God
please make me well please God please so
it’s no wonder that I would put my faith
in anyone who would offer me hope a
faith healer came home and he said he
would heal me he used to put little
candles on my leg and then place an
upturned glass he did this for half an
hour daily he promised me that on my
birthday I would be healed and well and
like my friends would run and dance and
play I was thrilled on my birthday I
woke up that morning with a song in my
heart today is the day today is the day
I’m not going to be different to my
friends and I can move as they can
I threw the covers off my leg and look
down it’s the same nothing has changed I
thought okay maybe the shape won’t
change
maybe the strength will come back my
first two faltering steps confirmed my
fears nothing had changed
there was no miracle I remember my
mother had gotten me beautiful dress and
a tiara to wear for my birthday but that
birthday
there was no celebration in my heart I
had been let down in school I came
across this point by William Henley out
of the night that covers me black as
pitch from pole to pole I thank whatever
God’s may be for my unconquerable soul
in the fell clutch of circumstance I
have not winced nor cried aloud under
the bludgeonings of chance my head is
bloody but unbowed it matters not how
Strait the gate how charged with
punishments the scroll I am the master
of my fate I am the captain of my soul I
fell in love with this point I set this
point to myself a thousand times every
day this point was significant because
it made me realize that I am the master
of my fate and I
stopped believing and faith healers and
started believing in myself around my
13th year a family friend told me that
I’m a burden on my parents
she said I have drained them emotionally
and financially for taking me to various
doctors and kaitlin’s I came home in
tears angry with God
and my destiny I locked myself up in the
room and I cried in a fit of anger with
God I took off my braces and threw it at
the big picture of God in the room
saying you like it you keep it that’s
the only time in my life I’ve ever
thrown anything at anyone and anger the
law of gravity took over and my bracelet
fell back I tried to break them they did
not pay I cried when the tears stopped I
said these are my final tears I shall
cry no more today I’m reborn a stronger
person nothing and no one can hurt you
so after the theme of anger and
acceptance with my leg brace I developed
a friendship with it I’ll explain you
know the earlier braces they used to be
two steel rods that were held together
with straps and it had an epoch that
would allow you to bend and sit like
this and stand up besides that I have
one leg that is shorter than the other
by two inches so this height of two
inches was compensated by putting block
in a wood in the shoe so now you have
steel and you have wood my bracelets
were really really heavy I tell my
friends don’t mess with me you know I
can hurt you you listen to what I say I
just have to kick you slightly or just
step on you and you would be in pain so
do what I say guys didn’t work I slowly
began to understand the meaning of I am
the master of my fate I am the captain
of
my soul not from an egoistic point of
view but that we have within us the
control of how we handle the events in
our lives life is a gift each moment in
life experiences come to us these are
gifts we can choose to unwrap these
experiences these gifts not happy with
what we’ve got all we can unwrap these
gifts in an attitude of joy fun
expectancy once I understood this
concept I realized the key is how you
interpret these gifts do they empower or
disempower you I realized if I chose
disempowerment that meant sitting at
home and bemoaning my faith or I could
choose empowerment and see what unfolds
I chose empowerment why because I am the
master of my fate life became then one
joyous exploration unwrapping each gift
I walked the Standard Chartered Mumbai
marathon for several years I learned
Latin American dancing salsa cha cha and
I first passed the first level of exams
I danced at Sandi’s I drove myself
around Mumbai and has even driven up the
mountains from needle to Madeira have
any of you tried that drive no it’s
exhilarating but scary I swam in
swimming pools the leaks the Seas I went
to the gym and lifted weights
I learnt basic rock climbing I did river
rafting I was a rotary president and
conducted various projects and I worked
and supported myself
[Applause]
all these things strengthened my soul
there was a family I knew who hid their
child who had disability she had severe
polio they would hit her either in the
bedroom not bringing her out to meet
people because some way disability meant
that they had failed when I saw this I
said no that’s not my life that’s not
how I’m going to live my life so sure
all the things that I did I felt a fear
and nervousness but I did it despite the
fear I’d asked myself how would I feel
five ten years from now if I didn’t take
this experience when I was 45 I left the
family businesses and wanted a corporate
job I wanted to be with people who I
felt would appreciate my contributions
and I would feel validated by doing this
corporate job of course I faced
challenges by people thinking I couldn’t
do the job
one guy pointedly at the interview said
I don’t think he’ll be able to do this
job you have a disability I mentally
retorted my brains are not in my legs
but I said I’m capable it made no
difference I didn’t get the jobs now I
was handicapped
these introduced declared me to be so it
was a bad time my life took a turn and I
joined the school for education and
rehabilitation of children with
disabilities from a low economic
background I had been a committee member
with an earlier what an amazing
experience here I am with people who
share similar challenges like me and
appreciate my contributions water
validation the discrimination I went
through due to my disability it sparked
in me a strong desire to do something in
this field my friends say I’m driven but
the truth is the work I do complete
something in me during my 21 years
association in this school for
disability I play various roles
from volunteer to committee member to
funds and greeting cards manager to
program coordinator on a macro level I
raised over 10 crores for programs in
education rehabilitation and empowerment
of persons with disabilities I
conceptualized fund raised and built the
adult education and rehabilitation
program I received many awards for the
work I had done the legacy relief is not
as much the work we do but the nights we
have touched I’d like to share one of
these life dinghy at school as I would
go to my office in the corridor I would
pass by this girl she wanted to learn
conversational English
she had cerebral palsy speech and
movement was difficult for her so we
started off hi how are you I am fine and
then got into a slow conversation over
time I see slow because of the speech
impairment conversing was difficult a
little while later two of her friends
join us and they also want to learn
English so every morning we would be
having conversations in the corridor in
English one day they told me that they
admired me that they wanted to grow up
and be like me and do the work that I do
I was so touched as I humbly realized
that I was their role model I was
blessed to be a part of their life
spirituality has been a big and very
important and beautiful part of my life
there are many times in my life when I
know I’ve been guided and carried
through and you know when I say carry
through I mean it literally once we had
gone to Goa there was a bunch of friends
and you know how it is you go to go all
you want to go to the beach so we just
left our bags in the hotel room and
we’re excited to get to the beach there
were these steps leading to the beach on
the third or fourth step
leg brace broke and I had not taken a
spare I didn’t want to go back and miss
out on the joy of being at the beach
with my friends and I didn’t want them
to think that they had come out with
someone who had a disability who needed
extra attention so taking help of one of
my friends and managed to get down the
stairs there was this huge flat folder
that locked access to the main beach
every able-bodied person was able to
walk across but my brace is broken I
knew I couldn’t so I stood there with my
friend wandering discussing how do I get
across should I try and crawl like this
on my hands or shall I try and swim far
out to sea and try and meet them on the
other side out of nowhere this gentleman
appeared and he said I can carry you
across I said no you can’t I’m heavy he
said I won’t know till I try and he just
lifted me and carried me across on the
other side he left me and disappeared I
wasn’t able to thank him properly
today I’m in one of the best phases of
my life I am a consultant with various
NGOs besides that I’m a guest faculty
and speaker I believe life should live
to the fullest within the capacities we
have I believe we can do anything we
wish if we put our hearts and minds to
it and I believe that this disability
was given to me for a purpose and I am
truly grateful for all that I’ve done
I’ve spent a bit of time today talking
about me and my journey and I’d like to
leave you with some thoughts this is
also about you and your journey you are
your own captains would faith in
yourself and your capabilities and seek
validation from within thank you
[Applause]
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