When I was in 4th grade, during our Dussehra vacation, my father finally bought me a cycle after days of begging him for one. I spent every day practising riding it. The day after Dussehra, while my family was out working in the fields, I was out riding. While taking a turn, I hit something and crashed my cycle.
The next thing I knew, blood was flowing from my left hand. There was blood everywhere, and the pain was excruciating. Our neighbors rushed me to the nearby hospital. Due to the holidays, there weren’t many doctors around. I was given some first aid and sent home to rest. But the next day, the blood circulation to my hand stopped. It turned blue, and I couldn’t feel anything.
My parents rushed me to a bigger hospital in Warangal. The doctors informed us that the infection had spread and that they should amputate.
I loved playing games with my friends and riding my bicycle. I often got hurt while playing, but this injury was too grave. I couldn’t even pick up my school bag or button my shirt. Everyone at school looked at me differently. I was never picked for games, and students would just stare at my hand when talking to me. It made me uncomfortable and sad.
However, my friends never let me feel lonely. They were always around, pushing me to try new things and cheering me up. They taught me to never give up, no matter the circumstance, and this gradually became my life’s motto.
As soon as I recovered, the first thing I did was learn to ride a bicycle again, but this time with one hand. I practiced for months, fell many times, and got up again, but finally, I learned to ride it. I carried this never-give-up attitude throughout my life.
When I was denied admission to my preferred college because of my disability, I didn’t let that stop me. I enrolled in another college. It was far from home and the facilities weren’t great, but I was determined to complete my degree. At home, my parents were struggling to support my sister and me. As a son, I felt it was my responsibility to support my family. So, I started selling food on the streets. I attended college in the morning and worked in the evenings. Balancing both was incredibly challenging, but I was determined to help my parents.
After graduation, I began looking for jobs, but due to the pandemic, the job market was tough. I joined a course in Hyderabad and was placed as a store trainee in Bangalore. The job was physically demanding, and with my disability, it was quite challenging.
I always wanted to be an HR professional myself. My brother, who works in the HR department at an MNC, was my inspiration. So, I quit the job within ten months. While applying for jobs, I came across the GROW PwD course. I enrolled in the three-month training program. Our trainer, Gayathri Madam, was an inspiration. She believed in me and encouraged me throughout the training. The activities conducted as part of the training were also very engaging, and I could improve my English skills.
Upon completing the course, I began applying for jobs again. When I heard about an opportunity at HP in Bangalore, I eagerly submitted my resume. To my delight, I was hired as a Talent Acquisition Adviser.
Since then, my life has changed. My team leader and managers are very supportive. I’m part of a team that recruits people with physical disabilities, and it gives me great happiness. Living with a disability has been my greatest teacher. It instilled in me a drive to overcome obstacles and achieve my dreams. Today, I am proud to support my family financially and have earned the respect of those who once doubted me.
