Her, I suppose.
With thanks and regards (Rajesh Asudani) Assistant General Manager Market Intelligence Unit Reserve Bank of India Nagpur Tel.: 0712 2806358 (In youth you want things, and then in middle-age you want to want them.) -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Ravindra Jadhav Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 1:40 PM To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning the disabled. Subject: Re: [AI] Malvika Iyer's Amazing Story Of Grit! good, I respect him for what he did. On 10/1/14, Lissy Verghese <lvmalayatt...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thank you for sharing! > Lissy Verghese > > On 10/1/14, Dr.B.S.M.Kumar <drbsmku...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Malvika Iyer's amazing story of grit! >> >> Malvika Iyer is the essence of courage and optimism. >> At 13, a freak accident caused her to lose both her hands and severely >> damaged her legs, raising serious doubts about whether she would ever >> walk again. >> But young Malvika braved the odds and emerged victorious. Today she is >> a dedicated social worker, a motivational speaker and model for >> accessible clothing in India. >> Malvika is also a Global Shaper from the Chennai Hub, which is a part >> of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic >> Forum. >> She gives a first person account of her ordeal and how she overcame it >> to S Saraswathi. >> Malvika Iyer >> I was born in Kumbakonam. My father was transferred to Rajasthan when >> I was still very young. I spent nearly 13 years of my early life in >> Bikaner, Rajasthan. >> I had a very healthy and a happy childhood. I was a tomboy; I enjoyed >> outdoor sports and learnt swimming and skating. I also learnt Kathak >> for about seven years. >> It was a fun-filled life till the day I met with the accident: May 26, >> 2002. I was 13 years old. >> The accident >> Some months before the accident, an ammunition depot had caught fire >> in the city and hand shells, grenades and other bits and pieces were >> scattered all over the city. One such piece landed in our >> neighbourhood. >> We were told that it was a diffused shell. I was trying to stick >> something on my jeans pocket, and I wanted something heavy to hammer >> it with. I just took this shell and hit it. >> With the first hit, the shell exploded in my hand. >> There was almost nothing left of my hands. Both my legs had severe >> injuries, nerve damage and multiple fractures. >> It took nearly two years and several surgeries for me to walk again. >> Bedridden for two years >> For the first three days after the explosion, I was totally conscious, >> aware of each and every thing happening around me, but my body was >> numb. >> Within moments of the explosion I heard my mom screaming, "Meri bachhi >> ke haath chale gaye!" >> I was taken to the hospital immediately. There was so much damage to >> my limbs that my body went into a state of shock. I could not feel >> anything as the four main nerves were instantly cut. There was 80 per >> cent blood loss. >> When I reached the hospital there was zero BP, the doctors were not >> sure if I would survive. >> Even in that state I remember apologising to my mom, telling her that >> I am sorry I put her through this. Then I said I wanted to meet this >> friend of mine. It was so strange. I gave the contact number of my >> friend and told my parents to call her. I was terrified; would this >> really be the last time I was going to see these people? >> The doctors were not sure that they would be able to save my leg, >> especially the left one. It was dangling, just hanging from a small >> bit of skin. They wanted to amputate it, but my parents did not want >> to risk any more damage. They took me in an ambulance to Jaipur. >> The splinters were stuck all over my legs and had penetrated deep >> within. The pain began to sink in and it was terrible. I can remember >> those days and nights filled with pain. >> But the doctors were good and managed to save my leg. Though >> completely disfigured, with no sensation in my left leg and a foot >> drop (difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot) in the right, >> I am lucky I still have them. >> My hands, though, were completely cut off. There was no need to >> amputate them because they had been blown off; they couldn't even find >> any trace of them at the accident site. >> Later a skin grafting operation was done and with that I am left with >> just two stumps. Fortunately, the stumps, especially the right one, >> were quite long, so I was able to lift them like how a squirrel does. >> I was treated at a Bone and Joint clinic in Anna Nagar in Chennai. >> After months of intense therapy, I was finally able to walk. >> My accident happened in May 2002. I took my first few painful steps in >> November 2003. >> I still had a long way to go. >> Getting on with life >> We started enquiring about artificial hands. There was not much >> awareness about this, so my mom and I used to Google. We found a >> German prosthetics company called Ottobock that had a branch in >> Chennai. >> That is how I got a pair of bio-electric hands. >> I started practising to write; initially my handwriting was very big, >> and then slowly, with practise, I improved. >> This was in December 2003. In four months my friends would be >> appearing for their 10th board exams. I felt totally left out. >> I was in touch with a very close friend in Bikaner. She used to tell >> me how they were preparing. I decided that I would give it a shot. My >> mom found this coaching centre right behind our street. >> I had just three months to prepare. All my childhood, I have been into >> sports and dancing and skating, and now I could do nothing but sit and >> walk a bit. As I had no other choice, I think all my concentration >> went into academics. >> I prepared and prepared and when the results came, my life was >> completely changed. >> I got a State rank among the private candidates, and I was one among >> the State toppers, as well. I scored centum in both Math and Science >> and 97 in Hindi, also a State first. >> I felt like a celebrity. The next day, all the leading newspapers >> covered me. They wrote about how I overcame my disability to achieve >> this distinction. It was all very encouraging. >> I was invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (then >> President of India). >> Malvika Iyer with former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam >> I got to meet a lot of other celebrities. I was given an award for >> outstanding model student by Wisdom magazine. >> After 12th, I joined St Stephen's College, Delhi, where I graduated in >> Economics (Honours). >> I then did my Master's in Social Work from the Delhi School of Social >> Work. >> During my field training, I had the opportunity to work with >> differently-abled children. I realised that this is something I have >> to be a part of. I could empathise with them and understand them >> better. Since I was always given a lot of encouragement, I wanted to >> give something back. >> A new beginning >> Last year, I was invited for a TEDx Talk and that talk completely >> changed the course of my life. >> Until then I was just doing my work and trying to be a part of >> society. But that wasn't helping me much and I would still feel bad >> that everybody else is normal and I am not. >> But when I started talking about myself, I realised that I was >> actually much better off than a lot of people, who would complain even >> without any problem in their life. >> I was seen as a motivational speaker. Now I get invited to talk at >> colleges and schools or to corporates in Chennai and other cities. >> Last year, I was invited to host the India Inclusion Summit in >> Bangalore. I was the emcee and had the opportunity to meet a lot of >> differently-abled people. There were people who had actually achieved >> something or who were in the process of recovering and coming out of >> it. It was a great honour to be able to host such a programme. >> This helped me realise that I have to accept my disability. It is not >> like I am ever going to get my hands back. >> The people around me made this possible -- my friends, my family, and >> my mom especially. She was my support throughout. She was like my >> shadow. She made sure that nobody hurt me in any way. It is her >> positive spirit that has made me who I am today. >> She has given me a lot of freedom; she never treated me differently at >> all. There was never any show of pity. >> Presently, I am Junior Research Fellow doing my PhD in Social Work at >> the Madras School of Social Work. I am studying the experience of >> inclusion; how differently-abled people feel in society and what is >> society's attitude towards them. >> Initially, I used to feel bad when people stared at me. It made me >> very uncomfortable, but now it does not matter. I know who I am. I >> have become more strong-hearted, what they feel or how they see me >> does not affect me any more. >> Apart from this, I have been passionately working on everything >> outside. Recently I did a ramp walk at NIFT (National Institute of >> Fashion Technology), Chennai. >> I am a model for accessible clothing; it is an initiative of Ability >> Foundation and NIFT. >> Malvika Iyer on the ramp at NIFT >> The students designed two gowns for me, taking into considering my >> prosthetic hand. I was the showstopper for that evening and it was an >> amazing experience. Ever since then I have been writing about >> accessible clothing. >> When I was in the hospital bed 12 years ago, I thought that I could >> never come out of this. Now I can see that there is so much more to >> do. I think life is really, really good. >> I was invited to host a Run in Bangalore recently. >> I went all by myself. I handled everything, from the airport, all the >> travelling, the stay in the hotel, etc. Today I can do 90 per cent of >> my work on my own, without any assistance. >> When I think about how my life has turned out to be, I think it is >> fine, whatever happened. >> I would not have wanted to live a mediocre life. I have always been >> scared of mediocrity and I am not sure how my life would have turned >> out if it were not for this accident. >> I feel I am blessed because I know that something very horrible >> happened and even now it is not like I am 100 per cent all right. I >> can't just run around and do everything on my own. My legs still hurt >> when I walk. >> But a lot of good has come my way. >> I am confident I can do something meaningful with this life. I don't >> have any regrets. >> Dancing was my first love. I used to be sad that I could not dance >> like before. But now I have started dancing again. I cannot dance as >> gracefully as before, but I still dance. >> At the Bangalore Run, I danced on the stage. I think life is all about >> making the best with what you have. >> I got engaged in February this year to a wonderful man, a design >> engineer, and there is a lot to look forward to in life rather than >> just sitting around thinking of what could have been. >> >> Regards, >> >> -- >> *Dr.B.S.M.Kumar* >> *Prof.[Former] Dept of Chemical Engineering* >> *SRM UNIV * >> *Hand set +91 9840139849* >> ** >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Caution: The Reserve Bank of India never sends mails, smses or makes calls asking for personal information such as your bank account details, passwords, etc. It never keeps or offers funds to anyone. Please do not respond in any manner to such offers, however official or attractive they may look. Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. If you have received this email by error, please notify us by return e-mail or telephone and immediately and permanently delete the message and any attachments. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The Reserve Bank of India accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
