In our today’s story, we are talking about a woman who does not know how it feels to walk on her own. But she knows how to stand up on her own feet and face the world even if she is on a wheelchair.
Meet Preeti Singh from Delhi, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, which is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture. She was not even six months old when her father’s colleague introduced him to the idea of injections that leads to a less painful death because the pain of bringing up a girl child who was disabled since birth was indeed much more severe.
“I don’t know about red bull but my wheelchair did give me wings,” she says.
It was not her fault that she was born such way. Like any other child, she also deserved a childhood; she deserved happiness of life. She was lucky to have parents who loved her and so didn’t listen to the colleague who gave the idea of killing her. Instead, they introduced her to the world of opportunities and possibilities.
Preeti’s Lifestyle
All the while, Preeti would be standing against the wall and sing the longest of Bollywood songs to see how long she could stand. She was blessed with a pleasant and melodious voice which was her escape from the odds of the society.
When she joined a regular school, it was difficult in the initial year to understand the tactics and the ongoings. Her sports teacher would leave her behind alone in class and take everyone else to the ground for play. All this while, one thing was prominent, she never felt any less of her.
She never considered her disability as a weakness. Though she couldn’t walk, she had her inner strength all aligned. And moreover, she loved her wheelchair.
Preeti’s Passion and Career
Today after going to the best college of India, SRCC and after working in a renowned firm for three years, having experienced almost everything that normal 23-year-old experiences, Preeti is so content with the person she is that she doesn’t find any difference between the people she sees around and herself.
These days Preeti is putting her efforts and writings to help break the stereotypical thought process that is still present when people come across someone with a difference. This is indeed needed because the society has a habit to insinuate. And it is really bad. Moreover, it is wrong.
“Yes people still stare at times, but may be because I’m indeed really pretty,” she says with a smile.
She has been on the stage and performed many times. Preeti wins hearts and her special moment was when she performed at Kommune storytellers last year. She shared the stage with some of the finest performers of India in that event.“The sound of applause all over the auditorium and those happy cheers is something hard to forget,” she says.
Preeti as a Child
Being a kid she heard a lot of negative comments like she’s burden, she should die and many other heartfelt things. The worst incident ever happened to her was when, once someone walked to her and handed over a Rs.5 coin, thinking her as a beggar. She was left in dismay.
But, today Preeti is strong and lives with head held high. She has been working as a Chartered Accountant Intern from the last three years with S.P.Nagrath & Co. Presently she is working and brainstorming ideas for her YouTube channel.
“The idea is still in the pipeline and I’m brainstorming every day but as funny it might sound I see myself performing at Talkatora Stadium, Delhi sometime very soon. I’m just putting my energies in that direction,” she says. Preeti dreams of winning ‘Miss Wheelchair India 2017’.
Let’s know More About her :
1.What actually is “Cerebral Palsy” and how were you affected by it? Is it curable?
Cerebral palsy is due to abnormal brain development, often before birth. Symptoms include exaggerated reflexes, floppy or rigid limbs and involuntary motions. It is not exactly curable but can be improved by therapies.
In my case, as I was breech child, the complications were even more during my birth. Up to 3 years of age I couldn’t even hold my neck, forget sitting or walking. My mom and dad worked really hard on my therapies that made me able to sit on my own. Even today I can’t walk or hold weight, there is stiffness in different parts of my body. By God’s grace, my mind wasn’t affected and my IQ was at par.
2.How was your childhood different from the rest of the child?
Honestly, I’ve never felt any difference since my parents made sure I don’t, but now when I think of it of course it was pretty much in contrast with other “normal” children. While others were learning to walk, I was always in some or other hospital for my treatment. When other joined play schools, I joined physiotherapy classes(I dreaded them). I found it strange when children of my age used to play and take rides. Even today when I see children on rides, I want to go on one. I hope we make some accessible rides in future in India.
Nostalgia is hitting me hard as I’m writing it down! I think I lived my childhood during the later years when I shifted to an all inclusive school.
3.What difficulties did you face? Were the people around you supportive? In what way?
People’s perception towards disability has been a great challenge and the greater challenge being accessibility. As I mentioned above, I was in a special school, but when my doctors advised that I should study at a regular school; trust me it was one big task to get me admitted. The school authorities denied it prima facie.
It was after months of arguments and meetings that I was allowed to sit for an interview and then for the entrance exam, which I managed to top. I am an army brat, which means I changed quite a lot schools. None of them were fully accessible but since I was a bright child, school authorities later were supportive. They used to shift my classes to the ground floor. As far as general public is concerned, it’s been a mix. I’ve been exposed to stares, questions and comments from very beginning. Mostly people are good or that’s what I like to believe.
4. How has your life changed after studying from SRCC? What are your further plans.
SRCC was life changing, like the best time of my life! It made me what I’m today-independent, strong, outgoing, confident and what not. It was the first time I came out of my shell and came across what the world has to offer me. After college I went for my CA articleship which is mandatory in CA course. Right now I’m taking a break from my CA exams due to health reasons and presently I’m working and brainstorming ideas for my YouTube channel.
5. You Dream of becoming “Miss Wheelchair India 2017’. What makes you so independent and bold girl?
Yes I do. I’m participating this year, let’s hope for the best! What makes me independent and bold- I don’t know, maybe the fact that I really love myself and my life, I wanna live the fullest as it is! Pity, sympathy, rejections are all present in some or the other way. The most important thing is that you must love yourself beyond what the world thinks of you.
6. What Keeps you so motivated even when you are suffering from such a Congenital Disease?
As I just mentioned, the zest to live. Apart from this, my family plays a big part. They are the one to whom the actual credit goes, they brought me up in this way. Their sheer determination against the usual social norms gave me utmost strength. And they are the one who makes me believe in myself even more because they want me to go places and make it even larger.
7. So Preeti, what’s Your key to success? What message do you want to convey to people out there?
Self believe and constant work in the right direction is my key to success! Moreover success is a very subjective term, we can never quantify/compare it with others!
I’m too young and naive to give any gyaan but if you say I’ll just say one thing- BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, LOVE THYSELF, it gives you power!
