20th November 2014. I was walking to my hostel room with a group of my friends. I tripped and fell down the stairs of my hostel. Everything from there is a haze. I was taken to a hospital nearby but they weren’t equipped to handle my case. So I was shifted to a bigger hospital. I was immediately taken to the ICU. The doctors advised that I be shifted to CMC Vellore. Through this, I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. I thought I would be on my feet soon.
8th December 2014. In Vellore, the doctor walked into my room and said that the lower part of my body was permanently paralysed and declared me a paraplegic. I went into a shock. I was 19 years old. My life hadn’t even begun. That night I cried myself to sleep.
My parents accepted the situation and didn’t waste time seeking alternative treatment. They helped me accept and face the situation bravely. During my rehabilitation process, I met similar patients which helped me deal with the crisis. I began to learn how to lead my new life independently. I rejoined college and completed my graduation and went on to do my post-graduation.
In 2017, I shifted back to Calicut and joined an English daily. I always wanted to be a journalist. This was a field job and I always had to be on the move, chasing stories and meeting people. I was always treated an equal and was never denied any opportunity. In 2019, I went on to win the prestigious Network of Women in Media award in the journalism category.
Being a journalist also exposed the fact that we lacked disabled-friendly infrastructure in public places and transport. Though I loved the chase and the thrill the job had, I knew that my opportunities were limited. So after much discussions and debate with my parents, I decided to pursue a career in academics. In 2019, I quit my job and moved to Hyderabad
to pursue my Masters. I feel that the government should focus on better facilities and easier access which will encourage more persons with disabilities to follow their dreams and in the true sense make us an equal. Inclusion shouldn’t be a differentiator, inclusivity should be an enabler.
Ambika Raja
