The New Indian Express ·
A big dream that defied disability
Shashi, 32, comes from Karsog in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. She was born with a disability affecting both her legs, making many ordinary activities more difficult from childhood. But her disability never became a reason for her to withdraw from life.
She grew up in a farming family. Her father is a farmer and her mother a homemaker. The family lived a simple life in a rural environment where medical facilities were limited, roads were not always convenient and exposure to opportunities outside the village was limited. Growing up as a girl with a disability in such an environment was not easy.
In small towns, there is often limited understanding of para sports, disability rights and independent living. Girls are often expected to remain close to home, and for a girl with a disability, those expectations can be even stronger. But Shashi’s parents never allowed fear to determine her future. They understood that their daughter needed education and freedom.
