Leg disabled in accident, 25 surgeries, now professor in America:3 girls turn struggles into inspiring success stories

We cannot leave everything to women. We have to fight, but there is a prejudice against women in our society. Saying this, Satya Gopalkrishnan pauses for a moment and adds that the entire society must come forward to remove this bias. Satya Gopalkrishnan is a professor at Ohio State University in the United States. She studied in Bhopal and is an inspiration for people who lose the courage to move ahead because of physical challenges. At the age of just 12, Satya became disabled in both legs after an accident. She says she realised then that her life would never be normal again. She encouraged herself and kept moving forward. Shivani and Stuti have similar stories. Both were born with Down syndrome, yet they proved that the body is only a medium. A person’s real strength lies in self-confidence, strong willpower and the determination to never give up. On International Women’s Day, read the stories of three women who overcame life’s hardships with this spirit. Now read their stories in sequence… Accident at age 12, 25 surgeries, hospitalized for 1 year Eighteen years ago, 12-year-old Satya Gopalkrishnan stepped out of her house at 6 am to buy milk when a speeding van overturned on her. The accident was so horrific that it changed her life forever. Her left arm was completely damaged and a serious injury to her spine left both her legs permanently disabled. Recalling that terrifying day, Satya says, “My surgery lasted nine hours. I was given blood transfusions 12–14 times and underwent a total of 25 surgeries. I remained on a hospital bed for nearly a year.” Doctors had even said that she might never be able to eat on her own again. During this difficult phase, her family stood by her like a rock. Her sister even left her job to take care of her. The accident took away three years of Satya’s life but could not break her courage. Modified the car, drives herself Satya’s early training took place at a special school in Bhopal called ‘Arushi’, which proved to be a turning point in her life. She later completed a B.Com from Bhopal and then earned a master’s degree in commerce from Hyderabad. She moved to the United States for higher education. Today, 30-year-old Satya Gopalkrishnan is a professor of Environmental Economics at the prestigious Ohio State University. She lives independently in Columbus, Ohio. She believes that in the US the government provides facilities for people with disabilities that help them join the mainstream workforce. A few years ago, she bought a modified car for herself. She now drives it to college to teach and manages all her work independently. An important research for environment Satya has also used her academic abilities for social welfare. She conducted an important study on mangrove forests growing in India’s coastal areas. Her research found that regions having mangrove forests within a one-kilometre radius suffer about 7 percent less damage during cyclones. She reached this conclusion after analysing cyclones that struck India’s eastern coastal regions between 1998 and 2025. Once unable to dress herself, now a cafe manager The story of 26-year-old Shivani Sen from Panchsheel Nagar in Bhopal is another remarkable example of determination and family support. When Shivani was born, doctors informed the family that she had Down syndrome. This genetic disorder slows both physical and mental development. Doctors had even said Shivani might never be able to speak. Her elder sister Shashi recalls, “Society and even some doctors had lost hope, but our family never gave up.” The family gathered every possible piece of information to support Shivani’s upbringing. This search eventually led them to Vishwas School in Bhopal, where Shivani first felt independent. ‘Aarushi’ Institute changed life In 2013, Shivani became associated with the NGO ‘Arushi India’, which proved to be the biggest turning point in her life. Teachers at Arushi recall that when she first arrived, she could not perform basic daily tasks such as eating or dressing by herself. The institution first trained her in daily life activities. During training, Shivani’s hidden talents began to emerge. One day she suddenly started playing the dholak and singing. It was then discovered that she had a deep interest in music. She later received training in theatre, bakery work, pottery and customer service. A rejection and strong comeback
In 2022, Shivani got an opportunity to train at the prestigious Taj Hotel. She had been working there for nearly six months when a small incident emotionally upset her. After a customer tipped another waiter, Shivani innocently asked the same customer for a tip as well. The customer complained to the hotel management. Due to hotel rules, Shivani had to leave the job. It was the first major rejection in her life and it made her quite sad. However, years of effort and discipline from Arushi kept her from breaking down. In 2025, a new initiative by Arushi called ‘Café Koshish’ gave her a new platform. Today Shivani is the manager of the same café and handles her responsibilities with confidence. Journey from medical treatment to Hotel Taj reception The story of Stuti Doshi, born in Ahmedabad in 2002, is also one of relentless struggle against Down syndrome. Her family learned about her condition immediately after her birth. Without wasting time, they started her treatment when she was just four months old. She regularly underwent physiotherapy. Stuti did not receive formal schooling. In 2019, after her father’s transfer, the family moved to Bhopal and she joined ‘Arushi’. That same year, Arushi collaborated with the Taj Hotel, which allowed Stuti to attend a workshop there. She was naturally curious and always eager to learn new things. Permanent employee of Taj Her dedication and willingness to learn impressed the hotel management so much that she is now a permanent employee at Taj Hotel. She works at the hotel’s front reception desk and welcomes guests. After joining Arushi, Stuti also started theatre and began enjoying acting on stage. Became an inspiration for mother Stuti’s mother, Falguni Ben, was earlier a software engineer. She left her job to take care of Stuti. She says, “Today my daughter has become so independent that she tells me, ‘Mummy, now you should also go for interviews and work.’” These words come from the same daughter whose future once worried everyone. Today she not only stands on her own feet but has also become an inspiration for her mother.