‘Disability is a state of mind, not the body’

Struck by polio at the age of two, Parag had to miss out on most fun activities as a child. Now, he raises funds for the specially abled by running, Dilip Singh Kshatriya writes

- Dilip Singh Kshatriya

IS there anything more rewarding in life than turning pain into purpose? Meet Parag Panchal—his life is a saga of courage and resilience. Struck by polio at the tender age of two years, he was left with 85% disability and has walked with crutches ever since.

But from being a child excluded from school picnics and celebrations to becoming a man who can run 25 km backwards to raise funds for specially abled people, Parag has come a long way.

Today, he isa social reformer, a global representative for accessibility, and an inspiration to millions. Alongside his wife, Nita, who is also differently abled, he continues to remind the world that true strength lies not in the body, but in the human spirit that refuses to surrender.

“The world may see my crutches as a symbol of weakness,” Parag muses, “But, for me, they are the wings that help me fly against the wind.” Growing up, he had one mission—to prove that differently abled people are not a burden. And that they are just as capable of achieving greatness as anybody else. “I wanted to do something so bold that people would never again look at disability with pity but with respect,” he recalls.