CTH Story of Anil Pakina

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Determination and dedication have been Anil's strongest points. He has well adapted himself to his physical condition. He is bold and always ready to face whatever situation comes to him. Anil's story in his own words This happened in Nacharam, Hyderabad. Couple of days after having polio drops in my 7th month, I had serious loose motions and high fever. Then my parents took me to a doctor. Let me tell you my parents were not educated and not financially good as well. That doctor gave me an expired injection on left leg, and after coming home, it seemed that leg stopped functioning, and then parents in all sad and confusion took me to same doctor on same day, then he gave one more injection, and this time he gave to both legs. My parents could not know what happened, but both of my legs stopped functioning. That day he played with the lives of 7 babies (including me). All 7 were effected with polio. And it seemed that I was the best of the lot. As others were paralyzed from below neck. People lodged a police complaint and that doctor's degree got cancelled. But all this at the cost of 7 lives. It took 7 lives cost to cancel doctors degree. Otherwise we never know with how many more lives he would have played with". How do you manage your day to day activities...a brief description i.e. with somebody's help or you are able to cope up with routine activities yourself? I stay with my mother. But then I do all my work on my own. I do all my work on wheelchair. My office cab comes to pick me, I go near cab with my wheelchair, and I shift inside cab. I have kept one wheelchair at office, once I reach office, the security person or my cab driver gets the wheelchair which is in office reception, and I get on to it, then go to my own to floor. I rarely sit on my wheelchair, only when I move I am on it. Otherwise I would shift myself to normal chair. Wherever I want to go out for shopping or sight seeing, I book cab and carry my personal chair. I do not take any help wherever I can manage. If the ramps are steep or uneven I seek my friends' help. Luckily all through my life I have had good people around me. They do not treat me differently. They feel that I am competitive in every thing. Before I go to any place, I inquire about it, whether it is accessible. I have been to United States, Dubai. Have not faced a single issue. Those places are paradise for wheelchair users. What do you think about marriage and life partner? I don’t like the perceptions that people have that disabled should marry only disabled. Is that right? Is this not discriminating ourselves? I am not against marrying disabled. But I don’t like if someone’s talks as if it is rule. Ideal girl in my view should have individuality, strong-hearted, and should have respect for elders. Where do you see yourself after 10 years from now? May be starting my own software company. There is no second thought on the matter that we are many times discriminated due to our challenges but if you face a situation, then how do you cope up with such feelings? Many times I felt discouraged. Even my college staff used to ask me, why I took a risk of coming to college. I would not get any job. Why I was wasting money and straining my parents. Those days as Internet was not popular, I did not know if there are any people like me who are successful in life. So, I always got into depression. But then my father used to encourage me. He used to tell, "Do not to worry about job, just finish your studies and lets see. May be you can for your own business like starting a Petrol bunk or a Gas Agency". My mother used to boost my confidence, and then again I get back to normal thinking and used to be more focused in studies. I used to think only one thing, that is if a normal person doesn’t get education, he will have many other options to get his livelihood, he can travel to any place, work at any place. But that’s the case with us, education is very very important, as the other options which normal person are not feasible for us. That fear used to haunt me, and which made me focus more on education. In my resume I never put my physical condition. And when I went for an interviews I used to get rejected this job may not be suitable for you, they would not mention the reason of rejection also. I waited for 2 long years to get a job in MNC, and then joined Dell International Services, Hyderabad. And since then there is no looking back. What all needs to be done to make India a disabled friendly country since you have visited US and you can easily compare between the two places? India is no where near US. They are so strict about their laws. Everyone knows about the ADA (American Disability Act) act, even if you ask school going kid, he will talk about this law. They take very care for even a small thing. Would you believe if I say that I have not taken the help of a single person for pushing or lifting my wheelchair any where. Every restaurant, coffee shop, shopping places, theaters, public places have well designed ramps. I could just peddle myself to anywhere I want. It was such amazing experience. I have not felt that I have some physical problem. Even the people would not offer you help, they think its an offense to offer help unless you specifically ask for. They treat you so nicely. Here in India people give weird looks when you go out to a public place. Their kids are even very mature. I really liked everything about America. I found wheelchair users everywhere and every place I visited. There are dedicated parking places for them. And nobody can dare to use them, if they are not disabled. Even here in India we have laws, but they are not followed properly, nor are these laws enforced in reality. There wheelchair users have many options, they can play any sport they want, everything is so easy there, you just need to think and it will be and can be done there. I respect India and as it is my mother land. But people talk so big about our culture, our customs, but for me they don’t mean anything, first respecting your fellow mate is important, and treating everyone with same respect is every important, which exists in US. And the entrance to the wheelchair users is always from the main entrance only, unlike in India some places we need to go via back door or backyard. Have you ever felt any kind of emotional outbursts or complexes due to your physical status? If yes then how do you manage the change in your emotional reactions in different stages in your life? The only reason I get reminded of my disability is for marriage. Whenever I talk to people for marriage, I introduce myself with my disability first, and immediately the other party would end the conversation. They would not even want to know any other thing about me. Have you ever been discriminated because of your disability? Yes. My dad’s parents were against my getting educated. They thought it was waste of money and time. They discouraged me to a great extent, so whatever money was spent on my education, could have been used to buy some farm land, so that I would have means of livelihood. But now no one dares to repeat the same. What are your hobbies or leisure time activities? Watching romantic movies. Reading love stories. Knowing different cultures. Making friends. Also one more important hobby is Flirting. How do you react when somebody pities you? I pity them back, saying how immature they are. We can overcome physical problems, but maturity and mental problems is really tough to overcome. Who has been your greatest motivating force in your life? My father, mother and brother (younger to me). Without them I would not have been in this position.

Anil Pakina Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Education: BE [Computer Science Engineering] MaritalStatus: No comments Disability: Polio Survivor Profession: Senior Software Engineer @ Intuit, Bangalore Contact: contact@crossthehurdles.org Quick Fire! Favorite movie(s) Devdas (Sharukh Khan) I madly love all the dialogues in this movie(jab ek baath hothi thi, mein tumhe yaad karthi hoon, jab jab saanse letha hoon, thab thab), Arth, Hangover, Before Sunrise. 50 First Dates. I like parallel cinema. Favorite books A walk to remember. Nicholas Sparks books. Favorite color Green, all shades Craziest thing that you have ever done in your life. Took pictures with almost 20 beautiful air hostess on Emirates flight when travelling from Bangalore to San Diego California. Most Valuable thing that you have purchased till now Building a home for my mother. If you are marooned on an island what 5 things you would like to keep with you a) Anushka Sharma b) Manisha Koirala (when she was young) c) Rekha (when she was young) d) Angelina Jolie e) Drew Barrymore Favorite food Hyderabadi Dum Chicken Biryani. Chipotle. Your biggest strength Smiling..no matter however sad I am. If you take birth again, who would you like to be born as Emraan Hashmi. The thing(s)that you hate Moody people The first thing you do right after awaking up in the morning Till today, when I wake up, I forget that my father has passed away. I think if it is really true that my father is no more, and after few seconds I realize it is indeed true. I wish some day, when I wake up, it would turn false. The last thing you think before falling asleep in the night Tomorrow I will meet my dream girl. You prefer sons or daughters Sons and daughters/ twins Oft-repeated word/sentence by you Always smile, you never know someone might fall in love with you. If world is going to be destroyed in next 5 minutes. What would you do during this time I will try convincing Anushka Sharma to marry me at least for these last 5 minutes. Just kidding, don't know what would I do, in reality I will be bewildered and get close to my mom The best gift that somebody can offer to you Smile The town/country that you want to visit Europe tour with my dream girl(tickets are ready, just need to find a girl) If you can meet one person of your choice, dead or alive, known or not, who would this be My Dad. He passed away in 2003, just one week after I wrote my last engineering exam. He used to carry me on his shoulders starting from my school to engineering college. When someone asks do you think your son will get job, he used to say, "it is just for my son satisfaction I am making him study. Even if he does not get a job, I will keep him in my eyes and take care of him life long". I wish if he could see whatever little success I achieved now. I really miss him.