[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] thank you for having me this is pretty
thank you for having me this is pretty
thank you for having me this is pretty amazing so let me just start sticks and
amazing so let me just start sticks and
amazing so let me just start sticks and stones may break my bones but words will
stones may break my bones but words will
stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me ever since a young age I
never hurt me ever since a young age I
never hurt me ever since a young age I was made to believe that
was made to believe that
was made to believe that well what’s didn’t hurt but surprise
well what’s didn’t hurt but surprise
well what’s didn’t hurt but surprise what’s actually hurt a lot
what’s actually hurt a lot
what’s actually hurt a lot I tried killing myself not once but
I tried killing myself not once but
I tried killing myself not once but twice because of hurtful words shocking
twice because of hurtful words shocking
twice because of hurtful words shocking right ever since I became paralyzed in
right ever since I became paralyzed in
right ever since I became paralyzed in the year 2006 I realized that my
the year 2006 I realized that my
the year 2006 I realized that my inability to walk is a big deal
inability to walk is a big deal
inability to walk is a big deal to other people not to me I’ve been
to other people not to me I’ve been
to other people not to me I’ve been reminded time and again that I’m not
reminded time and again that I’m not
reminded time and again that I’m not able to walk for example in 2006 my
able to walk for example in 2006 my
able to walk for example in 2006 my friends left my side because apparently
friends left my side because apparently
friends left my side because apparently I was a burden to them because I
I was a burden to them because I
I was a burden to them because I couldn’t walk they thought how are we
couldn’t walk they thought how are we
couldn’t walk they thought how are we gonna hang out with all she can’t even
gonna hang out with all she can’t even
gonna hang out with all she can’t even move then in 2007 I overheard a family
move then in 2007 I overheard a family
move then in 2007 I overheard a family member of mine tell my cousin not to
member of mine tell my cousin not to
member of mine tell my cousin not to hang around with me because and I quote
hang around with me because and I quote
hang around with me because and I quote if you hang around with all you’ll catch
if you hang around with all you’ll catch
if you hang around with all you’ll catch whatever she had and you will end up
whatever she had and you will end up
whatever she had and you will end up paralyzed and on a wheelchair horrendous
paralyzed and on a wheelchair horrendous
paralyzed and on a wheelchair horrendous right for a 15 year old girl these words
right for a 15 year old girl these words
right for a 15 year old girl these words who are like salt to my wounds I was
who are like salt to my wounds I was
who are like salt to my wounds I was being reminded of my loss I was being
being reminded of my loss I was being
being reminded of my loss I was being reminded that I can’t walk I was being
reminded that I can’t walk I was being
reminded that I can’t walk I was being treated as if I was an illness a virus
treated as if I was an illness a virus
treated as if I was an illness a virus that could destroy lives more than that
that could destroy lives more than that
that could destroy lives more than that I wasn’t being treated like a human why
I wasn’t being treated like a human why
I wasn’t being treated like a human why just because I can’t walk is it really a
just because I can’t walk is it really a
just because I can’t walk is it really a big deal well I suppose it is ever since
big deal well I suppose it is ever since
big deal well I suppose it is ever since I was young I have had dreams of being
I was young I have had dreams of being
I was young I have had dreams of being an actress and a model and despite
an actress and a model and despite
an actress and a model and despite having a disability
having a disability
having a disability I didn’t let those dreams die
I didn’t let those dreams die
I didn’t let those dreams die in 2014 I won second place in the missed
in 2014 I won second place in the missed
in 2014 I won second place in the missed wheelchair India pageant and I decided
wheelchair India pageant and I decided
wheelchair India pageant and I decided that it was the right time to pursue my
that it was the right time to pursue my
that it was the right time to pursue my dream unfortunately though it was
dream unfortunately though it was
dream unfortunately though it was short-lived I went to many auditions
short-lived I went to many auditions
short-lived I went to many auditions contacted many casting directors and
contacted many casting directors and
contacted many casting directors and even uploaded my profile on too many
even uploaded my profile on too many
even uploaded my profile on too many casting portals but the one thing that I
casting portals but the one thing that I
casting portals but the one thing that I heard from everyone was and I quote
heard from everyone was and I quote
heard from everyone was and I quote Murali you’re beautiful you have the
Murali you’re beautiful you have the
Murali you’re beautiful you have the perfect features your acting skills are
perfect features your acting skills are
perfect features your acting skills are on point and you’d be perfect for this
on point and you’d be perfect for this
on point and you’d be perfect for this role but not a problem here
role but not a problem here
role but not a problem here it’s your wheelchair if you are walking
it’s your wheelchair if you are walking
it’s your wheelchair if you are walking nah I swear we would have costed you for
nah I swear we would have costed you for
nah I swear we would have costed you for this role so again I was judged because
this role so again I was judged because
this role so again I was judged because of my inability it seems to me that most
of my inability it seems to me that most
of my inability it seems to me that most people with disabilities are judged by
people with disabilities are judged by
people with disabilities are judged by the inner abilities but one thing these
the inner abilities but one thing these
the inner abilities but one thing these in abilities they have been decided by
in abilities they have been decided by
in abilities they have been decided by society not by us
society not by us
society not by us surprisingly the stigma around
surprisingly the stigma around
surprisingly the stigma around disability is still prevalent to this
disability is still prevalent to this
disability is still prevalent to this day it may not be that obvious but it’s
day it may not be that obvious but it’s
day it may not be that obvious but it’s still there the other day I was called a
still there the other day I was called a
still there the other day I was called a dev young by an unknown man now if
dev young by an unknown man now if
dev young by an unknown man now if you’re unfamiliar with the tone it
you’re unfamiliar with the tone it
you’re unfamiliar with the tone it basically means divine body it’s also
basically means divine body it’s also
basically means divine body it’s also been encouraged to use the tongue live
been encouraged to use the tongue live
been encouraged to use the tongue live young
young
young in place of Vick Lang or disabled great
in place of Vick Lang or disabled great
in place of Vick Lang or disabled great right so apparently I am considered
right so apparently I am considered
right so apparently I am considered divine because I have a disability so
divine because I have a disability so
divine because I have a disability so according to that logic I wasn’t divine
according to that logic I wasn’t divine
according to that logic I wasn’t divine before questionable right now I didn’t
before questionable right now I didn’t
before questionable right now I didn’t take it to heart but I decided to see if
take it to heart but I decided to see if
take it to heart but I decided to see if my status of being divine is perceived
my status of being divine is perceived
my status of being divine is perceived in the same way by other people now a
in the same way by other people now a
in the same way by other people now a couple of months ago I went out on
couple of months ago I went out on
couple of months ago I went out on restaurant audits to justice in
restaurant audits to justice in
restaurant audits to justice in Mumbai just to see if restaurants are
Mumbai just to see if restaurants are
Mumbai just to see if restaurants are truly accessible foiling alert then not
truly accessible foiling alert then not
truly accessible foiling alert then not anyway I called the restaurant up that I
anyway I called the restaurant up that I
anyway I called the restaurant up that I was supposed to go to and I asked the
was supposed to go to and I asked the
was supposed to go to and I asked the employee there if the premises was
employee there if the premises was
employee there if the premises was accessible first of all he didn’t know
accessible first of all he didn’t know
accessible first of all he didn’t know the meaning of accessibility so I had to
the meaning of accessibility so I had to
the meaning of accessibility so I had to explain it to him in extreme detail
explain it to him in extreme detail
explain it to him in extreme detail anyway he finally told me that there
anyway he finally told me that there
anyway he finally told me that there were some steps there and so I asked him
were some steps there and so I asked him
were some steps there and so I asked him politely if they could help me up those
politely if they could help me up those
politely if they could help me up those steps and surprisingly he said no I was
steps and surprisingly he said no I was
steps and surprisingly he said no I was shocked I thought I was doing hello I
shocked I thought I was doing hello I
shocked I thought I was doing hello I thought I was divine I thought I was
thought I was divine I thought I was
thought I was divine I thought I was supposed to be treated that way so why
supposed to be treated that way so why
supposed to be treated that way so why was this guy saying note I was
was this guy saying note I was
was this guy saying note I was disheartened instead I felt as if he
disheartened instead I felt as if he
disheartened instead I felt as if he should have treated me that way I’m a
should have treated me that way I’m a
should have treated me that way I’m a divya after all anti I should be treated
divya after all anti I should be treated
divya after all anti I should be treated as if I’m but that’s the thing
as if I’m but that’s the thing
as if I’m but that’s the thing I’m not divine I’m a normal human being
I’m not divine I’m a normal human being
I’m not divine I’m a normal human being that went through a traumatic incident
that went through a traumatic incident
that went through a traumatic incident that left me wheelchair-bound and that’s
that left me wheelchair-bound and that’s
that left me wheelchair-bound and that’s about it it’s the same for almost every
about it it’s the same for almost every
about it it’s the same for almost every person out there with the disability we
person out there with the disability we
person out there with the disability we want to be treated in the same manner we
want to be treated in the same manner we
want to be treated in the same manner we don’t want to be treated specially but I
don’t want to be treated specially but I
don’t want to be treated specially but I don’t understand why it’s so difficult
don’t understand why it’s so difficult
don’t understand why it’s so difficult for everyone to understand but sadly it
for everyone to understand but sadly it
for everyone to understand but sadly it is it is difficult to understand all we
is it is difficult to understand all we
is it is difficult to understand all we ask is that you treat us like human
ask is that you treat us like human
ask is that you treat us like human beings
beings
beings but sometimes humanity fails us and
but sometimes humanity fails us and
but sometimes humanity fails us and humanity has failed me more than once I
humanity has failed me more than once I
humanity has failed me more than once I was molested three times by the luggage
was molested three times by the luggage
was molested three times by the luggage porters at a railway station in Mumbai
porters at a railway station in Mumbai
porters at a railway station in Mumbai I’m sure many of you must be knowing
I’m sure many of you must be knowing
I’m sure many of you must be knowing this because of my petition for
this because of my petition for
this because of my petition for accessible railways called my train too
accessible railways called my train too
accessible railways called my train too now
now
now why was I touched and manhandled I
why was I touched and manhandled I
why was I touched and manhandled I suppose it’s because of the lack of
suppose it’s because of the lack of
suppose it’s because of the lack of infrastructure sometimes it seems as if
infrastructure sometimes it seems as if
infrastructure sometimes it seems as if my nation doesn’t consider me to be
my nation doesn’t consider me to be
my nation doesn’t consider me to be human it feels as if I don’t have any
human it feels as if I don’t have any
human it feels as if I don’t have any rights why I understand that according
rights why I understand that according
rights why I understand that according to society I have three strikes going
to society I have three strikes going
to society I have three strikes going against me I’m a woman I’m disabled and
against me I’m a woman I’m disabled and
against me I’m a woman I’m disabled and I’m single I realize that but my life is
I’m single I realize that but my life is
I’m single I realize that but my life is just as important and significant as
just as important and significant as
just as important and significant as yours so why don’t I have these rights
yours so why don’t I have these rights
yours so why don’t I have these rights why am I not treated as a human being it
why am I not treated as a human being it
why am I not treated as a human being it seems to me that this sorry it seems to
seems to me that this sorry it seems to
seems to me that this sorry it seems to me that this unintentional ignorance is
me that this unintentional ignorance is
me that this unintentional ignorance is mainly because people have different
mainly because people have different
mainly because people have different perceptions about disability according
perceptions about disability according
perceptions about disability according to everyone it seems as if people think
to everyone it seems as if people think
to everyone it seems as if people think that disability is just black and white
that disability is just black and white
that disability is just black and white apparently to them there is no gray area
apparently to them there is no gray area
apparently to them there is no gray area there is no in-between disability is
there is no in-between disability is
there is no in-between disability is supposedly just black and white
supposedly just black and white
supposedly just black and white either way death either were not high
either way death either were not high
either way death either were not high they were walking either were not but
they were walking either were not but
they were walking either were not but that’s not the case sometimes it seems
that’s not the case sometimes it seems
that’s not the case sometimes it seems to mean that people aren’t away and
to mean that people aren’t away and
to mean that people aren’t away and people just have different perceptions
people just have different perceptions
people just have different perceptions about disabilities and just to make us
about disabilities and just to make us
about disabilities and just to make us feel better and to spare our feelings we
feel better and to spare our feelings we
feel better and to spare our feelings we have all of these different terms and
have all of these different terms and
have all of these different terms and labels live young specially abled
labels live young specially abled
labels live young specially abled differently abled handicapped etc how am
differently abled handicapped etc how am
differently abled handicapped etc how am i different you use the stairs I use the
i different you use the stairs I use the
i different you use the stairs I use the elevator and that’s about it if you
elevator and that’s about it if you
elevator and that’s about it if you really need a term then please
really need a term then please
really need a term then please acknowledge the elephant in the room
acknowledge the elephant in the room
acknowledge the elephant in the room because according to the dictionary I am
because according to the dictionary I am
because according to the dictionary I am disabled but only physically and only
disabled but only physically and only
disabled but only physically and only because you need a term in my mind I am
because you need a term in my mind I am
because you need a term in my mind I am still the same verily that I was before
still the same verily that I was before
still the same verily that I was before I became a wheelchair user now
I became a wheelchair user now
I became a wheelchair user now I to be very honest I consider myself to
I to be very honest I consider myself to
I to be very honest I consider myself to be unique why because this wheelchair is
be unique why because this wheelchair is
be unique why because this wheelchair is my throne and I am a queen now how many
my throne and I am a queen now how many
my throne and I am a queen now how many of you can say that you have your own
of you can say that you have your own
of you can say that you have your own personalized throne not many I’m sure
personalized throne not many I’m sure
personalized throne not many I’m sure even though people have considered my
even though people have considered my
even though people have considered my legs before they’ve considered me I
legs before they’ve considered me I
legs before they’ve considered me I still consider myself to be a queen and
still consider myself to be a queen and
still consider myself to be a queen and to be honest I am not really disabled
to be honest I am not really disabled
to be honest I am not really disabled disabled’ are those that like empathy
disabled’ are those that like empathy
disabled’ are those that like empathy those that are rapists murderers and
those that are rapists murderers and
those that are rapists murderers and Psychopaths those are the ones that are
Psychopaths those are the ones that are
Psychopaths those are the ones that are truly disabled but to be very honest
truly disabled but to be very honest
truly disabled but to be very honest these terms we need to eliminate these
these terms we need to eliminate these
these terms we need to eliminate these terms of our vocabulary able-bodied
terms of our vocabulary able-bodied
terms of our vocabulary able-bodied disabled they divide us nothing more
disabled they divide us nothing more
disabled they divide us nothing more when I say to say when I say the word
when I say to say when I say the word
when I say to say when I say the word disability you automatically think of
disability you automatically think of
disability you automatically think of someone in a wheelchair but think about
someone in a wheelchair but think about
someone in a wheelchair but think about it for a second
it for a second
it for a second am i charlie disabled are we truly
am i charlie disabled are we truly
am i charlie disabled are we truly disabled sure we may be less able than
disabled sure we may be less able than
disabled sure we may be less able than some of you but you may be less able
some of you but you may be less able
some of you but you may be less able than some of us so does that mean I
than some of us so does that mean I
than some of us so does that mean I surely have a disability does that mean
surely have a disability does that mean
surely have a disability does that mean that you have a disability but what
that you have a disability but what
that you have a disability but what about those with invisible disabilities
about those with invisible disabilities
about those with invisible disabilities will you call them disabled sure you can
will you call them disabled sure you can
will you call them disabled sure you can categorize me as having a disability
categorize me as having a disability
categorize me as having a disability because it’s physical and it’s visible
because it’s physical and it’s visible
because it’s physical and it’s visible but what about those that are dealing
but what about those that are dealing
but what about those that are dealing with some other issues like say a
with some other issues like say a
with some other issues like say a learning disability would you call them
learning disability would you call them
learning disability would you call them disabled I’ve said this many many times
disabled I’ve said this many many times
disabled I’ve said this many many times and I will repeat myself
and I will repeat myself
and I will repeat myself stop using terms and labels that
stop using terms and labels that
stop using terms and labels that indirectly or directly mean abnormal
indirectly or directly mean abnormal
indirectly or directly mean abnormal because normalcy is subjective what may
because normalcy is subjective what may
because normalcy is subjective what may be normal to me may be viewed as an
be normal to me may be viewed as an
be normal to me may be viewed as an abnormality to you so who are we to
abnormality to you so who are we to
abnormality to you so who are we to decide what’s normal
decide what’s normal
decide what’s normal I don’t think we’re not anyone to decide
I don’t think we’re not anyone to decide
I don’t think we’re not anyone to decide I just think we just need to accept
I just think we just need to accept
I just think we just need to accept ourselves we need to stop labeling
ourselves we need to stop labeling
ourselves we need to stop labeling ourselves and I’m telling you the day
ourselves and I’m telling you the day
ourselves and I’m telling you the day that we eliminate these terms of our
that we eliminate these terms of our
that we eliminate these terms of our vocabulary the day that we change our
vocabulary the day that we change our
vocabulary the day that we change our perception that’s the day when we’ll
perception that’s the day when we’ll
perception that’s the day when we’ll achieve equality and that’s the day when
achieve equality and that’s the day when
achieve equality and that’s the day when the stigma around disability will be
the stigma around disability will be
the stigma around disability will be abolished thank you
abolished thank you
abolished thank you [Applause]
”
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