Tackling challenges head on

City-based social worker and writer, Sandhya Palaparthy’s motivational book in Telugu on the struggles of disabled people, has recently been translated to English.
Sandhya says, “I wanted to reach out to people fighting depression though the book.”

And her own life has been full of pitfalls. After her marriage, she had to face many difficulties in being accepted by her in-laws. She adds, “They were good to me in front of my husband, but treated me as a pariah otherwise. I even developed suicidal tendencies but managed to overcome them through determination. My daughter, Venugeethika, was my only support system.”

The English version of Sandhya’s book Vijethalu Jeevitha Poramtalo is titled Winners In Struggle Of Life. And through it she wants to reach out to youths with suicidal tendencies .

As the daughter of a Railways engineer, Sandhya had visited many places like Bihar, UP and West Bengal. She says she has been deeply influenced by her father’s aunt, Kanuparthy Varalakshamma, who was a freedom fighter as well as a social activist working for women’s causes, especially child widows. Sandhya met 33 disabled people and spoke to them about how they overcame personal hurdles to not just live but also thrive.

She feels that her book will motivate the youth to tackle life’s challenges head on and not think of suicide as an option.