“The word ‘Polio’ was never part of our dictionary. Those were the days of ignorance and lack of awareness. I’ve had polio since the age of 3. I come from a family of Street Sweepers and Municipal Workers. Having been the eldest of the siblings, I was asked to drop out of school in my 5th grade as my father was the only bread-winner and I began to help him in every way I could. Yes! I started begging at the age of 10.

At a young age, I experienced what struggle meant. I have always seen my father pick up the trash and trust me it is a skill that is not easy. My past has never let me dream of an ambitious life. I always wished to fall in love, get married and have a happy family. Well, love did happen. I loved someone and she loved me too. Just like a scene from a Telugu movie, her parents got to know about us and didn’t want her to spend the rest of her life with a guy who has ‘polio’. But definitely, life had something different planned for me. I got married at the age of 15 to a lady who loves me, respects my flaws, and will always have my back.

I did have people ask me why I don’t work rather than beg. “Well, it is too late” is what I say. This is all I know; I cannot start from scratch and learn something that can fetch me some more money. I am proud of whatever I am doing. As long as I can earn some money and make my family happy, that is all I care about.”

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