My Story

My Story: “My Gender Identity Is A Part Of Me, But Not Me Entirely”

Hochiminh’s journey from the margins of society to becoming the pride of Bangladesh has been a story of courage and hard work. In June 2021 when the Bangladesh Government announced incentives to corporations and private organizations employing third gender/ transgender employees, it was a because of brave hearts like her who have worked tirelessly to create an inclusive Bangladesh.

Read More »

My Story

Real-life, first-person accounts that remind us every human has a story to tell, experiences to share, and actions to inspire.

Jazz Sethi had just entered her teens and was a mid-fielder in a football team, and was training for her upcoming match when her blood sugar levels rose excessively to 1050mg/dL.
Born and brought up in Uttarakhand, Himani Nautiyal relates to the struggles of women farmers in the region. She is using her resources to empower and improve their socio-economic background.
Inspired by her racer father, Lani Zena Fernandez from Puducherry is living the dream and breaking boundaries with one bike race at a time.
Ankit Arora, a former journalist, has been cycling for four years across rural India and creating self-sustainable alternatives with communities like mud and waste recycled homes and teaching the practice of natural farming to farmers.
The 42-year-old Abhilash Tomy was the first Indian and second Asian to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation on a boat. He is a recipient of Kirti Chakra and Tenzig Norway National Adventure Award.
Sargam Dhawan Bhayana was bullied at a very young age because of how she looked. From breaking stereotypes in the beauty industry to helping people in need during COVID-19, she dons several hats effortlessly.
Nitesh Jaiswal did not have a privileged start to life and has lived most of his life in a chawl in Mumbai. However, his dreams of becoming a medical professional were bigger than the challenges that life threw at him.
Dr Sai Kaustuv Dasgupta stopped counting the number of fractures he had after he hit 50 fractures. Crippled with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bones disease, he believes that if one has the determination, then the sky is the limit.
Raju Kendre belongs to the tribal community living in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region. He did not let his adversities stop him from helping marginalised channelise their potential and went on to get the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.
Srivatsan Sankaran was diagnosed with total hearing loss at the age of six. He would not react to what people had to say, but would observe them intently. In 2014, he made the difficult decision to leave his IT Job and pursue his passion full-time.
Avyukth Bala is still a kid but wants to bring smiles to people's faces by taking small steps from his side. He is also a strong believer in sharing to help those in need.
Jyothi K Kumar suffers from hearing impairment since her birth. Despite that, she completed her training in fine arts and now works as a freelancer in graphic designing and painting.
A Pune-based family physician, Dr Ganesh Rakh, has been working on eradicating gender bias with his 'Save Girl Child' campaign that continues to gain momentum around the world.
Kavya Mukhija, born with a medical condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, is a wheelchair user. However, the young woman has braved several physical and psychological challenges to create a happy life for herself where she embraces her disability and has a strong message for the world.
Shakeel, 24, came from a Muslim orthodox family in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district. He was interested in music since childhood and performed in various gatherings and events. Things took a turn when one of his street performances went viral. Celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Sonu Nigam and Pooja Bhatt shared his video which gained him overnight fame.
Rahul Viswanath, an IT expert, was born with a cleft palate condition. He, like most cleft kids, underwent multiple surgeries and speech therapy sessions. Apart from the physical deformities, he suffered more psychologically, with constant bullying and discrimination in society. Over the years, he learnt the art of public speaking and since then, has been speaking on various public platforms. His target is to talk on larger forums such as TEDx.
Prakhar Kotadia started a plantation drive in 2020 as a way to lift everyone's spirits during the pandemic. Now, it has evolved into 'Roopkesarivatika Charitable Foundation' that 'turns barren lands into lush green mini forest.'
Suresh Ramdas came out to his parents when he was in his 30s. Despite facing adversities, he has held his head up high and worked towards taking the conversations around LGBTQIA+ forward.
Anuradha Krishnan is a dentistry student in Kerala who came out as transgender when she was 19 years old. Often ridiculed for expressing who she is, she fought through it all bravely to forge her own identity in the world.
Monisha Ajgaonkar had a difficult childhood since she did not share an affable bond with her family members. After, coming out of the closet as a lesbian, she worked her way up to becoming one of the top wedding photographers in the country and an advocate for LGBTQ rights.
Born blind, Vidhya Y was discouraged to take up Maths and Science by telling her to take an 'easy way out.' However, her sheer determination and hard work made her graduate at the top of her class at the International Institute of Informational Technology in Bengaluru.
Sai Vishruth is a class 5 student and has already attended the UNICEF climate control conference and presented his idea there.
Nilabha was diagnosed with Autism when he was 4-years-old. Having difficulty in attending school, he completed his schooling from NIOS. He is skilled at baking, cooking and wants to work in a cafe or a bakery.
Naturals Salon and Spa Co-founder and CEO CK Kumaravel is a believer of women partnership and women upliftment in their career more. He says entrepreneurship is the ability to dream big.