Impact Story
“My name is Neerja Goyal, born on February 20, 1980, in Kanpur. I am the founder of the Neerja Devbhumi Charitable Trust, and a para-badminton player. My father, the late Shri Nandkishor Goyal, and my mother, Shrimati Kusum Goyal, named me Neerja. I am the eldest in the family, followed by my brother Dev Goyal, married sister Gauri Goyal, and the youngest sister Nupur Goyal. During the eighth month of my life, a doctor administered an expired injection. Though I was born without any disabilities, within three days of the injection, I faced paralysis. It wasn’t just me; many children around me experienced the same issue due to the doctor’s negligence. When parents investigated, they discovered that the doctor had used an expired vaccine. Unfortunately, the doctor, who was treating my paralysis, took my last breath when he had already freed me from 80% paralysis. From that moment, I could never stand on my feet again, marking the beginning of my life with a disability. Despite a strong financial background, I couldn’t pursue education. At the age of five, I witnessed my father’s excessive alcohol consumption, leading to an unstable home environment. This situation hindered my early education, even though our family was complete and financially stable. Due to my father’s alcohol addiction, our family’s financial condition deteriorated, and we received no support from relatives. At the age of ten, my mother decided to leave… Due to my father’s abusive behavior, one day my mother informed me and my siblings that she was leaving. I was ten years old at the time. Since we were all afraid of our father’s actions, we pleaded with our mother not to leave. Despite the challenging financial situation, my mother had managed to open a utensil store, and as the eldest, I took it upon myself to run the family, including the store. Unfortunately, just a year later, my father passed away. The family struggled even with the store… The utensil store couldn’t sustain our family’s needs. There were times when we could only afford one meal a day. However, we never gave up hope and managed to survive, handling all responsibilities with determination. It is said, ‘God’s house may be late, but never dark.’ Eventually, the situation improved, and the store started doing well, a result of our family’s hard work. Paralysis struck again at the age of 14… Fate had something else in store for me. At the age of 14, I suffered paralysis in both legs due to an injury. I had to stay in bed for three years, and that period felt scarier than death. I constantly prayed for death. During this time, my brother managed the store. Unfortunately, just two months after my bed rest ended, my brother faced epileptic seizures, disrupting the store’s operations. Despite the challenges, I took charge again, shouldering the responsibilities. Turning the curse of disability into strength… Gradually, I connected with other differently-abled individuals in Rishikesh and surrounding areas. I realized that disability is not a curse; it can be turned into strength. I expanded beyond the store, learned to drive, learned swimming, and even picked up playing the guitar. The turning point came when I played the guitar in front of about 400 people for the first time. It earned me much praise. Starting the para-badminton journey… My journey in para-badminton began through a camp organized for differently-abled individuals. Since there were no good badminton courts in the city, my coach Jitendra Bisht taught me, and I practiced with children in the alleys. Participation and achievements in various competitions: Additionally: Neerja Goyal’s achievements and her contributions to society showcase her determination, resilience, and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others despite facing numerous challenges.
