“Fall down seven times, stand up eight” - Japanese Proverb. Life is all about ups and downs, and that is what makes it worth living. Difficulties come and go, but the only thing that matters is to keep the fire in one’s heart burning and persevere. Here is the struggle story of Chanchala Patel that will motivate you to push a bit harder every time you face a challenge. This iron-willed lady of Raigarh, aged 37, had met with an accident because of which her right leg amputation had to be done, and this physical impairment has confined her to crutches.

 

But, by performing stupendously in an international level semi-classical dance competition and by bagging gold medal in National Open Taekwondo Championship, she has won endless hearts and has shown the world that giving up is not her thing. Moreover, she is also yoga trainer par brilliance, teacher of specially- abled children, social worker, motivator, mountaineer and art & craft trainer. This multi-talented lady had been a proud recipient of Zila Divyangjan Puraskaar given by Social Welfare Department, Chhattisgarh.

 

Let us have a glance over the struggle journey of this exemplary lady. During her high school days, she had faced a disastrous accident. Once when she was going to her school, a kerosene-oil tanker dashed her and she had incurred life-threatening injuries. Even after tireless efforts by surgeons, her right leg below the knee had to be removed from her body. Even putting of artificial leg hadn’t been successful. In fact, she had undergone more than fifteen surgeries for placing the artificial leg. All in vain!! Unfortunately, she had to abandon the artificial limb, and had to confine herself to crutches.

 

Without getting disheartened by her so-called physical disability, this passionate lady had decided to make her name. She went to Bhubaneswar and completed a course, which made her a certified trainer of differently-abled children, especially one suffering from intellectual disabilities. Presently, she has been working efficiently as a special teacher for special children at Aasha-The Hope organisation under the aegis of Jindal Foundation at Raigarh. “Chanchala madam has infused lots of confidence in me and has been truly motivational”, said Vibhu Agrawal, an intellectually disabled child and medalist of national badminton championship.

 

This meritorious lady, who has done Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science and Bachelor of Education (BEd), has also been effortlessly practicing various yoga aasans, especially surya namaskar. She has also been performing her role as yoga instructor par brilliance. Exhibiting her determination and grit, she had ascended around 1000 stairs of Dongargarh temple situated in a mountain peak.