Human Library

Introduction: A girl child, born with dwarfism disability, became the talk of the small town of Guna, Madhya Pradesh, from the moment she was born. Relatives and community members predicted her future as a failure, showing no guilt in demotivating a human life from the day of her first breath. But little did they know, this girl was destined for greatness. That girl is now Pooja Prajapati—a 28-year-old, renowned painter, multi-talented artist, and solo traveler.

Overcoming Challenges: Despite undergoing 24 surgeries on her lower body since the age of six to enable her to walk and live life independently, Pooja's unwavering strength and determination have been the key to her survival and success. Her artistic journey began with her father, a professional sculptor who crafted idols for festivals. At the tender age of 10, Pooja was already painting the idols her father created. During her long recovery periods from surgeries, painting became a therapeutic outlet. Helping her father paint those idols not only diverted her mind but also ignited her passion for the art.

The Sarthak Impact: By 2012, Pooja took her love for painting seriously. Through self-learning, she honed her skills and expanded her expertise to include Madhubani painting, wall art, sculpture making, Kalamkari, and more. Painting transformed from a hobby to a professional career, and soon, Pooja started teaching others, sharing her newfound skills and knowledge. However, the journey wasn't without its challenges. When asked about the hardships in her life, Pooja shared that the most difficult part wasn’t the physical pain or surgeries, but rather the judgmental eyes of people. Her short height and disability often became the focus of others’ negativity. Despite living in an age where education is celebrated, societal biases still persist.

Turning Point: Pooja chose to rise above it all. She found inspiration in the stories of people with disabilities who were achieving great things despite their challenges. Their success motivated her to keep pushing forward, undeterred by judgment. The turning point in Pooja's life came when she visited the Sarthak Educational Trust Bhopal Center and enrolled in a training program. For the first time, she saw people like herself thriving and making a difference. Witnessing individuals with even more severe disabilities excelling in various fields, gaining knowledge, and securing jobs inspired her to take her career to the next level.

Achievements: Pooja has won numerous awards for her exceptional painting skills and has also painted portraits of famous personalities. One of her notable achievements includes a portrait of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, which received widespread appreciation for its remarkable detail and artistry.

Conclusion: Today, Pooja is a successful artist, working on multiple painting contracts across India. Just as Sarthak was her turning point, she aims to inspire others with her story. Her message is clear: "Don’t let the world’s opinions hold you back. Embrace your uniqueness, learn new skills, succeed in them, and stay positive. Your disability does not define you—your determination does." Pooja's journey reminds us that no matter the obstacles, with the right mindset, anyone can turn their challenges into stepping stones towards success.