Overcoming Darkness: A Story of Triumph and Transformation
I was born sighted, the youngest and most pampered in my family. I loved dancing, singing, and acting, and everyone around me helped me fulfil my dreams. Life felt perfect until I turned 16 when everything changed.
It was Parents' Day at school, and I had choreographed a dance performance with the help of my coaches. Wrapped in a beautiful costume, I stepped onto the stage, smiling as I danced to a romantic Nepali folk song. I was expressing happiness, my favourite emotion, through every movement. But I fell off the stage about a minute into my performance —I hadn’t seen the edge. That fall marked a turning point. It wasn’t the pain or the embarrassment that brought tears to my eyes; it was the realization that I was losing my sight.
For years, I underwent surgeries in a desperate attempt to save my vision. Due to allergies, doctors prescribed steroids, which, unknowingly, led to glaucoma and eventually complete blindness. The shift from living as a carefree “princess” to becoming the centre of worry for those around me was devastating. I was told I would never be independent, wouldn’t study, and couldn’t live a fulfilling life. But I refused to accept this narrative.
Could I still dance? Could I still study? Many doubted me, but I persisted.
My mother’s tears gave me strength. I decided that instead of focusing on what I had lost, I would find new ways to thrive. Could I still dance? Could I still study? Many doubted me, but I persisted. After countless rejections, I finally gained admission to Dillibazar Kanya Multiple Campus. I invented wooden templates to help me write by hand and used an audio recorder to capture lectures. With my mother’s support and encouragement from my teachers, I worked tirelessly and topped all colleges in Nepal, earning the “Chatra Vidya Padak” award from Nepal’s President.
My curiosity about other blind people led me to institutions where I learned Braille, how to walk with a white cane and use assistive technologies. I realized blindness wasn’t a barrier to happiness or success. Inspired to change societal attitudes, I applied to kanthari, an institute for social change in India. At kanthari, I lived in an inclusive environment and discovered my purpose: to reconnect with my love for dance and empower others through it.
The programme offered incredible exposure, including the chance to absorb the beauty of places like Paris and Rome, not through sight but through other senses.
I later joined the Erasmus Mundus International Master in Dance Knowledge, Practice and Heritage (Choreomundus), where I studied dance didactics in Norway, Hungary, France, and the UK. The programme offered incredible exposure, including the chance to absorb the beauty of places like Paris and Rome, not through sight but through other senses. I explored their culture, architecture, and atmosphere in ways I had never imagined possible. The best part was the supportive staff, teachers, and my mentor, who went above and beyond to help me with my lessons. However, navigating new environments as a blind person was still challenging, especially in systems that were not prepared to accommodate disabilities. This experience reinforced my belief that institutions must integrate disability orientation as a standard practice. Orientation sessions for staff, peers, and administrators could create a more inclusive environment and reduce unnecessary challenges for people with disabilities.
Orientation sessions for staff, peers, and administrators could create a more inclusive environment and reduce unnecessary challenges for people with disabilities.
I had the honour of being the keynote speaker at the Erasmus Mundus 20th Anniversary Conference in Brussels. Sharing my story and journey left a lasting impression on many, including the Erasmus Mundus community. The Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association also became a platform where I could engage and thrive with my fellows. The 20th Anniversary Conference provided an ideal platform to announce that I would lead a new EMA sub-unit called Ability Inclusion (AI), established under the Outreach and Capacity Building Unit (OCB). This initiative reflects a deep commitment to inclusivity and empowerment, and I am incredibly grateful to contribute to such transformative efforts.
The Erasmus programme broadened my horizons, and I returned to continue my work with Blind Rocks!, the organization I founded to empower blind people through dance, interpersonal skills, fashion, and adventure activities. Travelling across Russia, Germany, India, and Malaysia, I worked with blind communities, conducted workshops, and shared my story as a public speaker. These experiences deepened my resolve to advocate for inclusion and accessibility.
I worked with blind communities (...) These experiences deepened my resolve to advocate for inclusion and accessibility.
Dancing remains my passion, whether on stage or in casting shows. Today, my mother watches me perform with pride. Blindness changed my path, but it never dimmed my light. My journey is a testament to resilience, and I hope my story inspires others to embrace inclusivity, prepare for diversity, and see beyond limitations. Together, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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