From A 23-YO Who Quit Her Job To Save A Kid, To Leading An NGO - A Woman's Story Of Courage

It was in a small, almost crumbling house in a slum that the world stopped making sense to the 23-year-old Sonal Kapoor. A small girl walked up to her - visibly uncomfortable - to serve her tea. Sonal asked the mother if her daughter was okay and very matter-of-factly, she said that someone had just come; that every third day some 40-45-year-old comes for her daughter and that＊s how they are able to make ends meet. She admitted to selling her child every third day, so she could feed the five other mouths. Of course, she realised it was wrong 每 but they were poor and they had no choice 每 at least that＊s how they felt.

Sonal Kapoor/Protsahan

※Everything else just stopped making sense. Going back to the same job, doing the same stuff that others 每 friends and colleagues 每 were doing, everything I studied like calculus, algebra, science 每 I was a microbiology student 每 stopped making sense. Because the childhood and survival of a kid were at stake. How could anything make sense?§ admitted Sonal.

Soon after, her NGO Protsahan was born. It has rescued over 800 children and Sonal says they want to bring happiness and healing to these children in the form of art, dance, music, meditation and theatre.

'It＊s not a bad thing to be sensitive'.

Sonal Kapoor/Protsahan

Behind the strong, unflinching voice that＊s changing the future one kid at a time, is a sensitive bibliophile who says, ※It＊s not a bad thing to be sensitive, if I was not sensitive, Protsahan would never have been born§. Not much of a social butterfly, she＊d rather curl up with a book or snooze, than go to a fancy party.

It takes a rule-breaker to be a trail-blazer

Sonal Kapoor/Protsahan

When she started out, as a 20-something Punjabi woman she was incessantly asked to ＆settle down＊ 每 aka, get married, have kids and perhaps a regular income. But she made sure her heart was louder and clearer than all the voices around her. Now, at 33, she married to a man who is also married to her vision and dreams. She doesn＊t want kids of her own because her bacchas at Protsahan fulfil her motherly instincts. ※Motherhood is a choice, I do not want kids of my own. I have kids, so many of them and I love them all.§

Her short hair and tattoos often invite more judgement than appreciation but she continues to stand by her choices. ※How can I do something for others when I am not true to myself, to who I am as a person?§ she muses.

'People expect me to be serious and pious and sacrificial all the time. That＊s not how it works'.

Sonal Kapoor/Protsahan

※People expect me to be serious and pious and sacrificial all the time. That＊s not how it works. While I do what I do with utmost love, I also take care of myself. How can I take care of the kids, if I do not care for myself?§

People working with NGOs are often dehumanised and reduced to portraits of greatness. However, it takes human emotion and empathy to bring about change, and that＊s why everyone deserves to be heard even when they are not talking about changing the world.

Making mama proud

Sonal Kapoor/Protsahan

While people often say that she＊s not doing a ＆proper＊ job, her work speaks for her 每 her bachchas speak for her. One of her kids is learning to work with a camera, another one is gearing up to get a driver＊s license for Uber and yet another one 每 a shy girl - is a Judo Karate champion.

'2018 was a beautiful year for me - it was a learning phase'

Sonal Kapoor/Protsahan

※2018 was a beautiful year for me - it was a learning phase. I got married this year, Protsahan became so much bigger. I always thought things should be done in a small way with a lot of love, but this year I realised that I have the responsibility of reaching out to as many kids as I can.§

※They say, behind every successful man, there is a woman. But behind every successful woman are also the strong, progressive and nurturing men in her life. My father and my husband have been the pillars of my strength - my husband left everything and joined me.§

Behind the stories that she has helped shape and change, is her story 每 one of courage, of constant fearless battle, of not backing down and of following her heart. Not all heroes wear capes 每 some of them save the day quietly and wait for their work to make noise.