Devika Malik, Para-athlete and an entrepreneur, whose story will inspire you to push your limits
Life is not always a bed of roses for everyone. But this reality didn’t stop Devika Malik to stop dreaming. Born a premature baby with acute neonatal jaundice and hemiplegia, she was paralysed on one side of the body. Despite all that she suffered nothing came as a hurdle to her from becoming an international para-athlete as well as making it to Forbes 30 Under –30 Asia list. A para-athlete, an entrepreneur, and a disability champion, Devika Malik has not let anything stand in the way of her success. When Devika was a toddler and was learning how to walk, she walked out of her home into the busy streets and got hit by a motorcycle. The accident had a major impact on her brain, which paralysed the left side of her body, turning her hemiplegic.
Devika Malik’s Wheeling happiness
An international disability inclusion advocate, Devika co-founded the Wheeling Happiness Foundation in 2014. Wheeling happiness believes that disability is just one facet of a person’s being, not something that should define their dreams and aspirations. This organization supports and enables people with disability sports, provides access to sports equipment, and help them overcome other challenges like emotional, social and financial problems. It has also collaborated with multiple organizations such as Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Smile Train and actor Shah Rukh Khan’s Meer Foundation to support its beneficiaries. The 28-year-old has been a leading voice for young people. She has also represented India at many international levels.
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For her efforts, Devika has also received recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was also awarded the Queen’s Young Leader Award by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London in 2015. She also addressed the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in front of the entire British Royal Family, and all 53 heads of Commonwealth Countries, including our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the opening ceremony about disability in 2018. Her work as an entrepreneur was also recognized by the NITI Aayog in 2018.
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