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By:

C.S. Krishnamurthy

21 June 2025 at 2:15:51 pm

Ekta Bhyan, Quiet Gold

The strongest lessons in life rarely arrive with drumbeats. They come quietly, sit beside us, and stay long after the applause fades. I learnt this at the recent Peakst8 Festival in the world-class Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence Bengaluru. The venue was full of ambition, energy, loud confidence and polished success stories. Yet, it was gold-winning para-athlete Ekta Bhyan who held my attention, not by raising her voice, but by lowering the noise around her. She was an integral...

Ekta Bhyan, Quiet Gold

The strongest lessons in life rarely arrive with drumbeats. They come quietly, sit beside us, and stay long after the applause fades. I learnt this at the recent Peakst8 Festival in the world-class Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence Bengaluru. The venue was full of ambition, energy, loud confidence and polished success stories. Yet, it was gold-winning para-athlete Ekta Bhyan who held my attention, not by raising her voice, but by lowering the noise around her. She was an integral part of a panel discussing what it takes to reach the Olympics. Others spoke of pressure, fame and sacrifice. Ekta spoke of routine. Of turning up. Of patience. There were no heroic flourishes in her words. Each sentence was measured, calm and grounded. Listening to her, I sensed a deep reserve of experience. She was not trying to impress. She was simply explaining how life had unfolded. A spinal injury, in 2003, had left her paralysed. This is usually where stories pause for sympathy. Ekta’s does not. She spoke of rebuilding, not rebelling. Of learning what the body could still do, and then working patiently within those limits. Para sport entered her life quietly, not as rescue, but as direction. Over time, she found her space in the F51 club throw, a demanding discipline where balance, precision and control matter more than force. What stayed with me was her restraint. She mentioned podium finishes only in passing. International meets, Asian Para Games, world championships, all appeared briefly and then moved aside. Even the gold medal she had earned was referred to almost casually, as one would mention a milestone on a long road. For her, medals are not destinations. They are confirmations. Steely Discipline Ekta spoke about training. It is not exciting, she said. It repeats itself. Progress hides. Muscles resist. The mind looks for shortcuts. Yet commitment must remain steady. She described days when success meant completing a session without excuses. On some mornings, it was finishing gym work despite fatigue. Evenings meant outdoor practice, carefully timed because regulating body temperature is a constant challenge after spinal injury. For nearly three years, she has not missed a single day of training. With limited muscle use and only about forty per cent lung capacity, each session needs careful planning. Her shoulders are her strongest allies. Other muscles cooperate less. Fingers offer no strength at all. Still, she works with what she has. Over the last four years, this discipline has translated into results. Gold medals at national championships. A bronze at the Asian Para Games. Gold and bronze at the World Championships in Paris in 2023. This season alone, she added gold at the Indian Open Paralympic Championships and a silver soon after. Her personal best stands at 21.5 metres, and she speaks of improving it, not defending it. There was a gentler revelation too. As a young girl, Ekta had once dreamt of becoming a doctor. She wanted to heal. Life rewrote the syllabus. Yet, listening to her, I realised she still heals. Not with medicine, but with example. Her journey treats assumptions and restores belief, quietly and effectively. Human Moment After the session, when the crowd thinned, I walked up to her with my notebook. I asked for her autograph, expecting a quick signature. She paused, asked my name, and wrote hers carefully. That small act reflected everything she had spoken about. Presence. Respect. Attention. Her daily life, she earlier shared, is not simple. She needs two people to help with routine movements, from transferring to travel. Public transport is impossible. Every trip requires planning, space and expense. Often, she bears the cost for three people, not one. Yet, she spoke of this without complaint. The harder challenge, she said, is mindset. People with disabilities are still seen as separate from the mainstream. Expectations are lowered, often disguised as kindness. Ekta resists this quietly. Her competition is internal. Yesterday versus today. Comfort versus effort. Paralysis, she believes, is a condition, not an identity. As I left the venue, the applause felt inadequate. Not because it was soft, but because her journey asks for reflection, not noise. Ekta Bhyan reminds us that ambition can change shape without losing meaning. That success does not always announce itself. Sometimes, it arrives quietly, balanced and consistent. Her strength lies not only in the distance she throws, but in the steadiness she maintains. And in that quiet balance, Ekta Bhyan offers us something rare. A lesson that stays long after the hall has emptied.   (The writer is a retired banker and author of ‘Money Does Matter.’)

True Freedom in the True Sense

Beyond our nation’s independence, true freedom is the courage to live without fear, shame, or dependence.

As the tricolour fluttered high in the sky on the 15th of August, our hearts swelled with pride. If we go beyond flags, parades, and patriotic speeches, true freedom is much deeper. It's not just about the country being free from foreign rule—it's about our minds, our choices, and our lives being free from unnecessary chains like fear, prejudice, and dependency.


The concept of freedom has a range of interpretations, but at its core, it encompasses the idea of being able to make choices and live your life as you desire, free from limitations and constraints.


Freedom of thought: This is the ability to think for yourself and form your own opinions, instead of just accepting trends or pressure from others.


Freedom from fear: The freedom to speak the truth without any fear of judgements, consequences, or retaliation. Freedom to be yourself: This is about the ability to live without guilt, shame, or constant comparison.


Freedom from harmful attachments: to be able to get detached from toxic people, unhealthy habits, or self-doubt. This also means learning to draw boundaries—saying no to situations, relationships, or patterns that drain your energy. It is not selfishness but self-respect, and it creates space for healthier connections and growth.


Requirements for true freedom:

Self-awareness: Knowing what you truly want in life and what holds you back.


Financial stability: Even modest stability reduces dependency and gives you power over your choices.


Emotional strength: Not letting others control your moods or decisions.


Moral clarity: Standing by your principles even when things get tough.


Knowledge and education: A free mind comes from understanding, not ignorance.


How to achieve true freedom

Declutter your mind: Question your old beliefs. Keep only those that serve your growth. Learn to say 'NO' without guilt. This is the first step in breaking invisible chains.


Build your skills: The more capable you are, the less you will depend on others.


Manage your money wisely: Managing your money wisely is essential because economic freedom gives you the independence and security to make choices without being constrained by financial dependence.


Detach from constant validation: Detaching from constant validation allows you to stop seeking others’ approval, and in that freedom, you begin to feel lighter, more confident, and truly in control of your life.


How to navigate life as a truly free person

Set your own life compass: Do not drift with the crowd. Choose your own direction.


Balance rights with responsibilities: Freedom without responsibility becomes chaos. Our freedoms flourish when grounded in responsibility towards family, community, and nation. Without this balance, independence can easily turn into indifference, and liberty into self-centredness.


Respect others' freedom: True independence is never at the cost of another person's dignity.


Stay adaptable: freedom is not rigid. It's the ability to adjust without losing yourself.


National Independence was given to us in 1947. True independence is something we each have to fight for every single day—by freeing our minds, controlling our needs, and building the courage to live as our truest selves. True Freedom is not just a date on the calendar, but it's a state of mind and heart. When we choose kindness over ego, courage over fear, and unity over division-- that is when we are truly free.


Our forefathers gave us the gift of political freedom. Now, it is our duty to give ourselves the gift of inner freedom. Let us guard our freedom not just with laws and borders, but with love, wisdom, and humanity in our hearts.


True freedom is when our inner spirit, our mind, and our soul soar higher as the flag is carried by the winds of dignity, love, and hope.


It is not loud. It is quiet, steady, and deep.


Jai Hind!


(The writer is tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

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