It was last summer in Paris that Bangalore-based Mrunmaiy Abroal represented India at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships’ women’s club throw category. The journey up to that moment had been a difficult but rewarding one, and certainly one for the books. “It was a [great] moment for me,” says Mrunmaiy. “The sense of pride you feel when representing your country in a global forum is a big privilege.” 

Mrunmaiy lives life entirely on her terms. Apart from para athletics, she leads public relations at Amazon for its devices and services business; she writes a personal blog called Wheelchair Wanderer; she’s a social media influencer and advocate for the needs and rights of the disabled; and she often speaks at industry forums on equity and inclusion. “I am my biggest motivator,” she says. “I am best influenced by what I think about myself, so I look back at my journey and I realise how difficult things seemed in the beginning and how far I have come. This helps me to go on.”

“To motivate anybody, you have to be a role model. For example, I am not an astronaut, so I cannot advise someone about how they can become a great astronaut. But I can definitely guide people on how to accept their body after a disability.”

Mrunmaiy lived 30 years of her life as an able-bodied person. She was an avid traveller, dancer, car rallyist, and trekker. An accident led to cervical spine record injury, which resulted in paralysis below her shoulders. Mrunmaiy is very vocal about the intricacies of sustaining a spinal cord injury, especially to explain what this means in everyday life, and that there is a difference in conditions wheelchair users deal with. She also volunteers with The Spinal Foundation as a peer mentor.

“Spinal cord injury is unique, and no two individuals have the same experience,” says Mrunmaiy. “That's where a peer group comes in handy. When the injury is new, no matter what doctors or physiotherapists or your friends and family say, you are more likely to believe people with spinal cord injuries.” 

Mrunmaiy uses her voice at Amazon – and as an influencer -- to try and affect real change for people with disabilities. In a country where the disabled struggle to find gainful employment due to bias in organisations, lack of resources, support and accessibility, and limited to no access to the right tools and opportunities, Mrunmaiy makes sure she is heard wherever she is. “I have successfully managed my career with my 90% disability,” she says. “I started an affinity group for people with disabilities in India at Amazon to raise the profile of PWD colleagues, so that non-disabled employees can see we are contributing equally to the business. When people were disability succeed in the workplace, it opens up opportunities for other people with disabilities to join in.”

On a personal front, Mrunmaiy writes a blog about living with spinal cord injury and travelling with a disability. It grew as she realised how people related to her experiences, not only in terms of physical challenges but also mental health. Mrunmaiy understood that promoting accessibility is a chicken-and-egg situation. “Unless we are seen in public out and about, how will society understand the importance of being accessible?” she points out. 

As a person with disability, Mrunmaiy believes in having a purpose to life that’s external to oneself. “I believe my life is my message and I try to live as unapologetically as possible,” she says. “I have goals, dreams and passions and I go after all of them. Even though I’m 90% disabled, I’m able to swim. I have a successful career and I am financially independent. I like fashion and dressing up. I go to the movies or the stadium to watch cricket like everyone else.” 

“I want people to think beyond the preconceived notions they have about people with disability. We are used to seeing people who feel sorry about themselves, always sad, and with no hope in life. But many of us are not like that. This is the biggest myth I would like to bust through my life.”