NEHA BANERJEE MAY 2017
Neha Banerjee am delighted to share the
Istory of my life with you for " WOW "- Women ' s Excellence Awards.
" I started getting trained in Kathak at a very tender age of 3. Without even knowing, the love for Kathak turned into passion and from passion to my life. I was fortunate enough to get trained by legendar y exponents of Kathak like Pt., Birju Maharaj Ji. In a very early age i started performing all over India and winning best of trophies in my name. At the age of 16 I was selected for a Close-Up TV Commercial.
But as it is said- " time tests everyone ", and so was my love for Kathak tested by God. I was hardly 16 years old and was preparing to leave for Mumbai for my advertisement shoot when i met with a life altering accident. In accident I broke my left leg completely, there was a major bone loss, tissue loss and muscle loss. i was told by Doctors that I will never be able to walk ever again, dance was out of question for every one- except for me. I was happy that I could see my leg and it was not amputated. I had a belief in myself and knew that no power on this earth can stop me from dancing. I went through horrible pains & agonies only t o s t r e n g t h e n m y determination to dance. I could not move from bed for 1 full year, i was not even able to sit neither I was able to turn sideways while sleeping. For one year i used to lye in one position. i focused to try and sit in �rst place, it took me six month and I succeeded to sit. that was my �rst victory. Gradually with lots of efforts i started walking with the help of Polio braces. That was my second victory in another 6 months. Doctors were happy to see me walking with the help of braces which was last thing they expected me to do with all my efforts provided.
But for me this was the beginning to start my �ght against the conspiracy of nature to test my patience a n d l o v e f o r K a t h a k. Everyday for 5 minutes, i started practicing " Tatkar " the footwork of Kathak with the polio braces on my leg. I continued this practice for another one year. I used to go and sit in my dance class for hours together to atleast feel the rhythm( Taal). Which used to motivate me all the more to get up and dance. My dance teacher was bewildered to see me doing footwork with the braces, she asked me to stop it as she was afraid that I might break my leg again. But i was aware nothing can deter me from dancing again. I continued the process and Ryaz for more than 1 year with braces. And my �rst performance in Nagpur was with the braces. This process continued for a while and I decided to test my ability further and started practicing without the braces. After 4 years of constant efforts and struggle, I not only started walking like normal people but i danced better than most dancers. It was not easy journey for me as when I started dancing again there were bunch of young girls who were more energetic. It was challenge for me to match their level of energy. I had to put my 200 % to match their level. i am delighted and grateful to God for providing me with so much of energy, willpower and quality of determination that I have overcome everything and have been able to achieve s u c c e s s i n m y c a r e e r.
The ordeal of accident did not stopped within those 4- 5 years. It continued further by damaging my lever, health and I gained weight in coming years due to medicines and steroids. but I have " never say d i e a t t i t u d e ", I w a s determined to excel.
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