Sundari Sivasubbu

A Bumblebee's Balcony Sundari Sivasubbu

Do you think you are good enough to pursue the dream that you held dear as a child? Or, did you give it up a long time back because someone said that it was foolish, not possible, or that you were not talented enough for your dream? What if the bumblebee had listened to scientists who snubbed its short, stunted, funny wings, and believed that it could not fly? Is it possible to remain unshackled by, and rise above, the assumptions of a society obsessed with 'normal'? Do you believe that you can be happy at any time, at any point in your life, despite the circumstances?

"A Bumblebee's Balcony" asks these questions as it traces the joys and pangs of a little girl in a village who has cerebral palsy, and how the big city was the backdrop in her beautiful journey towards self-discovery. It traces the intimate account of ordinary life fraught with physical and socio-psychological barriers: What it's like to be the odd one out, the tryst with assistive aids, gender-specific barriers, chaotic trials while commuting through various means of transport, insights on workplace diversity, her tumultuous emotional journey, and the pursuit of well-being, spirituality and giving back. The author sees joy and purpose in what could have easily been labelled as maudlin, as she vividly describes the persistent mind-body conflict, the inner and outer battles, the quest to understand her identity, rising above personal and societal prejudices, and succeeding in carving an identity devoid of bitterness. In its true essence, A Bumblebee's Balcony is a simple,

straight-from-the-heart tribute to love, strength, hope and an unshakable faith in the Universe...