Disability is not inability. If your mind is strong, your body will follow: Arpita Roay, a double amputee Yoga trainer
Hyderabad, Mar 6: The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) hosted a special programme titled “SheRise – Give to Gain” to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday at the FTCCI Surana Auditorium, Federation House, Hyderabad.
Organised by the FTCCI Ladies Wing Committee, the event aimed to recognise the achievements of women leaders and foster meaningful conversations around leadership, entrepreneurship, resilience, and inclusive growth.
The programme featured inspiring personal journeys of grit and determination.
One of the keynote speakers, Arpita Roy, a double amputee yoga instructor working with Amazon, as well as a yoga instructor with one of the Yoga Academies in the city shared her story of extraordinary courage and indomitable willpower. Though she hails from West Bengal, she lives in the city since 2019 at Hafeespet.
“I have no legs, but no limits,” she said while narrating her inspiring journey.
Never ask Why me? — instead ask ‘What next?’ Life is about moving forward with courage, she said. Disability is not inability. If your mind is strong, your body will follow.I want young girls to know that no obstacle is bigger than your dreams, she said speaking to 150 plus audience.
Arpita can bend her body like a rubber band and perform yoga postures that even regular gym-goers find difficult — yet she has no legs.
Despite losing both legs in a scooter accident in 2007, she performs advanced Hatha Yoga asanas, including a perfect headstand, proving that determination can overcome any physical limitation. She now works as a yoga instructor at a yoga school in the city.
Sharing her emotional journey, Arpita said that initially she did not feel the impact of losing her legs as strongly as she did when she experienced society’s indifferent attitude towards differently-abled individuals.
“I never asked ‘Why me?’ But when society least cared about people like us, that is when it hurt the most,” she said.
Arpita now walks with the help of artificial limbs. Having lost her parents, she lives independently in Hafeezpet, occasionally receiving support from close friends.
“I am not different from others — I am differently abled. But it is still difficult to make ends meet,” she shared.
She expressed her aspiration to dedicate herself fully to yoga training and motivational speaking.
“I want to visit schools and colleges to share my journey and inspire young girls,” she said.
Another speaker, Keerthi Priya Odapalli, Founder and CEO of Koh! Foods, shared her entrepreneurial journey. Koh! Foods is a Telangana-based brand offering healthy vegetable powders and mixes designed to make urban diets more nutritious.
Hailing from a small village in rural Telangana, Keerthi completed her B.Pharm from BITS Pilani and later earned an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Her story inspired the audience of over 150 attendees.
Inspired by her mother, who used to send dehydrated vegetable powders while she was working in the corporate sector, Keerthi identified a clear entrepreneurial opportunity.
With financial support through the Stand Up India scheme and a ₹50 lakh debenture under Startup India, she established a 6,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.
Koh! Foods procures fresh vegetables and converts them into powders using electrical dehydration technology. The company’s product range includes Spinach Powder, Beetroot Powder, Carrot Powder, and Dehydrated Tomatoes.
Leaving behind a corporate career, this IIM graduate now works alongside her mother to build a brand focused on 100% residue-free products, targeting ₹1 crore in revenue and beyond.
The event also featured an interaction session with Keerthi Priya Odapalli and Rohini Deepthi Natti, Co-Founder of Koh! Foods, where they shared deeper insights into their entrepreneurial journey.
Harika Varma, Global Technology Leader and Serial Entrepreneur, shared insights from her professional journey marked by innovation, leadership, and perseverance.
Smt. Uma Devi Chigurupati, Executive Director of Granules India Limited, attended the event as the Chief Guest.
She emphasised that despite technological progress and economic development, women still face many challenges.
“There is a need to celebrate Women’s Day because women must be recognised for their strength and contribution. If given equal opportunities, women often outperform men in many areas,” she said.
She also shared her inspiring personal story of participating in marathons with her husband across seven continents, including Antarctica, despite having no previous running background.
“A fit woman in the family means a fit family. Everyone must prioritise fitness and lead an active lifestyle,” she added.
R. Ravi Kumar, President of FTCCI, spoke about the theme ‘Give to Gain.’ “Give whatever you can without expecting anything in return. The moment you expect returns, the purpose of giving is lost. Every human being has strengths and something valuable to contribute,” he said.
Dr. Tasneem Shariff, Chairperson of the FTCCI Ladies Wing Committee, highlighted the importance of women’s participation in economic growth.
“According to a United Nations study, if women participate in economic activity at the same level as men, the global economy could grow 26% faster,” she noted.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Tasneem Shariff, Co-Founder of The Diplomatic Club, featured prominent speakers including Rashida Adenwala (TiE Hyderabad), Vinita Surana (Surana Group), Bobby Azmeera (Telangana’s first tribal woman pilot), Sheetal Mondkar (Founder, Asvira Consulting), and Radhika Yuvraj (Country Director, Women in Tech India).
K.K. Maheshwari, Senior Vice President of FTCCI, and Srinivas Garimella, Vice President of FTCCI, also graced the occasion and addressed the gathering.
