Saluting Paulami Patel - A Successful Entrepreneur Despite Losing Her Hand at 12

Paulami Patel - the more we admire her, the less it feels! She could have been full of agony and frustration all her life but instead saw her successful entrepreneurial journey later. Paulami was barely 12 when she met a tragic incident and lost her right hand. The world turned upside down the moment she faced that. She endured the pain of 50 surgeries and emerged victorious for the sheer belief that she could turn the corner one day. And she did that emphatically by becoming an entrepreneur years later. Of course, she was supported by her loved ones. However, it was her underlying belief in converting the challenge into an opportunity that brought about a remarkable turnaround in her life.

A Recount of the Tragic Incident Paulami Went Through

It was the Summer of 2001 when the 12-year-old Paulami Patel went to her paternal uncle’s house in Hyderabad to enjoy her vacation. It was all going smoothly there with crazy games she used to play along with her cousin. One day, Paulami played the role of her cousin. They were playing on the balcony of the 2-floor building, while elderly ones were resting downstairs. 

While playing, she tied a metallic instrument to an iron pole and threw it off the balcony. As the pole slipped out of her hand, she fell into a hanging wire and grabbed a stick under the impression that it was a thread for hanging clothes. However, it was a live wire that jolted her with an 11,000-volt electric shock. She was shaken and constantly bleeding. 

The situation deteriorated further when she touched the steel chair near her. She screamed and her burnt body fell to the ground. Her relatives came to the balcony and found her unconscious with blood dripping all over.

80% of Her Body Was Burnt, Yet the Flame of Hope Was Alive and Kicking!

The relatives took her to Apollo Hospital where it was found that 80% of her body was burnt. Paulami received basic care for one month before she was moved to Beach Candy Hospital in Mumbai through an ambulance. The treatment lasted for as long as eight months and she had to lose her right hand during the course of 50 surgeries. 

From parents to relatives, they were all in shock and remorse at how life became hell for her in no time. But her unwavering optimism saw her overcoming the miseries. Moreover, Paulami was ably supported by her parents and school teachers while recovering.

An MBA Graduate, A Heavy Machinery Entrepreneur Define Paulami of Today

The obstacle was big, Paulami’s self-belief was bigger! The belief helped her become an MBA graduate. Later, she got married to her friend-turned-husband Sandeep Jotwani. Now she runs a heavy machinery business along with her family. 

So, it’s all about your mindset. If you choose to stay down by the turn of events, you will always be in regret! But if you see the brighter side of life, you will convert the challenge into an opportunity that Paulami did admirably.

We at BharatFD, an online fixed deposit marketplace, salute the country’s bravehearts such as Paulami Patel.

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