"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
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…
Sundari Sivasubbu
Sundari Sivasubbu began her career in trade financing in a multinational bank, but the lure of vowels, consonants and images was so strong that she left banking to pursue a career in writing and communication. Following her Masters in Communication, she worked at the New Indian Express as a sub-editor and regularly contributed book reviews and wrote articles, features and interviews in the areas of art, education, cinema, environment, and health. For the last five years, she has enjoyed her role as a Communication Specialist with the corporate social responsibility division of HCL. Sundari was born with cerebral palsy, a neuro-skeletal and muscular condition that limits most physical activities and poses several challenges in day-to-living, including problems with vision, hearing, balancing, coordination, muscle power and motor skills. She views these challenges as her ‘muse’, which inspire her personal, professional and creative journeys. When she’s not writing prose, poetry or painting acrylics and oils, or doing physiotherapy, she gazes at the blue sea and the drifting white clouds from her eighth-floor apartment’s balcony in south Chennai.
