South Asian Girls Overcoming Challenges Stories
[The stage is set with a simple podium, a large screen displaying the TEDx logo, and an audience filled with anticipation. Harneet Batra steps onto the stage, radiating confidence and warmth. She’s a former actress turned motivational speaker and NGO worker, ready to share her inspiring journey.]
In frame, fictionalized actress Harneet Batra
[The stage is set with a simple podium, a large screen displaying the TEDx logo, and an audience filled with anticipation. Harneet Batra steps onto the stage, radiating confidence and warmth. She’s a former actress turned motivational speaker and NGO worker, ready to share her inspiring journey.]
Harneet Batra: Good evening, everyone. I’m Harneet Batra, and today, I want to take you on a journey of resilience, transformation, and hope. It’s a story not just about me but about the countless South Asian girls who have faced monumental challenges and emerged stronger.
Picture this: I was once a rising star in the South Asian film industry. Fame, fortune, and a promising career were at my fingertips. But behind the glamorous facade, my life was unraveling. The pressure to maintain a perfect image led me down a dark path of alcoholism and drug abuse. I thought they were my escape, but they only deepened my despair.
One fateful night, I found myself fighting for my life in a hospital bed, teetering on the edge. But my struggles didn’t end there. My then-husband, Harman, was toxic and abusive. Losing our baby shattered me. To make matters worse, my own parents sided with him, leaving me isolated and broken.
As I battled for survival, the film industry, in its callousness, signed me up for inappropriate roles without my consent, tarnishing my name when I was most vulnerable.
[Harneet pauses, her eyes reflecting the pain of those memories]
But amidst this darkness, a beacon of hope emerged. Farina Shams, a Muslim woman, found me and brought me to a women’s shelter where she worked. This shelter became my sanctuary, a place where I could begin healing.
At the shelter, I found a new family of resilient women. Together, we laughed, cried, and rebuilt ourselves. And then, fate intervened again. I met Rocky, my co-worker Shruti’s brother , who showed me kindness, love, and patience. We fell in love, and today, Rocky and I are happily married. We have two beautiful twin daughters, Gunjan and Ginni, who bring light into our lives every day.
[The screen behind Harneet lights up with a photo of her family, their smiles radiant]
Now, I work at the same shelter that rescued me, helping other women reclaim their strength and dignity. My journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of reaching out for help.
I want you to remember this: No matter how dark life gets, there is always hope. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to rebuild. And it’s okay to find happiness after hardship.
Thank you, Farina, for your compassion. Thank you to my shelter family for your unwavering support. And thank you, Rocky, for being my rock and my pillar of strength.
In frame, Harneet and Farina Shams
In frame, Harneet Batra, husband Rocky Oberoi and their twin daughters Gunjan and Ginni
[Harneet takes a deep breath, her voice filled with gratitude]
And thank you to all of you for listening. May this story inspire you to overcome your challenges and to help others in their journey towards healing and happiness.
[The audience rises in applause as Harneet steps back, her heart overflowing with hope]