Ulgulan Talks!

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard Series is a part of the ‘Build Forward Better’ Campaign, which aims to document and highlight the stories and lived experiences of climate change-induced impacts from the perspective of vulnerable communities (especially persons with disabilities, including invisible disabilities, rare conditions, chronic illnesses, and other unrecognized and neglected disabilities) residing in different geographies and climatic zones of India. Ulgulan Talks! is an initiative of The Sangyan to document stories, lived experiences, narratives, and beyond by taking cognizance, disseminating information and creating awareness about the theme and intersectionality of Law, Environment and Disability.”; and the biosketch: “Ideated and Curated by — Adv. Abhishek Kumar; Advocate, Bar Council of Delhi [2021]; B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) Batch of 2015–20; National Law University, Delhi; Founder and Curator, The Sangyan; Curator, Build Forward Better Campaign; and NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability”. Additionally, there are logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “…Extreme weather and climatic conditions/events act as a threat multiplier that takes a toll on my physical and mental health with compromised immunity and productivity due to IIH, Osteoporosis, PCOS and other comorbidities. It leads to relapses, triggers climate anxiety owing to inaccessible Emergency Evacuation Plan, increases disability-adjusted life years, Etc.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “…Extreme weather and climatic conditions/events act as a threat multiplier that takes a toll on my physical and mental health with compromised immunity and productivity due to IIH, Osteoporosis, PCOS and other comorbidities. It leads to relapses, triggers climate anxiety owing to inaccessible Emergency Evacuation Plan, increases disability-adjusted life years, and flare-ups existing conditions, resulting in increased cost of living, restricted mobility, disturbed intracranial pressure headaches, capability deprivation, needs for frequent health care management, etc…”; and the biosketch: “Kavya Poornima Balajepalli from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Person with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension [IIH], Architect and Committee Member, District Level Committee on Disability, NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability, Founder and Curator, Poornamidam & IIH Warriors India”. Additionally, there is the picture of Kavya Poornima, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “People with MS are always advised to avoid/stay away from extreme hot and cold temperatures/climates as they can aggravate the symptoms of MS. The October Heat is another bothering period. Even though the symptoms affect my life on an everyday basis, summers aggravate fatigue, anxiety, and tingling, while in winter, I experience spasticity issues accompanied by pai

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “People with MS are always advised to avoid/stay away from extreme hot and cold temperatures/climates as they can aggravate the symptoms of MS. The October Heat is another bothering period. Even though the symptoms affect my life on an everyday basis, summers aggravate fatigue, anxiety, and tingling, while in winter, I experience spasticity issues accompanied by pain. I also live with Migraine, which is a terrible part of MS. During heatwaves, the Migraine sometimes elevates to such an extent, that I need hospitalization. This further impacts my work life.”; and the biosketch: “Anjali Vyas, Chemical Engineer Bhandara, Maharashtra [India]; Person with Multiple Sclerosis [MS]; British Council-certified IELTS Trainer; NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability; Int. Visitor Leadership Program Alumni; India MS Person 2021 & Member, MSSI; MS Ambassador Purple Fest Goa 2023; & Climatic Zone: Warm-Humid”. Additionally, there is the picture of Anjali Vyas, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “Living through a Delhi heatwave, in a ramshackle home with no respite from the sweltering heat, feels like being trapped in an oven. The sun becomes an unforgiving enemy, and the air becomes a suffocating shroud during winters. During one unbearable summer, our neighbourhood faced an acute water crisis.” and “My mother’s existing health issues were aggravated terribly. Dehydration ravaged her b

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “Living through a Delhi heatwave, in a ramshackle home with no respite from the sweltering heat, feels like being trapped in an oven. The sun becomes an unforgiving enemy, and the air becomes a suffocating shroud during winters. During one unbearable summer, our neighbourhood faced an acute water crisis.” and “My mother’s existing health issues were aggravated terribly. Dehydration ravaged her body, while her chronic ailments roared with newfound intensity. And as for me, the heatwaves weren’t just a meteorological event; they were a neurological and physiological catastrophe. My dyspraxia symptoms flared up, making everyday activities — like even lifting a glass of water — an exhausting battle.”; and the biosketch: “Puneet Singh Singhal, Delhi, India; Person with Undiagnosed Learning Disability and Stammering; Disability Activist and DEI Speaker; Founder, ssstart [Disability Organization]; & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Puneet Singh Singhal, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “Extreme winters are troublesome as I bear severe back pain during this weather. The calf muscles and feet get swollen and inflamed during harsh winters, making it difficult to sit with legs dangling down. Hence I have to take breaks in between my work hours to lie down for rest and also limit roaming on wheelchair and rather stay on bed. Word limit.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “Extreme winters are troublesome as I bear severe back pain during this weather. The calf muscles and feet get swollen and inflamed during harsh winters, making it difficult to sit with legs dangling down. Hence I have to take breaks in between my work hours to lie down for rest and also limit roaming on wheelchair and rather stay on bed with legs straight, or any other posture that minimizes excessive swelling and resulting pain.” and “Rainy season is yet another chaos. The challenges seem tiny but for a wheelchair user, they are hard to survive with. Water-clogged and slippery roads, potholes and poor drainage systems disrupt normal wheelchair movement, even make me lose control of the chair.”; and the biosketch: “Shikha Uma Agarwal, Delhi — National Capital Region (India), Person with Locomotor Disability [Diagnosed with Poliomyelitis and Scoliosis], DEI Speaker and Consultant, Advocate and Transgender Activist & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Puneet Singh Singhal, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “The increase in temperatures during summer and even the extension of summer months in Hyderabad due to climate change has had a direct impact on my mobility, which is a source of frustration for me. Not being able to go out at least once a week makes me feel depressed and out of sorts. I’m extremely sensitive to heat due to my health condition. I have had dizzy/weak spells during summers, especially in restrooms. Therefore, my parents had to install fans even in the washrooms at my home for my comfort. In fact, most of the summer is a period of hibernation for me as I can’t go out in the heat. During rain, I get stressed about my mobility (getting stranded) and my motorised wheelchair getting damaged (and its consequent repair cost and expenditure).”; and the biosketch: “Swathi Gadepallli; Hyderabad, Telangana (India); Person with Locomotor Disability [Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy] Disability Advocate and Content Writer & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Swathi Gadepallli, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “The extreme change in climatic conditions causes physical and health issues. In extremely cold conditions, my muscle gets stiffened, the body’s metabolism changes, and aches in the body parts where sensation could be felt. While in extremely hot conditions, the stomach gets upset regularly, resulting in weakness and dehydration, and urinary problems also result from water loss. I regularly go for chest physiotherapy, as being a paraplegic, my lungs get affected the most in extreme conditions. Yoga, good nutrition, and precautionary care helped me mitigate these extreme situations.”; and the biosketch: “Gopika Anand; Ranchi, Jharkhand (India); Person with Locomotor Disability [Spinal Cord Injury]; Disability Advocate and Principal at Deepshikha, Institute for Child Development & Mental Health, Ranchi & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Gopika Anand, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “Though summers are far more tolerable, winters are hauntingly difficult. Winters make my muscles stiff & spastic & simple tasks like writing or eating become difficult, while extreme heatwaves cause strained breathing. Because of the extreme weather, I increasingly become dependent on my family and professional caregiver to cater to my needs which increases my cost of living and takes away my independence. As climate change worsens in the future, it will be nearly impossible for me to function independently because of the capability deprivation as my ability to function is greatly affected by the weather I’m in.”; and the biosketch: “Kavya Mukhija; Jaipur, Rajasthan & Delhi (India); Person with Locomotor Disability [Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita]; Organisational Psychologist, Disability Advocate & Founder-Namastey Disability; NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Kavya Mukhija, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard”; the following quote: “The heatwaves and humidity cause capability deprivation and thus, affect my productivity and thinking ability. I suffer from fainting issues and struggle travelling and that’s why I don’t stay out during the daytime. For me, air conditioning becomes an essential facility and power cuts trigger anxiety and discomfort. I struggled to deal with heat and shifted from Bengaluru to Ooty. Once I was travelling to Chennai in May and by the time I disembarked from the flight getting on the bus itself was very disorienting and when I tried going to the restroom to put water on my face, I collapsed. I usually use ice packs if I’m travelling and plan to travel in stages and in AC and if I’m in a car then I keep a lot of ORS. It’s tough to be economically independent to avoid extreme weather events.”; and the biosketch: “Meenakshi Venkataraman; The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu (India); Person with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Autonomic Dysfunction, and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA); Ecologist and Disability Advocate; Director, Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group & Climatic Zone: Temperate/Cold”. Additionally, there is the picture of Meenakshi Venkataraman, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title: “Extreme heat environments dry up my eyes significantly due to the artificial gel filled to sustain my eye structure. I’m fortunate to reside in Bengaluru where the temperature on the higher side hasn’t crept in so far or has less heat wave impact. The most visible change due to climate change for me is the microclimatic conditions around me. The increased frequency of heat waves has affected my daily travel schedules and increased the risks to safety when I’m outside my residence. As organizing and planning are integral parts of my lifestyle, frequent disruptions result in spontaneous and unexpected changes in plans, increasing my cost of living and affecting my quality of life. I also make minor changes to my medication often to cope with changes in the weather patterns.”; and the biosketch: “Giridhar NV; Bengaluru, Karnataka (India); Person with Blindness (Optic Nerve Atrophy); Mechanical Engineer; Project Manager and Green Building Designer; Public Speaker & Disability Advocate & Climatic Zone: Temperate/Warm Humid”.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title — “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard” and the following texts: “Climate change crisis certainly acts as a threat multiplier and results in capability deprivation. It has been a rather unacknowledged aspect of everyday living as its consequences are not always visible and have largely been part of the academic domain with limited public awareness. Often it’s being confused with related terminologies and phenomena. As a kid, I had Eosinophilia, which means I was extremely cold-sensitive and basically allergic to extreme weather events and changes. In Munger (Bihar) and Deoghar (Jharkhand), during winter, I used to get cough which used to continue for months and drain all my energy. This has reduced with age but still has a seed in my body which has compounded my disability and affects my productivity significantly.”; and the biosketch: “Kumar Mahavir; Deoghar, Jharkhand (India); Person with Locomotor Disability (Hemiplegia); Masters in Urban Policy and Governance from TISS Mumbai; Founder and Curator — Project Samajh; NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Kumar Mahavir, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title — “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard” and the following texts: “My condition worsens as Rheumatoid Arthritis flares up and causes severe joint pain and stiffness in extreme weather events, especially during winter and rain. Once I was left stranded during floods at a railway station in Chennai for several hours since I couldn’t travel alone because of my visual impairment. I have to be on higher doses of medication, especially during harsh monsoons to deal with joint pains and inflammation of the eyes. I need to anticipate flare-ups as even sudden shifts in the weather increase my allergies and the high chances of getting other illnesses such as colds, fever, etc. because of my low immunity. I consult my doctor before the start of the rainy season and adjust my medications to avoid relapse of symptoms & flare-ups & stock up on essential medicines.”; and the biosketch: “Alice Abraham; Thrissur, Kerala (India); Person with Visual Impairment (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis); MPhil in Comparative Literature; PhD Scholar & Disability Rights Advocate; Int. Visitor Leadership Program Alumni; NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability & Climatic Zone: Warm-Humid”. Additionally, there is the picture of Alice Abraham, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title — “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard” and the following texts: “Climate change leads to panic and worries about our well-being. Its resultant insomnia, palpitations and brain fog lead to loss of mental functionality and inefficiency. Climate change and its induced disasters and extreme weather events like heatwaves, cyclones, floods, etc. have a deteriorating impact on my mental health and condition with the threat of constant anxiety and depression. My father and his twin sister were yet to be born but travelled with my expectant grandmother during the great Indian partition. Their autism and growth journey were impacted by the same. It has affected and disabled them for the entirety of their lives to different extents. Similarly, any displacement due to extreme weather events would affect many lives for the longest time.”; and the biosketch: “Praful Baweja; Mumbai, Maharashtra (India); Person with Autism Spectrum Disorder & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Marketing and HR Consultant; DEI Professional and Design Thinker; Co-Founder, 6 Degrees Diversity Counsel & Climatic Zone: Warm-Humid”. Additionally, there is the picture of Praful Baweja, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title — “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard” and the following texts: “I’m a person with hard of hearing as I lost my hearing ability to an accident at the age of ten. I largely rely on technology to connect with people and carry out my work through digital mediums. I live in a mountainous region that receives heavy rainfall during the monsoons. However, with climate change, the weather patterns are changing. Intense and frequent precipitation has been causing constant load shedding, which negatively impacts my productivity and triggers climate anxiety. Extreme weather events like scorching heat cause pain in my eyes and it becomes difficult to stand outside in the sun because of the heat. The lack of an accessible early-warning system and sign language interpreters during an emergency situation like disasters affects my mental health”; and the biosketch: “Ferdinand Lyngdoh Marshillong; Shillong, Meghalaya (India); Person with Hearing Impairment (Hard of Hearing); Research Scholar at North Eastern Hill University; Int. Visitor Leadership Program Alumni; and NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability & Climatic Zone: Warm-Humid”. Additionally, there is the picture of Ferdinand Lyngdoh Marshillong, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Visual/Image Description [Alt Text]: A beige colour postcard with the title — “The Sangyan’s Ulgulan Talks! Postcard” and the following texts: “In 2015, an earthquake deeply affected my life, both physically and mentally. While everyone else managed to evacuate, including the elderly who struggled to walk, I was left stuck, screaming and panicking. That earthquake changed my life and gave me a first-hand understanding of how vulnerable disabled individuals are in disasters, showing me how climate change can intensify existing challenges. Extreme weather greatly affects my mobility and increases my chances of catching a cold, which often worsens into bronchitis or even lung infections. In addition to accessibility and assistive technologies, caregivers become very important for persons with disabilities during disasters, extreme weather events, and other emergencies to ensure protection and safety.”; and the biosketch: “Priya Srivastava; Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (India); Person with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Locomotor Disability); Lawyer and Disability Rights Advocate; NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability; Advocating Accessible and Affordable Caregiving for Persons with Disabilities & Climatic Zone: Composite”. Additionally, there is the picture of Priya Srivastava, logos of The Sangyan and Build Forward Better Campaign, and QR Codes of The Sangyan and Ulgulan Talks! Interview Series.

Ulgulan Talks! — Interviews and Postcards

Written by The Sangyan

No responses yet