Dr. Komal Kamra was born in a partition-affected family with meagre means. While her father hunted for a job, one month old Komal was taken away by her maternal aunt to her home, where she was brought up.
Those were the days when people were happy as demands were few!
Dr. Kamra’s schooling was in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and in Carmel Convent. She spent six years in both the schools. During her school days, studies were her passion and, theatre an escape. As fate would have it, she landed up with Leukoderma when she was 16; so, theatre was no longer a choice; without becoming despondent, she put all her passion into studies.
Consequently, Dr. Kamra topped the University of Delhi in her Masters in Zoology and secured a permanent faculty post before she turned 21. She continued her research alongside.
Dr. Kamra married an army officer and was leading a happy family life with two children when a major tragedy struck them. Fourteen members of her family went for a holiday, a road trip when their vehicle fell into a deep gorge, killing three members and leaving her and her mother with spine injuries, her son with a head injury and the rest with lots of broken bones.
Dr. Kamra got no access to a structured rehabilitation facility. She had to pick up techniques from here and there. Three years later, fate blew another devastating blow when she lost her husband.
Despite all adversities, with 2/3rd of her body paralysed Dr. Kamra chose to move on with grit and determination, relying heavily on the Power of the Mind! Once she regained sufficient physical functionality, she went back to teaching and research, this time with more vengeance.
With the intention of making a difference in the lives of others in a similar state, Dr. Kamra busied herself in peer counselling.
Due to her never-say-die-spirit and her unyielding diligence, Dr. Kamra became the:
• Founder Member of the Equal Opportunity Cell at DU and got to understand all kinds of disabilities
• Founder Member of ‘Ekatwam’ where she reaches out to persons suffering from Epilepsy, and
• Founder Member of The Spinal Foundation, a pan India organisation that works for persons with spinal cord injuries, of which she is presently its Secretary.
Dr. Kamra was conferred the National Award in the Best Employee Category by the then President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in 2004.
Along with her diverse roles and responsibilities, Dr. Kamra continues with her mainstream work post her retirement. She began going to her student’s research lab to keep herself academically occupied.
Dr. Komal Kamra is an asset to Lotus Boulevard and stays in Tower 12A, 2402. She is happy travelling, meeting new people and making friends. Her vibrant personality ardently believes in living every bit of her life, and lives it king-size, utilising every moment of her day meaningfully and fruitfully!
