When 24-year-old Anandita Kumar sits behind her drum set, she lets the music take over her. The beats become her voice, and her drums a form of expression. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, Anandita’s early years were defined by therapy, immobility, and a struggle to make her presence in a world designed for the able-bodied. But over time, she discovered that music had become more than just a hobby; it gave her something far deeper: a sense of self.Born with a rare congenital heart defect, Anandita was barely a year old when she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. As a parent, Jyotsana Kumar remembers the uncertainty of those early days, the countless hospital visits, the surgeries, and the constant worry about what the future might hold for her daughter. Yet amid the fear, she saw a spark in her eyes, a marvel that refused to fade.Today, Anandita is a graduate of Pune University, plays two musical instruments, and is a certified clinical musician helping young adults like herself find their purpose.Anandita, or “Dita”, as she likes to be called, considers herself a “chill and content individual”. Her happiest moments are those spent with her family and her beloved cats, Syrah and Bono. Beyond her love for music, she enjoys dancing, acting, cooking, and, most importantly, watching Big Boss.Her journey since switching to special schoolSpeaking of her school years, Dita admitted, “I don’t have the best memories from when I was in a regular school.” She often felt out of place and socially excluded, making her time there nothing more than an anxious memory. The constant pressure to fit in left her unsure of herself, turning everyday routines into emotional hurdles. It wasn’t until she shifted to Vidyajyoti Special School that something finally changed. For the first time, she felt truly recognised, seen for who she was, not who she was expected to be. It was here that she learnt her favourite subjects, English and home science. “Happiness is the word I’d use to describe my journey since switching to Vidyajyoti,” she said. Today, she has returned to Vidyajyoti as a music therapist, offering the same support and understanding she once received as a student.In conversation with The Indian Express, Jyotsana, her mother, explained that Dita unknowingly paved the way for many students with disabilities to pursue higher education. The university had required her to take an additional language as a compulsory subject, but due to her difficulty with learning other languages, the family requested that she be allowed an alternative subject instead.Story continues below this ad“When we told them of her difficulty with other languages, and whether they could exempt her from it, to their surprise, they couldn’t believe that someone with a disability could graduate, mostly because they hadn’t been approached on the matter before,” she said. Dita’s case prompted a shift in perspective, helping many others after her.Amid these academic challenges, music remained the one constant in her life. Being a musician, Dita has an immense love for her drums and djembe, a drum played with bare hands. “I started playing drums when I was around 9 or 10 years old. My mother looked for a teacher because I always had a knack for it. I’d go around tapping on the table and other furniture, which made her do that. That’s when I came across my teacher Zuben,” she said.But the early days weren’t easy. “Initially, I had a very bad time with the drums,” Dita admitted. It was tough because of the hand–eye coordination…but my teacher never gave up on me, though I wanted to quit.” Her teacher’s unwavering patience kept her going. “If it were somebody else, they probably would have said there is no scope for her anyway,” she said before thanking him for pushing her out of her comfort zone.Coming to the various hurdles she faced, Dita spoke about undergoing nine surgeries over the years–procedures related to her heart condition, mobility, and the complications that followed. Each surgery required long periods of recovery and rehabilitation. “I knew I would be fine during the surgery, but the recuperating part was always difficult,” she said. The recurrent disturbances to her routine and education were challenging, but she approached them with the acceptance that came to define her.Through these repeated medical interventions, Dita relied heavily on the support of her family. She credits her parents for providing her with boundless support and stability during these periods of uncertainty. She credits her older sister, Ananya, as a very integral part of her. “She is my best friend, always there for me, always looking out for me, pushing me to do better,” Dita said.Story continues below this adDita is also an active member of Club Youngistaan, an organisation that works with young adults with disabilities in efforts to empower them. It was founded by Jyotsana Kumar.More awareness about cerebral palsySpeaking about cerebral palsy, Dita said India still has a long way to go in terms of awareness and understanding. “Somehow there are more conversations around either autism or Down syndrome. While they have their own challenges of course, they don’t struggle with things like cutting, chopping, or crossing the road–they face intellectual difficulties but not much physical, unlike CP,” she explained.“Cerebral palsy definitely needs more awareness. Everyone thinks that having CP means being restricted to a wheelchair, which is not the case,” she said.When asked what message she would like to give people, Dita kept it simple. “Be more aware,” she said. “Not just about cerebral palsy but about other disabilities as well. They all need your attention.”Story continues below this adSanika Deshpande is an intern with The Indian Express, Pune.