Empathy: Believing Pain You Can't See | Harshita Kumari | TEDxYouth@TheShriramMillenniumSchoolNoida
Harshita shares her journey from misconceptions about disability to living with a rare autoimmune disorder affecting her nervous system. Initially aspiring to be a neuropsychiatrist, her life changed at 15 after sudden paralysis and vision loss led to diagnoses of multiple sclerosis, later refined to MORGAD. Though her symptoms were often invisible, societal attitudes and disbelief shaped her experience more than the illness itself. She reflects on the exhaustion of constantly justifying her needs, the stigma around disability, and the importance of empathy. She emphasizes that empathy means believing in unseen pain and offering quiet, consistent acts of support. Harshita Kumari is a public policy consultant working at the intersection of gender, clean energy, and disability. An alumna of Jesus and Mary College (Delhi University) and the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, she bridges research and practice to shape policy conversations in India and beyond. Her writing—featured in The Hindu, Indian Express, and Feminism In India—reflects her commitment to feminist thought and public dialogue. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed spoken poetry collection Pocketful of Sunshine, Sorrow and Schism, a deeply personal exploration of resilience and identity. Through her work and words, she strives to make space for care, complexity, and change. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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