Archive · 24 Sep 2025
Wheelchair User Redefines the Meaning of 'Neighbourhood'
The author shares how their idea of a "neighbour" has changed due to becoming a wheelchair user.
Growing up in an Army household, the author saw the entire community as neighbors.
In Delhi, life changed when the author's mobility changed, as infrastructure wasn't built with accessibility in mind.
This made it harder to do things, from going to work to boarding trains.
Despite these challenges, the author realized that true neighborhoods are built on kindness and everyday acts of support from others.
The author stresses that a neighbourhood is defined by the actions of those who choose to include and support each other.
The author's childhood involved frequent moves, resulting in a broad definition of 'neighbourhood'.
In Delhi, the author's experience of the city changed after becoming a wheelchair user.
Physical barriers in the city caused isolation and challenged the author's ability to engage with their community.
The author emphasizes that a neighbourhood is not just a place, but a network of participation and human connection.
The author highlights acts of compassion and solidarity that redefined 'neighbourhood' for them.
- Who
- A Delhi-based researcher and writer.
- What
- Reflections on the changing meaning of "neighbour" due to physical disability.
- When
- Over time, post the author's mobility change.
- Where
- Delhi, and in various places throughout the author's life.
- Why
- To highlight how physical barriers and acts of compassion shape the sense of belonging and community.
- Author's Location
- Delhi
- Focus
- Impact of disability on community
- Subject
- Redefinition of 'neighbour'