Correcting oneself is correcting the whole world. The Sun is simply bright. It does not correct anyone. Because it shines, the whole world is full of light. Transforming yourself is a means of giving light to the whole world.
— Ramana Maharishi
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST TO KNOW WHY PREETHI IS AN IMPRESSIVE EMPRESS
PREETHI SRINIVASAN
PROFILE
Preethi Srinivasan is a force of resilience, transformation, and empowerment. Once a national-level swimmer and the youngest player on the Tamil Nadu Women’s Cricket Team, her life took an unexpected turn when a freak accident left her paralyzed below the neck at 18. Refusing to be defined by her limitations, she emerged as a powerful advocate for disability rights, inclusivity, and empowerment. Armed with a B.Sc. in Medical Sociology and an M.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Madras, she is currently pursuing a PhD at IIT Madras. As the founder of Soulfree, she is changing lives, breaking barriers, and redefining possibilities for people with disabilities. A TEDx speaker and published author, she has been honored with the Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lions International and many many more..…. Having lost everything, Preethi has journeyed a full circle to become—The Cripple Who Is Whole.
ACHIEVEMENTS / AWARDS RECEIVED
- Winner of the “We Serve India” award from Forbes India and Lions International in the Healthcare and Sanitisation Category (South), 05 February 2025
- Devi Award from The New Indian Express for making Inclusivity Mainstream 28. 01. 2025
- Social Impact Of the Year award from TiE Chennai, 25 January 2025
- Lifetime Achievement Award from Lions International in recognition of courage, resilience and dedication to empowering individuals with disabilities.
- Honoured Transformative Impact and Inspiring Leadership through Soulfree and beyond. November 17, 2024.
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Spinal Cord Society in recognition of her excellent contribution towards care of persons with spinal injuries and devoting her life for this noble cause, on 26 October 2024 at New Delhi.
- “Amazing Indians 2024” Award for Healthcare on August 24, 2024 instituted by the Times Now Network, which was Bestowed upon Her by the Honourable Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijuju.
- Special Recognition for “Institute Day Oration” at the Institute of Neurosurgery, Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, 29 April 2024
- First-ever “Spirit of India” Award from the Rotary Club of Madras Metro, 12 April 2024
- Special Recognition for the “Immense Contribution to the Madras Management Association (MMA) Women Managers Convention 2024, held at Chennai in April 2024
- JFW (Just For Women) Achievers Award for Excellence in Social Service in September 2
- Naturals “Power of Women – Social Catalyst” Award 28 April 2022
- Smt. Divyalakshmi Award 2022 from KGiSL Educational Institutions March 19, 2022
- “தன் னம் க்ைக ெபண் ” Inspiring Women 2022 Award from Vasanth TV for “Exemplary Self-Confidence”
- Mary Glowrey – Liliane Brekelmans Disability Award – 2021 (Commendation)
- “Paropakari” Award 2020 by Rotary Club of Guindy on August 26, 2020
- Doctors Day Award 2020 by the Indian Medical Association on July 26, 2020
- “Iconic Leaders Creating A Better World For All” Award from Women Economic Forum July 25, 2020
- Preethi’s Inspiring story has found a place in the 10th Grade English Literature Book of the Tamil Nadu State Board Syllabus 2019-20.
- “World of Women – Inspiration” Award 2019 from The Hindu Group
- “I Am Woman” Award 2018 from Karan Gupta Education Foundation https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQdSGfTeho&t=1805s
- “Aval” Award 2018 from Vikatan group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLLTSyS7Enc&t=552s
- Woman Achiever Award 2018 by Raj TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wocTZg-HFBs&t=126s
- “Bhoomika” award from Eastern condiments 2018
- “The Triumph Of Human Spirit” award from The Rotary Club of Ambattur 2018
- Dr. Batra’s “Positive Health Award 2017” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGmnW_fb1WY
- “Kalpana Chawla Award For Courage and Daring Enterprise” from the Government of Tamil Nadu 2017
- “Shakthi Award 2017” by Puthiya Thalaimurai, a leading Tamil television channel.
- RUSH Award (Recognising Unsung heroes) by Rotary Club of Madras East in 2017.
- Winner of the Karmaveer Chakra Award (instituted with the UN) and the REX Karmaveer Global Fellowship 2016.
- Nominated by Times Now, a leading Indian news channel amongst “Amazing Indians 2015” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Q1jTkeekg )
- Appeared in a list of “16 Famous Indians with Disability Who Inspire Us Every Day” compiled by The Better India group. (http://www.thebetterindia.com/8961/captain-19-womens-cricket-team-woman-now-deals-disability-inspires-others/ )
- Vijay TV’s “Sigaram Thotta Pengal – Ray of Hope” award (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02sQ42DCRQA)
- Raindropss’ “Woman Achiever of the Year 2014” award
- Femina “Penn Sakthi” award bestowed upon the top 10 most influential women in Tamil Nadu for the year 2014 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4kOoRL7xGs)
- Envisage Ability Award 2014
- Sudesi magazine’s “Dhruva award” for excellence in social work
- Rotary’s highest award “For the Sake of Honour”, Vellore 2014
- “Agent of change” Award from district Rotaract Council (Rotary International district 3230) for the year 2014-15
- Chosen by BBC Hindi as one of the top 100 women achievers (http://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2015/11/151117_100women_sports_facewall_pk)
- Recognised by eminent organisations like NASSCOM, NHRD, TCS, Goldman Sachs, VMware, TVS Credit Services, ISBR, real image media technologies, Toastmasters, Rotary, IWA, among many others.
You can follow Preethi on
In this conversation, we discuss about
- Redefining her identity to become a changemaker
- Importance of Resilience
- Importance of Education & Advocacy
- Seeing life through a different lens
- Her spiritual journey
- Lessons on change & purpose
- Sustainable success
- Her next chapters
Preethi your wisdom , grit , resilience attitude of Kintsugi is beyond inspiration
“Control is the biggest illusion – so true.
Humility to say “this is best for me for today- “
Soulfree your rehab center is the hope to people that their life is not a full stop and inspire them that this life , this breath is not wasted and the Universe will bestow you.
May the Grace of Bhagavan always be with you. You are indeed an instrument in His hands who has totally Surrendered . You’ve experienced being AWAKE AND FEARLESS. All this with a smile and exuding positivity.
Your body is not your limitation – unable to fathom this to a person who has everything but is self absorbed and still “asleep”
A loud wake up call Preethi to us in slumber .
Time for Smaranam, Mananam , Nidhidyaasanam and Action from listeners. Wishing you well on your PhD.
Malathi- A BIG THANKS TO YOU for bringing Preethi to the Podspot! And highlighting this incredible woman
Love your Impressive Empress podcast. Your enthusiasm, your passion and dedication to this venture is commendable.
The other day I happened to listen to the Podcast of Ms.Preethi Srinivasan in ‘The Impressive Empress’ channel wherein she shared her real time life experiences in connection with the topic “Resilience, Transformation and purpose’. It was a hot afternoon and after a tiresome travel as I was about to take a small nap, I started to listen to this podcast. It was an extraordinary captivating presentation/narration of her inner journey that the ‘Self’ within me got up and I lost myself in that totally. I couldn’t sleep. In what followed thereafter is a magic. As she started unfolding her thoughts and experiences based on the Interviewer’s questions, I felt that this podcast is not just a chronicle of her success story but a moving exploration of personal challenges and her strong belief on her deep seated spiritual roots in addressing those challenges.
We have a lot read and heard from the books about the ‘Power of Self’ and there are so many Gurus and sages who have showed us the way to lead a purposeful life amidst adversities. As a living example of this, here is a legendary Woman who had been toppled by tsunamis, typhoons and tornadoes in her life, never gave up, faced the challenges face to face and created a history offering a raw unfiltered portrayal of resilience, redemption and the relentless pursuit of self discovery. On her transformative journey, every twist and turn in her life resonates with authenticity and speaks of the unwavering spirit of a Woman who dared to embrace life’s grand adventure.
Today, she stands as an icon for the positively abled people and she has been representing internationally this community as a member in many committees and forums across the globe. According to me, I realized that her message is simple and unique as :
• Learn from yesterday, work hard, give your best and leave the rest to the Supreme
• Focus on the omnipresent Self that never changes instead of wasting your time and effort on changing aspects of this world.
• Setbacks are only a setup to comeback.
• Love yourself for what you are and naturally you will be the epicenter of happiness.
• Empathy and compassion should be your tools in connecting to the society.
• Flow like a river with the life you face and accept things as they come without any complaint.
• We cannot change or have control on anything and therefore surrender yourself completely to the Supreme.
• Be HIS instrument and do your routines according to HIS plan.
To summarize, this podcast will echo and cherished in the memories of the listeners forever, will bring a sea change in viewing the perspectives of the life and surely transform from ‘Adversity of the past and Uncertainty of the future’ to a ‘blissful and certain now’. From what seemed to be ‘Ideal theory’ on practicing Self concept, Ms.Preethi has broken the barriers of our mind and has showed that is practically possible to live on the Self ‘selflessly’. The topic of today was realized far ahead and there is no doubt that the listeners would have understood the purpose of one’s life from this wonderful podcast from Ms.Preethi Srinivasan. Hats off to Ms.Preethi Srinivasan for the ‘vision and mission’ of her life and great many thanks to the channel for bringing up such a brilliant eye opener from a global speaker. Expecting more such valuable podcasts…..
-By Sivakumar Venkataraman