Bengaluru: On the occasion of
International Women's Day, the lives of three women from different walks of life stand as powerful reminders that courage, determination, and hope can shape extraordinary journeys. From an 84-year-old cancer survivor who refused to let a diagnosis define her life, to a village girl who rose to become a scientist working on space-linked research, to a mother who returned to college in her 40s alongside her daughter — their stories reflect resilience in the face of challenges. TOI narrates:
When courage outlives cancer
In 2011, when Gudla Suryakantham was diagnosed with lung cancer, doctors told her she might have only a year to live. Fifteen years later, at 84, she continues to live with the disease and her life is defined not by illness, but by remarkable resilience, calm courage, and a deeply positive outlook.
Her journey began with what seemed like a small warning sign. One day, while climbing the stairs of her apartment, she felt unusually breathless. At first, she brushed it off as a sign of ageing. But when the breathlessness was followed by fever, weakness, and loss of appetite, her family decided to seek medical advice. After several tests, the diagnosis came: metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung.
For most families, such news can be devastating. But Suryakantham's response stunned everyone around her. According to her son Ramesh, she took the news with remarkable composure. "She said she had already seen her grandchildren and felt she had lived a fulfilled life. She told us she was not afraid," he recalls.
From that moment on, her quiet strength became a source of comfort for the entire family. Even during the most difficult phases of treatment, she rarely complained. Instead, she spent her energy reassuring her loved ones.
Over the years, her family left no stone unturned in seeking treatment. They explored multiple medical options, including a five-month clinical trial in Delhi. The treatments helped keep the cancer under control, though they came with their share of difficult side-effects. Yet Suryakantham continued to face every challenge with determination and optimism.
For the past seven years, she has been under regular care at Manipal Hospitals on Old Airport Road. Her journey has not been without other battles. Along the way, she also fought and recovered from tuberculosis, dengue, and Covid-19, and in 2023 briefly lost consciousness because of low oxygen levels. Each time, she found the strength to recover and move forward.
Today, Suryakantham lives with her son in Marathahalli. Among family and neighbours, she is known not just for her life story, but for the warmth, wisdom, and encouragement she offers others.
From village classroom to space research
Growing up in Mundkur, a small village in Udupi district's Karkala taluk, Ramya Prabhu spent her childhood exploring the fields, hills, and streams with other village children. The daughter of a grocery shop owner and a homemaker, she began her education at a Kannada-medium govt school before studying at SDPT PU College in Kateel and graduating with distinction in physics, chemistry and mathematics from Alva's College, Moodbidri.
She later completed BEd in Manipal and secured first rank in MSc Applied Chemistry from Mangalore University. After moving to Bengaluru in 2016, she pursued PhD in Material Chemistry at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, completing it in 2023. Now a research scientist at Prayoga Institute of Education Research, she works on advanced materials, including an Isro-funded project on antibacterial materials for space and Earth applications. Reflecting on her journey, she says: "Your background does not define your destination. Circumstances may shape your journey, but they will not limit your potential."
Becoming her daughter's collegemate
In her 40s, Tahera Tabassum picked up her college backpack again as she decided to get her undergraduate degree, something she could not do two decades ago as she got married and put the brakes on her education. For her, what is even more special is the fact that she now gets to go to college every day with her 20-year-old daughter, Fathima Haneen.
Tahera's father was a govt employee and her mother, a homemaker. Tahera got her early education in different parts of the state. She studied until II PU before getting married. She also pursued a librarian diploma and a nursery teacher training course, which landed her a job at a school in Bengaluru.
Over the years, the demands at the school began to change as they started asking for a degree for all the teachers. Around the same time, Tahera found that her daughter, who was due to join her undergraduate course, was losing interest in studies.
"That is when I told my daughter that we would go to college together so that both of us could get our degrees. Now we are in the final semester. I'm pursuing a BA in History and Economics, and she is pursuing a BCom degree. The education system has changed a lot from when I was studying decades ago, but this is our journey towards independence, and I worked hard to overcome the challenges," Tahera said, adding that there is no age limit for education and no end point for learning. "Every woman should read and educate herself. Earning is secondary, but it is extremely important to be educated."
Once her BA course is completed, Tahera hopes to pursue BEd and later, a master's degree in arts.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Women's day wishes,
messages and
quotes !
Start a Conversation
Post comment