Life can change in a moment. For Tandin Gyeltshen, that moment came six years ago, when a sudden illness left half of his body paralysed. Once independent, he now depends on support for daily movement. Yet, Tandin has refused to let his disability take over him and has chosen a path of self-reliance, using his voice and determination to support others with disabilities.
For 30-year-old Tandin Gyeltshen, getting out of bed is not a simple routine. It is the first challenge of the day that requires patience, assistance, and strength.
At the sound of his voice, his mother comes in. This is their unspoken morning ritual. Every day, it takes two people to help him begin his day.
Born and raised in Thimphu, Tandin was not paralysed by birth. Six years ago, his life changed suddenly. Diagnosed with brain tuberculosis, the illness left half of his body paralysed, changing his life forever.
“I was diagnosed with brain TB suddenly. At first, they could not identify what illness I had. I was admitted to Gelephu Hospital, and before they could clearly diagnose it, I ended up in this condition.”
With limited mobility and no formal employment, Tandin spent months at home struggling to accept his new reality. However, this changed when he was introduced to selling products made by graduates of Draktsho. A close friend of his, who was also a wheelchair user, helped him accept the new normal and improved his sustenance along the way.
“Recently, one of my friends passed away. He had been a wheelchair user for almost twenty years and, despite this, completed his higher education. He was also an active member of the Disabled People’s Organisation. He was engaged in a partnership business with Draktsho, and it was through him that I was first introduced to this work.”
For the past two years, Tandin has worked in partnership with Draktsho graduates, supporting those with speech and mobility challenges by helping them reach customers.
“Before that, I had no job and spent my days at home doing nothing. We even had to buy basic items like diapers. He encouraged me, saying, ‘Instead of staying idle, why not try marketing? You’re good at speaking.’ That’s how I got started.”
Once an order is confirmed, his mother prepares the package. If the delivery is within Thimphu, Tandin delivers it himself using his electric wheelchair.
He says these moments are deeply gratifying, not only because they sustain him, but because they also help raise awareness about the abilities and potential of persons with disabilities.
Today, Tandin uses his TikTok account to go live, selling handcrafted items and connecting the work of persons with disabilities to customers across Thimphu.
“Since I started this work, I have visited schools and offices. People have appreciated what we are doing and encouraged us. I believe it is important to step forward and take action, rather than staying at home and saying that we are disabled.’’
However, Tandin’s journey is not always a smooth one. Poor road conditions and infrastructure that are often not wheelchair-friendly make daily movement a constant challenge for him.
“Many pathways have iron covers over drains, which pose a high risk of getting stuck or falling. I hope the government recognises this struggle. We can never predict when someone else might face the same situation.”
Despite the challenges he faces every day, Tandin Gyeltshen continues to turn adversity into opportunity using his voice, determination, and mobility to support others with disabilities.
Tashi Dekar & Rinchen Tsheyang Pelmo (Intern)
Edited by Sonam Pem
