#PeopleOfDonatekart: Meet Abhinesh Parlapalli

“I grew up all over India. Not many people can say that, and I’m so, so proud of it. From Tamil Nadu to Gujarat to Nagaland — my childhood was the most amazing combination of the various cultures of our country. That’s what India is to me — all of us together, regardless of state, religion, caste, or gender.

I have my father to thank for this. An army man through and through, his work not only taught me about our rich heritage but also about equality, discipline, respect, and accountability. When I moved to my hometown in Andhra Pradesh for good, I was a little skeptical. What if it never matches up to living life in an Army Cantonment where you spend your days among people from all walks of life? But my little town of Podili surprised me. A small but diverse town, I would spend my Sundays at church, Shivratri on the streets, and Ramzan at Iftar parties. These are some of my happiest memories.

People often ask me if I ever wanted to join the army. The truth is, there’s so much that goes into it. While I admire everything my father did, I knew I wanted to do something else with my life. I decided to become a chartered accountant, with the aim to be the best one there is. I studied hard and didn’t have much of the college life most people talk about. But I found my solace in writing songs. I wrote for every occasion and about every emotion I felt — happiness, sorrow, hope. There’s so much you can convey through music. Even today, that’s how I love to spend my time.

When I look back, my family, my friends and my hometown have given me so much. Everything I am today is because of them. I hope that someday I can help uplift the people in need here. I see myself doing social work one day, and I think I’ve taken my first step towards that at Donetakart.”

- Abhinesh Parlapalli, Accounts & Taxation Manager