Amputee Aditya Mehta cycles to the top of the world to help the differently-abled

Amputee Aditya Mehta cycles to the top of the world to help the differently-abled

MUNISH DHIMAN  6th Sep 2014

fter losing a leg in an accident nine years ago, Aditya Mehta never looked to anyone for sympathy or help. He conquered all the physical hurdles he faced, and became an inspiration for several like him. He is, after all, the first Indian amputee cyclist to have won two silver medals at the Asian Para Cycling Championships held last year. "Things may seem difficult," he tells Guardian20, "but with passion, perseverance and panache anything can be achieved. In fact, I am a firm believer in Martin Luther King Jr.'s immortal saying: 'If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward'. This keeps me moving despite the permanent hurdle." After bagging various accolades, Mehta took up another challenge for his life — a fundraising mission for other differently-abled athletes. Last year, he travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, covering 36 cities over 3,800 kilometers in 36 days, to motivate people to donate liberally for the differently-abled, who lack the amenities necessary to give wings to their cherished dreams. Another fundraising mission was the most challenging of all: a bicycle ride from Manali to Khardong La, the world's highest motorable road, a distance of approximately 510, mostly uphill, kilometres. "Combating icy winds and the freezing weather conditions while pedalling on the world's highest motorable road (18,380 feet), with inadequate camping conditions, this was indeed the toughest of all expeditions I have undertaken so far," Mehta says. "Using an Indian toilet with one limb is a nightmare. It was during this expedition that I cried for the second time in my life, after my accident. It was indeed the experience of a lifetime for me, which will remain etched in my memory." Ask him about the challenges that he had to face during his journey to Khardong La, and he quickly responds, "I think the most challenging of all problems was pedalling on bumpy and weather-beaten roads, especially while going downhill where the road is strewn with stones. Due to high altitude, nose bleeds were a common feature but even the saddle sores, bruises and injuries were intense this time. The cuts were deeper and bleeding even more profuse, despite these problems my mission was more important for me." Mehta travelled 50 km a day on average and completed the journey in 10 days, but stayed at Khardong La until August 15 so that he could mark this achievement, national flag in his hand, to mark the 67th Independence Day. On being asked what his latest mission is, Mehta promptly shoots back: "The mission will always remain to help the differently-abled. This time, I drove down to help out three physically-challenged people who were passionate about sports and see their future as para-athletes." The expensive sports equipment, including artificial limbs specially designed for the athletes, he says, costs a few lakhs. "In the absence of the requisite financial aid being extended by the government or an NGO, nothing could be achieved. Hence, I made up my mind to do my bit to make them self-reliant to see their dreams come true." With a view to accomplishing his mission, Mehta persistently visits government officials for financial aid to start a national sports academy that could support such passionate sports enthusiasts. Aditya belongs to a well-to-do family that could easily afford him artificial limbs, which cost as much as Rs 7 lakh. But helping others like him gives him the needed strength, he says, to move on and draw the unique sense of satisfaction of being "able" to help someone despite being differently-abled himself. Aditya has plans to participate in the 2016 Paralympics and take up something even more challenging in the future. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/amputee-aditya-mehta-cycles-to-the-top-of-the-world-to-help-the-differently-abled

The fading charm of flying paper kites

The fading charm of flying paper kites

MUNISH DHIMAN  30th Aug 2014

Vinod Kumar Sharma at his shop in Burail id you know that the kite was invented around 5th-century BC? But then again, who really cares about it's origin? The Patang is more than mere a piece of paper, it has remained a symbol of freedom and celebration since its inception in India over 2,500 years ago. We vividly recall the prime minister of our country, Narendra Modi, taking part in a kite flying event where even the dabbang star, Salman Khan, showcased his kite flying skills. There is no denying that the future of kite flying in India is here to stay for generations to come. However, this cannot be said about Chandigarh. "In the past, thousands of kites would make a stupendous spectacle on the sky every year, especially on festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchmi, Lohri and the Independence Day which has drastically dwindled over the years," says Sanjay Jain, who has been selling kites in the city in sector-22 for more than 20 years now. He promptly adds, "We, being the wholesalers in kite-making industry, used to sell enough kites to make 1.5 to 2 lakh in a single season, which has nosedived to a mere 50 to 60 thousand now. We cannot do away with the age-old family trade. My father Dharamveer Jain kick started the kite making business 50 years ago, a legacy that we have been carrying forward. Though we have been doing our best to keep it going, the future seems unpredictable, given the fast vanishing number of keen kite clientele." There were times when the freedom celebrations especially the Independence Day and the Republic Day were incomplete without kite flying events, but, today, it seems the paper with a string is losing out its charm in the hi-tech world. 54-year old Vinod Kumar Sharma, another kite seller in Burail Village (Chandigarh) said, "I have been selling kites for the past 30 years and the prices of kites have increased more than 5 times in the last decade, whereas the sales have gone plummeted. In the fast-moving life people have gone frugal, considering kite flying to be a mere waste of money and time. Kids, too, are more curious in playing video games and hardly evince keenness in kite flying. Waise bhi sirf kagaz ke noto ka mol hai kagaz ki patang ka nahi (Afterall, the paper notes made of paper are valuable not the kites made of paper)." The kite that was available at paltry 50 paisa a decade ago is now priced at Rs 8 today, no shocker though, tomatoes and onions too have shot up to Rs 80 and 40 a Kg. Bhushan Gulati, another shop owner and kite seller in sector 45 said, "A decade ago, kite flying used to be a showcase of talent, strength and skills as youngsters would fly kites for hours together, but now they do not have time to spend on these simple pleasures. We used to sell kites throughout the year but with the dipping sales there were no option other than switching to another business." This is not just the case with Gulati only. There are many shopkeepers in the city who have either done away with selliing kites or have started selling other goods, or migrated off to other cities for better business prospects in the same line. Kite whole seller Sanjay Jain minces no words while interacting with Guardian 20, "Kites were easy to spot all over the sky some years back, especially on the Independence Day but it is passé now. Kite flying has never been a craze in the city but these special days were much colourful than what they are today. We had retailers coming in from all over the city to buy kites in bulk whereas now, there are a mere 10-15 kite sellers available in selected sectors, that too in the colonies. Parents too can't force their kids to fly kites against their demands of video games, play stations and xbox." The charm of kite flying is gradually fading, which is evident from the number of kites sold. Rakesh Rawat, another seller in Babu Dham Colony says, "Five years back, we would sell around 10,000 kites on the Independence Day, which has dropped to a few hundred. There may be reasons behind the dwindling sales, safety being the most common as there have been instances of kids falling off the rooftops while flying kites. Nowadays, people prefer stay glued to their TV sets at home, watching live coverage from Delhi and other cultural programmes on the eve of Independence Day." There were people who made their own kites and string years ago. Hemant Rana an, avid kite flyer told Guardian20, "I have been flying kites since I was a kid, and will make sure I continue the same till I grow old. I feel emotionally connected to it. I used to make my own kites earlier but today due to professional responsibilities I don't get the time for the same. Now, I buy kites and Manjaa to enjoy the Independence Day." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/the-fading-charm-of-flying-paper-kites