People of Value

Jaipur

New Delhi

Ramesh Bhai Thakur

Ramesh Bhai Thakur is a source of inspiration. He lost a limb in a train accident in Gujarat in 1986, when he was just 19 years old.

Ramesh recounts that when he learnt that his leg was amputated he wanted to die, and seriously contemplated suicide. He pleaded with the doctors to mercy kill him as he did not want to be dependent on anyone for the rest of his life. But the doctors kept him motivated and raised his enthusiasm level by telling him of the benefits of using and artificial leg. They directed him to the Jaipur Mahavir Viklang Samiti (JMVS) where he was fitted with a Jaipur foot. Ramesh says that it was the turning point of his life.

Now, at 38 he looks fondly at his family and settles down to describe the source of his own inspiration. He says that years old and has a happy family. In JMVS he saw the picture of an American disabled athlete and wanted to emulate him. And follow him he did! Thakur has gone mountaineering several times and cycling is routine - taking him to countries like Philippines, West Indies, America, Vietnam, Singapore and Afghanistan, meeting, greeting and inspiring others like him.

On 1 November 1988, he participated in the Prarambh Neet India cycle rally with 87 other participants. This rally started from Arunachal Pradesh and finished in Gujarat in 1989.

His present ambition is to compete in the Para Olympics games to be held in 2008.

Sources: Ek paer ke sahare cycle chalan avum parvatarohan, Veer Arjun, New Delhi, 30 May 2005 and Viklang Ramesh bane dusron ke liye prernasrotra, Rashtriya Sahara, New Delhi, 30 May 2005.

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Naresh Sharma

Naresh Sharma, 33 years old, has walked on crutches all his life but that has not stopped him from making a mark for himself in shooting. He is paralyzed from the waist below. Naresh won 32 international medals in pistol and rifle shooting. He recently won a Gold medal in the 11th Hessian Trophy in Germany and a bronze in the Swiss Open with world-class scores.

But today, he is not happy at being left out of the regular Indian team for the World Cup, going to be held in Germany and Italy in June 2005. Naresh said he has been let down, he even said he was ready to bear his own expenses and bills, but nobody listened to him. He said he switched over to rifle from pistol because that was the only event where one did not have to stand and where a handicapped shooter like him was as good as the rest of the field.

National shooting coach Sunny Thomas said that he had congratulated Naresh on his recent performance but the complexity of the handicap rules are prevented the organizers from taking any chances. The Coach also adds that according to him, Naresh does not figure in the top six in the category.

Naresh said last year in the same championship (Hessian Trophy) he had shot 592 and won a Gold. But when he returned to India his employer, Airport Authority of India, terminated him. The Industrialist and MP, Naveen Jindal is now supporting him.

Naresh has written to the President and the Prime Minister but to no avail, and sadly he has come to understand that he would have to go on proving himself before anyone reposed their faith in him.

Source: Despite scoring Naresh is badly handicapped, disabled champ gets a shove, The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 31 May 2005

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