Being differently abled is not an impediment for young Arjun Thakur. Rather it is a golden opportunity for him to prove his mettle. The 20-year old special child has just completed a 200 km cycle race and is already dreaming of being a top Para cyclist in the days to come.
Young Arjun is a classic inspiration for all those who are fighting defeat. It requires enormous courage, grit and determination for a physically disabled person to compete a long distance cycle race with 47 ‘normal’ racers. But Arjun had the steely resolve to beat the odds and accomplish the feat. By participating in the event organised by the Punjab Bikers’ Club in Jalandhar, he has not only evoked an overwhelming response from people but he has also found the right platform for expressing his talent.
Early Days
“I am 70 % handicapped,” he says candidly. According to doctors, Arjun is an orthopaedic handicap, a defect that has been there in both his legs right from birth. There is no muscular development in his legs, because of which he has to walk with crutches. As a kid, he would often find it difficult to live with his condition. By the time he was ten-years old, he had already undergone six surgeries. His legs could not bear the weight of his body and he would have to slide to get from one place to another. Disappointed, Arjun would abandon his crutches and attempt to walk while leaning on walls and other objects. “Finally, I decided to ride a bicycle, to get respite from all the tediousness.”
The New Journey
As Arjun grew up, he started doing various jobs to augment the family income. One part time job was at a chemist. “I would cycle more than 10 kilometres to pick up supplies. That way my cycling skills got honed, and I enjoyed the daily travelling,” he reminisces. With time, the young lad developed an avid interest in cycling. “However it was the dedicated team of volunteers from The Art of Living, the global NGO that gave my hobby a new dimension. Rohit Sharma, a faculty with The Art of Living and an avid cyclist, raised Arjun's interest in the sport. Rohit and Arjun began to cycle through the plains of Punjab together. Though I did not feel very negative about my condition, there were times I would be discouraged with the limitations I faced as a specially-abled person. There were times where I felt it was my weakness. The Art of Living community was a space of encouragement for me, to do more with my life, says Arjun.
With their help I secured my position in the 200km cycling race organised by the Punjab Bikers’ Club.
Making the Practice Perfect
It was an altogether a novel experience for Arjun. Armed with his research and guidance from avid cyclists, he chalked out a training schedule that set his speed for 80 pedals per minute. “I really worked hard to give my best shot. I would be up by 3 am and then practise rigorously for five hours a day,” he exclaims.
The D-day
Practising meditation and pranayama everyday did give the young boy the strength to meet every challenge with resilience, “but on the D-day, I did feel a bit nervous,” Arjun says. While other contenders were ready with their professional cycles costing between 20, 000 to 1 lac, Arjun was racing with a regular cycle worth 3000 rupees. Besides, I was told that the last 50 kms. would be gruelling, so the pressure was mounting on me but nevertheless the calming techniques that had learnt from my volunteer friends helped me pull through. Other participants were very encouraging during the race, and I managed to reach the finish line. The rest is history,” he says excitedly.
For A Better Tomorrow
After completing the 200km race, Arjun is not cooling his heels. He has decided to pursue cycling more seriously and is already seeking guidance from a Para-cycling trainer in Chandigarh. “This is just the beginning. When you accept situations in life as they are, you are empowered to explore newer possibilities in life. And I have miles to go,” Arjun concludes with a smile.
Arjun Thakur can be reached through email at arjunthakur166@gmail.com or through his Facebook page. He can also be reached on phone at (+91) 8699882221.
