Today we bring you an interesting story. It begins in Islampur, a small village in Sangli district in Maharashtra.
The year is 1959, a 12 year old boy is asked to take on the pampered son of the village henchman in a wrestling contest.
The year is 1959, a 12 year old boy is asked to take on the pampered son of the village henchman in a wrestling contest.
In an upset, the 12 year old boy is victorious and his reward – death threats from villagers who treat this as an assault on the village henchman.
This forces the boy to hop on to a goods train with money earned from the fight – a princely sum of Rs 12.
This forces the boy to hop on to a goods train with money earned from the fight – a princely sum of Rs 12.
Without his parents knowledge, this boy is now in Pune and joins the Indian Army.
He takes up boxing and is seen as a rising sports star in the Army. Then 1965 war happens.
He takes up boxing and is seen as a rising sports star in the Army. Then 1965 war happens.
This 18 year old is sent to Kashmir to stave off enemy fire.
He is hit by 7 bullets – skull, spine, cheeks and thighs and in all this a jeep runs over him as well. He loses his memory as well.
He is hit by 7 bullets – skull, spine, cheeks and thighs and in all this a jeep runs over him as well. He loses his memory as well.
Fighting for his life in an army hospital, he falls off his bed and in a very filmy way, gets his memory back as well.
His family finally discovers him. But by then, the young man was bedridden. The family thinks of him as a burden and refuses to take him back.
His family finally discovers him. But by then, the young man was bedridden. The family thinks of him as a burden and refuses to take him back.
He plans to commit suicide. While waiting for the moment to kill himself, he plays table tennis with a hospital attendant and in a game of stakes wins money.
The plans to commit suicide are thrown away.
The plans to commit suicide are thrown away.
He checks himself out of the hospital, takes up competitive sport again. He does well.
The great Indian cricketer Vijay Merchant even hears his story and decides to sponsor his training.
The great Indian cricketer Vijay Merchant even hears his story and decides to sponsor his training.
This is how Murlikant Petkar went on to win India’s first Paralympic gold in 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics.
He not only won the gold, but also broke the world record.
He turned 74 yesterday.
Some stories need to be told.
He not only won the gold, but also broke the world record.
He turned 74 yesterday.
Some stories need to be told.
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