Destiny may decide what happens in your life, but it is your attitude towards challenges that decides how it affects you. A strong determination and positive outlook towards life can defeat any difficulty that life brings to you. Ankush’s life had its adversities but God also bestowed him with indomitable strength that he not only fought back his own disability but is also helping others come out of its grief.
Telling us about his life, he says, “At the age when people start to explore their capabilities and utilize their potential to the maximum, I met with an accident that shattered my life. I was 17 when my left foot got crushed by a car when i was standing just outside my house. Due to an infection in the knee, almost the entire leg had to be amputated. It was an age when I had no idea what could it lead to and what would happen next. But my family remained supportive of me, though they themselves were disheartened.
For almost a year I was confined to a bed, where I had my tuitions. My school was very supportive as I was allowed to appear for my exams. But life as a disabled was not an easy one. Disability is something that made me realise that I am no longer an independent person. It was a harsh truth. After this, I had so many compromises to make. My studies were affected the most. I could hardly concentrate with certain issues related to my prosthetics coming up time and again. Everything required extra attention, even something as simple as walking. I could not run. But I always tried to find ways out of all the difficulties I was facing.
I was depressed but the thought of losing my precious life never crossed my mind. I had to look for a solution. So I took up fitness as my first goal. The push I needed to remain consistent at it was given by my sister. I started working out a lot, and that is how I got a chance to meet new people. This eventually made my social life better. I started participating in marathons. Coming out in open made me realize that to make ur disability ur strength, do not hide it. It boosted my morale and made me feel confident about myself.
I gave auditions for FLI so that people with disabilities could get knowledge about a lot of opportunities that are there for us. I am a counsellor to people suffering from such disabilities through social media. Motivating these people makes me happy and this is something I wish to do for the rest of my life. Currently, I am working for an NGO, that provides funding for my leg. I always try to find new opportunities for disabled people to boost their energy and to inspire them. Looking for more opportunities like that.”
Ankush, like all of us, is a normal human being, but he found the strength to persevere and endure inspite of overwhelming obstacles, and that makes him a real hero in the true sense. While we get weighed down by our life problems, Ankush says something very praiseworthy, “I did not have the privilege to lose hope. So I went on paving a new path for myself.”Team SwachhAbility is proud of his optimism and the zeal with which he lives his life.
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