Speciallyabled man rides 2,500km to motivate others like him
LUCKNOW: To encourage specially-abled people to believe that nothing that can limit them from succeeding in life, a differently-abled Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher rode from Jodhpur (Rajasthan) to Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) on his tri- scooter.
Under his ‘Cross Country Motivational Expedition’, Jagdish Lohar has covered more than 2,500 kms to motivate other differently-abled people to believe in themselves and identify their strength.
Lohar, who hails from Jodhpur, began the expedition on May 26 which culminated in Itanagar on June 6.
He was assisted by his pillion rider and assistant Laxman Kumar on his triscooter. This was not Lohar’s first motivational excursion. In the past as well, he has been associated to many such motivational initiatives.
Lohar is a role model for his fellows and motivates people who feel distressed at their situation. “No matter how hard your life is, believe me you can find a way out if you believe you can do it,” said Lohar, who received President’s Award and Divyang Role Model Award for teaching and other social activities.
Lohar never saw his disability as a bane, rather he turned it into his greatest strength and made his name twice in the Limca Book of World Records for designing smallest torch and smallest electric drill machine in 2004 and 2009 respectively. Also a painter, Lohar made an appearance on Zee Television’s show Shabhash India.
While sharing his views on the difficulties faced by the specially-abled people while commuting alone, he said that there was no such vehicle for which could facilitate a safe commute for them.
“Tri- scooter are locally modified with the approval of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). Besides that, there is no provision for a safe and convenient commute for the specially-abled.”
Since people with certain disabilities are not fit to ride a motor cycle, they go for certain modifications in the vehicle. Installation of extra wheels in the scooter is done locally in the workshop without any technical precision. Hence, it is not yet declared legal under the Indian Motor Wheel Act (IMWA).
The customized vehicle is made available by the automobile company only on special request.
“If engineers design a customized vehicle for the differently-abled with technical precision and safety measures and make it easily available to them, it will boost their motivation,” added Lohar.
UNDER HIS MOTIVATIONAL EXPEDITION, LOHAR HAS COVERED OVER 2,500 KM TO MOTIVATE OTHER DIFFERENTLYABLED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES