RISING  PHOENIX-LIKE FROM THE ASHES OF DREAMS

Remember the bird Phoenix that rises from its ashes to glory once again.  Similar is the story of fighter pilot Anil Kumar who was incapacitated neck-downwards in a motorbike accident and yet used his available abilities to rise again as an inspiration for the school children of Maharashtra.

It was a freak motorbike accident at the Air Force Station, Pathankot, Punjab on June 28, 1988 that became the turning point in the life of Anil Kumar, Chirayinkeezhu.  The accident wasn’t serious but the way he was lifted into a car afterwards caused serious injury to his spine.

The next day he was shifted to the Army Hospital at Delhi.  Even after an operation there, his condition did not improve.  So after two weeks, he was shifted to the Military Hospital at Pune. Here he was under treatment for two years.  His relatives and friends could only hope and pray for the former Flying Officer whose body had been paralysed below the neck.

In the meanwhile another shock awaited him.  On April 12, 1990, he was discharged from the Air Force.  And with that his stay at the Military Hospital too came to an end.

With the help of friends and relatives, he then moved to the famous Paraplegic Home at Pune.

Life then was like a hazy cloud for the 26 year old Anil Kumar.  He had studied at Sainik School, Kazhakkoottam and National Defence Academy, Pune.  In the 65^th course of the Academy, he had been selected as the best Air Force Cadet.  In the passing out parade held at Secunderabad, he had been selected as the best pilot in aerobatics.  This brilliant pilot who had been promoted thrice in four years was now lying on his bed like a bird clipped of its wings.

But Anil was not prepared to give up.

With a pen stuck between his teeth, he slowly learned to write.  And sent beautifully autographed greeting cards to friends and relatives.

In the meanwhile, ‘Citizen’ magazine of Pune conducted a contest on ‘Turning Point of Life’.

Anil Kumar wrote about the tragic moments of his life with a pen held in his mouth.

His article ‘Airborne to Chair-borne’ amazed the magazine.  They came to Paraplegic Home to verify whether he had himself written those beautifully calligraphed pages.

The magazine not only awarded the prize to Anil, but also published the story with much prominence.

His story received much acclaim.  A lady professor who was a member of the textbook revision committee too saw the article.  She recommended that Anil Kumar’s life story be included in the curriculum as an inspiration for the students.

Thus from 1995, in the English Text Book of 10^th standard, his story is being taught in Maharashtra.

It is inspiring to the students to learn that the person whose life they are studying, is alive at Pune.  They come in groups to meet him and share their joy at his remarkable will power.

Anil Kumar’s life again took a decisive turn when he was introduced to computers.  With a special mouse and keyboard as well as a battery-operated trolley for the computer made available to him, he learned very fast Web Designing, VB and C++.  He later opened a charming website for the Paraplegic Home.

With his many contacts in cyber world and real world, Anil Kumar leads an inspiring and busy life.

Courtesy: R. Prakasan Chirayinkeezhu, Varanthya Kaumudi (Sept. 21, 2001)

Contributed by: Administrator