We are back with the second part of Vikram Agnihotri’s story Flying with Chopped Wings. So do read this inspiring story. If you haven’t read the first part, we suggest you go back and read it first; otherwise, you won’t understand the story. So do it, and let’s continue listening to the story.
Vikram Agnihotri – My Story
Since I was a kid, I entirely depended on my parents for every little thing. I vaguely remember crying over little things, but I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation for sure. However, my parents were two emotionally intense individuals. They had decided to deal with the situation courageously. They must’ve thought about my future and how this tragedy would affect me, but they kept their anxiety far away from me, locked up in their heart. So they could handle my predicament correctly.
That’s why they never treated me differently. My parents made me feel like any other average child. They enrolled me in a regular school instead of a special one because they believed that “Inspiration comes from within and one has to be positive then only good things can happen.”
Apart from it, childhood is a stage where kids shape themselves and are flexible to face any situation. If they are treated right, then they can overcome any hardships. My parents treated me in the same way.
My mother used to treat me the same way she treated my elder brother. My parents never disparaged my condition or never cursed God for putting me in this situation. If they did it behind my back, I don’t know, but they stayed optimistic, calm, balanced in front of me, and their positivity made me strong. Slowly and steadily, I learned to do many things with my feet, such as writing, skating, swimming, and playing football. Everything was difficult at first, but with practice and little effort, I managed to adopt them.
My parents appreciated me for acquiring these skills. They even encouraged me to join every activity, and my friends also supported me during the different stages of my life. Their constant support made me what I am today. They always maintained a positive environment around me, and I was lucky to be surrounded by people who encouraged me to deal with my disabilities in stride.
They never made me feel embarrassed for not having arms. I was never subjected to bullying and taunts but encouragement and motivation. So when you have a positive atmosphere, it nurtures a positive attitude, which is required to take positive actions.
My childhood taught me one of the most important life lessons: ‘Our mind is the only limit. Virtually nothing is impossible in this world. If we just put it in our minds and maintain a positive attitude, we can achieve anything and overcome every obstacle. Everything depends on our mind, so developing a positive mindset and a positive action combined with positive thinking results in success.
I grew up with all these thoughts, and I was ready to take my life ahead. So I decided to pursue MBA after B.Com. I cleared the CAT and got into IIM Ahmedabad. However, the interview was a different gamble because their questions were quite biased. They were interested in knowing more about my disability than my capability. So I was rejected both times, and then I decided to pursue LLB Hons and MA Eco.
Later in 2015, after facing a challenging situation, I decided to learn car driving. There were two challenges behind me, one was driving itself, and another was getting a permanent four-wheeler license. But I cleared the first one with the help of my friends. Though learning how to drive was never a problem, getting a license was a huge problem. Because, due to my disability, they would have straight rejected me. Still, I applied for a driving license.
I was a law student in that phase of my life, and I was aware of the transportation laws and regulations. So they granted me a learner’s license, but they were hesitant to grant me a permanent one. The authorities denied me in many ways, but they couldn’t stop me from getting it. I researched the motor vehicle act and its provisions for people with disabilities. Fortunately, the law did not halt people with disabilities from driving in clear words and was open to interpretations. After facing multiple rejections and complications, I finally received permission for the permanent license.
Then I needed to find the gear that didn’t require assistance. So I wrote an application and requested the motor vehicle companies, like Maruti, Renault, and Ford, to modify some features in their vehicles. I told them that I needed a foot steering feature, and to forward the demand, I wanted to have a word with the manufacturer.
After plenty of futile attempts, patience, a battle of 1.5 years, multiple RTO visits, and lots of problems, I found a modified car from Maruti that suited my physical requirements. After this, I could drive an automatic car with no clutch pedal, and steering was also present on the foot side. So the authorities had almost no reason to doubt my driving skills. So they agreed to issue me a permanent driving license.
My achievement created history in India because I was the first person who was allowed to drive a car with his feet. This achievement inspired many physically challenged people to get a driving license and many other rights.
This news reached the media, and they covered my journey. The story was covered and published by well-known newspapers and media houses. I was applauded for being so courageous, and this success motivated me to work for others. That’s why I began to serve as a social worker.
You can learn a lot from my story, but one of the greatest lessons that I have learned from my experience is ‘When you are joyful when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you. You become the Sun of your life, and people want to be near you. But the most important thing in life is to believe in ourselves because miracles happen to those who believe in their self-worth. So keep people aside and live your life freely.’
Like us on FB, if you find our content interesting: https://www.facebook.com/hatkestoryofficial/
Do you have an interesting incident or experience to share with the world? Write to us, and together we can discuss how to weave your story and present it to the world. Would you mind sending us your story?
Comments are closed.