BLOWN SKY HIGH - Naik Dharamveer Singh

Naik Dharamveer Singh

26 February, 1996. On this fateful day, Naik Dharamveer Singh’s life was to change for ever. Tall, broad-shouldered, and a tough and fearless soldier, on that day he became a paraplegic.

Dharamveer Singh (then 31) was posted in a forward area of Nagaland, which was going through turbulent times of insurgency. “We called it Operation Orchid. The situation was so dangerous, that all our folks always travelled under heavy armed escort, even our school-going children. Every day, our school buses would leave camp in a convoy, with armed vehicles in the front and back. I was in the last truck, and thankfully, all the vehicles had gone by safely, when the insurgents activated a remote-controlled IED, hidden under a culvert. The blast was so powerful that (I was told later) our heavy 7-ton Shaktiman truck was flung 30 feet off the ground and blown to bits. Some of the jawans in the vehicle were killed instantaneously, a few died in hospital. I was the only survivor, but with my D8 and D9 spinal bones crushed beyond repair, I became paralysed below the waist.”

Dharamveer was first taken to the hospital at Dimapur, from where he was transferred to the Command Hospital. After a couple of weeks he was taken to CH at Lucknow. While his strong constitution and sheer willpower helped, it still took him three years to recover somewhat from the injuries, but it would take another two years at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre at MH Khadki, before he could be shifted to the Paraplegic Rehab Centre on 31 May 2001.

For these five years, his family remained in his hometown at Kurukshetra, where his wife brought up their three small children single-handedly. Dharamveer Singh spent these five years in hospital undergoing rigorous physio-therapy, learning how to activate the other nerves and muscles in his body to help him cope with the loss of movement and sensation below the waist – how to sit up in a chair, how to transfer himself from a chair to a bed or to a toilet seat, how to control his bowel and bladder, and yes, also to reconcile himself to spending the rest of his life on a wheelchair.

He still considers himself lucky to be alive as he says, “All my other colleagues died in the blast!”

He pauses gravely before adding, “I’m glad that the children were safe, that nothing happened to them.” These our brave jawans who put the safety of others before their own, who guard our borders, our children and families even to the extent of giving up their lives. Some, like Dharamveer, miss death by a whisker, but suffer injuries so serious, that they remain confined to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives.

Those paralysed below the waist are referred to as paraplegics – both lower limbs paralysed and no bladder and bowel control.

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A Fairy Godmother with a Magic Wand

Ritu Chawla, General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Chakan motivates the girls from Sarva Seva Sangh to join the hotel industry 

At the Paraplegic Rehab Centre, Ritu along with her associates, personally serves our bravehearts

Ritu Chawla, GM Courtyard Marriott, Chakan, keeps surprising me. This Diwali, it took her just a few minutes to decide that the hotel would arrange a celebratory lunch for Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre. She came in person, bringing an entire team from the hotel to serve the delicious biryani and halwa, and then she insisted on helping her team, and personally served the soldiers.

Ritu has certainly turned my ideas – of being Big Boss - upside down. She’s shown what it means to be a leader. Being a leader means actually doing it yourself, being a role model that juniors can emulate.

When I asked her why she readily agreed to help with Team Miracle and help PRC, her answer was simple, “It was in line with our Marriott ‘Spirit to Serve’ philosophy.”

But why bring such a large team, when they already had so much work at the hotel?

“I run a hotel with a large team of Gen Y associates. I believe our hotel lives are full of glamour and luxury, and we often fail to see the reality, and remain grounded. Bringing the young team to PRC, I believe, would give them that necessary motivation as well help them stay grounded.”

But, just sponsoring a meal is not enough for this dynamic lady who looks upon Sudha Murty as a person worthy of emulating, “I would like to be involved with initiatives that have a long-term focus,  that will help build livelihoods – be it for the young, but not-so-lucky youth, or for women groups.”

With this in view, she invited youngsters from Sarva Seva Sangh to the hotel, took them on a guided tour, and then offered them free training in various departments. Then she added another surprise – a stipend of Rs 4,000 during the training period!

And how does Ritu celebrate special occasions? When she heard that Sarva Seva Sangh provided hot mid-day meals to around 40 street-children every day, she found joy in sponsoring a special meal for the entire lot, on her father’s birthday.

Ritu has a whole lot of unusual and interesting helping ideas up her sleeve, and I am only waiting for her to surprise us again and again. Team Miracle is proud to have you on board Ritu!

Ritu’s philosophy: Contribute your best skills, take initiative and make everything count.

Ritu’s New Year resolution: From being just another passive corporate social service provider, to become a personal contributor.

A Child with a Golden Heart

Aliyah with her Mom and Dad - a family with the right values

Let me introduce you all to Aliyah Kuvawala, 12, a student of Std VII. Aliyah is a great swimmer, and has won many competitions. But for me, she is unique, because of her keen interest in helping the under-privileged.

Four years ago, when she was just eight, and could barely understand the concept, Aliyah helped us collect bundles of newspapers as part of our fund-raising activities for CPAA (Cancer Patients Aid Association). She went round to each flat in her society, urging the residents to donate their old papers to help the poor patients who didn’t have enough money for treatment. The earnest little girl must have made a strong impact, because the result was a sizeable collection.

But it’s what Aliyah has done now that I find truly amazing! A week ago, she was invited for a ceremony by a Rotary Club. They wanted to felicitate a few children achievers - in her case, it was swimming. Aliyah came home with a goodies-bag, which contained (to her surprise) a cheque for Rs 3,000.

“Wow, I can buy a swimming costume,” was her first reaction.

“Well, we’ve always got those for you, so you can buy anything else you want with it,” said her mother Moushumi and Father Moiz.

“In that case, I’d like to donate the money for a cause,” came the swift reply.

Next day, the money was handed over to me, neatly packed in an envelope!

At Team Miracle, we were in the process of collecting money for Sarva Seva Sangh, to fund their Mid-day meals for street-children. They also have about a hundred children in their shelters, whom they educate, and they needed essentials like lunch-boxes.

Moushumi, a Manual Physiotherapist, has always been an active member of Team  Miracle. While it was she who had encouraged Aliyah to take up the newspaper-collection drive, she also helps generously with our children-related activities. When we decided to have a Christmas-party for cancer-affected kids in a hospital, Moushumi funded some goodies. When we expressed a desire to take fruits on a weekly basis to the children in Maher, Moushumi sponsored the amount.

Not for nothing do they say, “Don’t worry that your children don’t listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” In this case, Aliyah has certainly watched her parents closely, and picked up good values from them.

We wish this generous family all the best! 

A Hotel with a Heart

Sivakumar, Arindam and the rest of the Oakwood Premier team pose with the braveherats at PRC, as they tuck into their delicious desserts

Our soldiers at PRC have come to associate Oakwood Premier with some of the yummiest cakes and ice-creams they have ever tasted – it could be Lemon Cream or Fresh Strawberry Muffins, or any other unique flavours. Bringing this treat is an enthusiastic team from the hotel.

This is certainly a hotel with heart, because they help a wide range of social causes ranging from orphans to destitute women. While Sivakumar, the dynamic Director Human Resources, scouts out the social causes, it is Executive Chef Arindam Bhattacharya who executes the ones which fall in his domain…yes, anything to do with food.

“We have helped many other causes, but I especially loved helping Team Miracle because I found they were the only organization helping our injured soldiers. These bravehearts gave the best time of their youth to help the nation, and now that they have suffered such grievous injuries, we should not forget or neglect them. I felt so happy that this simple act of mine brought a smile on their faces,” says Arindam, who, along with the entire Oakwood team, spent considerable time chatting and interacting with all the jawans at the Paraplegic Rehab Centre.

The Oakwood Premier team was especially overcome after their interaction with Flight Lieutenant Anil Kumar, who has been paralysed neck down. In spite of his acute disability, Anil adroitly manipulates the computer with a special pointer, and is a published writer of repute. “This officer has such tremendous courage. We were all amazed at his determination, will-power and innovative spirit. Meeting him has changed my life. Whenever I am in a tough situation I now think of him, and feel that this is nothing compared to the challenge he has to undergo every single day of his life…at least I have two hands and legs, and a body which works fine. The truth is that I feel that I have received much more than what I have been able to give,” says an emotional Arindam.

For this entire team, helping is a spontaneous act. “It is a call of the heart. You can plan your career, you can plan when to buy a house, but an opportunity to help someone comes but rarely, and one must just grab it when it does. It gives me tremendous happiness of heart and mind. This is real SOUL FOOD,” beams this culinary expert.

Hotel Oakwood Premier, we at Team Miracle thank all of you, the generous GM who gives the green signal so promptly, all those who have come to PRC, and even those who worked behind scenes to make these memorable sweet occasions whenever we have asked you...we look forward to many more such sweet memories!

Following in Mother Teresa's footsteps

Suchismita hands over packets of fruits and sweets to the patients

Suchismita doesn’t know it, but she is one of the reasons for our name Team Miracle (and also one of the first to hop on board).

This was more than two years ago. We were holding a Music Program (our second) for the cancer patients at Command Hospital. We wanted to take along some fruits for the patients, and were looking for sponsors. Sometimes, plans, even well-intentioned ones, don’t work out…and this was one of those occasions. We tried a lot of  people, but somehow the response was negative. And when two days before the event, I was still without a sponsor and feeling pretty low about it, I got a sudden phone call from Suchismita. And guess what she had to say?!

Yesss, she and her husband Jayant wanted to fund this event. When her voice came floating down the phone line, I found myself thinking ‘What a miracle!’

With the generous amount they handed us, we managed to make wonderful gift packets for each patient - with fruits, chocolates and even a small juice carton. And both Suchismita and Jayant came along to listen to the music and then to mix with the patients, talk to them and spread some cheer. Since then, Suchismita and Jayant have become active members of Team Miracle.

Suchismita is a silent doer. She is an ardent environmentalist. Her home is a delight in green planning, with plenty of natural light and breeze factored in. She also maintains a lush garden. I especially love her veggie garden which thrives on her kitchen waste.

Always active, always doing something, Suchismita’s description of herself is short and crisp, “An ex-full time mom, part time entrepreneur, free-lance writer, avid reader, animal lover, teacher, yoga enthusiast-  like every women, I don many avatars. I like many of them and when opportunities to try a new one come along, I try it on for size. I find interesting stories in everyone and try and share some inspiring ones with the world.”

Suchismita follows the dictum of Mother Teresa - “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”  

And the beauty (and miracle) is that – we too are inspired by Mother Teresa’s words. As she says, “Mita and Team Miracle were an opportunity to discover that 'good' need not be measured in  quantities, like the number of people you have helped or how much money, time or other resources you can put into helping. They gave (me) the opportunity to live Mother Theresa's words.”

Thank you Suchismita and Jayant, I know that I can count on you.

Not disabled…but doubly abled

Proudly showing off their cache of medals

These guys at the Paraplegic Rehab Centre have come back from a Sports Meet for the Disabled held at Nagpur in February 2013, covered in glory.

(from left to right)

Rindol - 2 Bronzes in shotput and discus

MB Thapa - 2 Golds in shotput and discus and a Silver in javelin

Anil Lankhede - 1 Bronze in javelin

Md Faijazal - Gold in shotput, Silver in discus and Bronze in javelin

Thiru Kumaran - Silver in javelin and discus, Bronze in discus

VP Maske – Silver in shotput and Bronze in javelin

Suresh Kumar Karki – Gold in shotput and discus, and Bronze in javelin

They may have suffered serious spinal cord injuries, they may be paraplegics and quadriplegics, but what is certainly not affected is their high level of enthusiasm and morale. Of course, maintaining this attitude is the main focus of the entire staff at PRC, ranging from the Director to the Admin officer and every one of the caretakers.

Sports form a major part of their daily itinerary, and every evening is devoted to various forms of sports Basketball, Throwball, and races. Now Badminton too has been added to their repertoire with Team Miracle member Vikram Saini gifting money to construct a mobile Badminton court.

“It is your ability, and not your disability that counts,” is the motto of PRC, and these guys prove that where ability is concerned, they are doubly-abled…and with double our energy levels.

How many of us can compete with them and win?! How many of us can even keep up with them?!

Frozen in Time

Sipahi Babban Zore

Can you list your achievements in the last 33 years? Can you enumerate the number of new people you have met, the new things you have learned, the progress in your career, the places you have travelled, the growth in your personal life – marriage, children. So many things have happened to you; how far your life has progressed in these three decades!

Not so for Sipahi Babban Zore. For the last 33 years, from 20 November 1979, Babban has been lying in bed, paralysed neck down, totally relying on an attendant for even his most basic daily needs. On that day, Babban was training for an Army exercise in the jagged mountains of Jammu & Kashmir, when the Army vehicle he was travelling in, fell into a deep ravine. Babban received serious injuries to the spine, causing total paralysis. He was only 22 at that time.

Every two hours, a caretaker comes and turns him around…this is to prevent formation of bedsores. Every three hours, a caretaker has to help him empty his bladder with the help of a catheter. But in spite of his disability, Babban rarely loses the smile on his face.

We salute men like Babban who give us a whole new perspective of life. We also salute the caretakers who perform such tasks with care and affection, never losing their patience.