HOPE ON WHEELS
This is the story of an effort to provide mobility to a paratrooper and skydiver who is now paraplegic and immobile.
Ex-Naik Prem Singh Thakur, a native of Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh, was an Airborne Gunner who was recruited into the Indian Army’s Artillery arm in December 1994. After his initial military training, he volunteered and joined 9 Parachute Field Regiment in 1995. After successfully clearing his probation he earned the coveted Maroon Beret of the elite Paratroopers. Prem did his basic jump course at the Paratroopers Training School (Air Force), Agra in March 1995. He was an enthusiastic soldier with a cheerful disposition, and excelled in his trade as a driver in the Regiment.
In March 1998, Prem went for the Basic Adventure Skydiving Course at Sarsawa. He returned a skydiver, having learnt why the birds sing. He excelled in the adventure sport and was part of the Regiment’s Skydiving Team, participating in many demonstration jumps. In the year 2000, Prem did the combat conversion jump course under the Air Force and became a Combat Freefaller. Thereafter he was involved in a lot of freefall activity in the Parachute Brigade. By April 2003, Prem had logged close to 250 jumps which included about 20 static-line jumps he made in his early years as a paratrooper.
On 26 April 2003, Prem was participating in the All India Air Force Accuracy Championship at Hindon Air Force Station, as part of the Army Team. After several successful jumps, he got airborne for what has been his last skydive so far. As a result of sudden winds towards the final part of his descent and a slight error of judgment, Prem had a bad landing and injured his spine. Despite the best efforts of doctors, the gravity of his injury made Prem a paraplegic paralysed below his neck. After spending some time in Pune, he moved to the Army Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali (Punjab), where he stays now for the major part of a year. In summers, when the heat wave hits the plains of Punjab, Prem retreats to his family home in the cool climes of Himachal’s mountains.
In March 1998, Prem went for the Basic Adventure Skydiving Course at Sarsawa. He returned a skydiver, having learnt why the birds sing. He excelled in the adventure sport and was part of the Regiment’s Skydiving Team, participating in many demonstration jumps. In the year 2000, Prem did the combat conversion jump course under the Air Force and became a Combat Freefaller. Thereafter he was involved in a lot of freefall activity in the Parachute Brigade. By April 2003, Prem had logged close to 250 jumps which included about 20 static-line jumps he made in his early years as a paratrooper.
On 26 April 2003, Prem was participating in the All India Air Force Accuracy Championship at Hindon Air Force Station, as part of the Army Team. After several successful jumps, he got airborne for what has been his last skydive so far. As a result of sudden winds towards the final part of his descent and a slight error of judgment, Prem had a bad landing and injured his spine. Despite the best efforts of doctors, the gravity of his injury made Prem a paraplegic paralysed below his neck. After spending some time in Pune, he moved to the Army Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali (Punjab), where he stays now for the major part of a year. In summers, when the heat wave hits the plains of Punjab, Prem retreats to his family home in the cool climes of Himachal’s mountains.
Prem sustains himself and his family on his Army pension and stays under the care of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre. Confined to his wheelchair, he is totally dependent on the assistance of helpers for everything. Over the years, the braveheart has made great efforts and gained some control of his hands inspite of some bad bouts of sickness. He makes calls and talks on his mobile phone with some difficulty. It is the dependency on others that is the biggest hurdle for a man who still dreams of walking some day, and maybe even jump once again.
After seeing Prem in his wheelchair and understanding his difficulties, both physical and psychological, a plan was conceived to improve his situation. It could happen to anyone, and comrades-at-arms and fellow skydivers wanted to make a difference. If he had a powered wheelchair, Prem would be able to move on his own, thereby enabling him greater freedom and independence. With the belief that Prem deserves a fighting chance at making his life better, but considering the fact that he cannot afford to buy the wheelchair which can improve things for him, like-minded individuals were mobilized through an email campaign. People from India and abroad, soldiers and civilians alike pitched in to raise funds for the cause. Close to Rupees 2.5 Lakhs was raised by way of the initiative, to be used for procuring a wheelchair and to set up a fixed deposit in Prem’s bank.
After extensive research on mobility solutions for the disabled and taking into account Prem’s specific needs, a custom-built wheelchair was made at Callidai Motor Works, Chennai for Rupees 1.15 Lakhs. It is a Powered Standup Wheelchair whose Tilt Angle can be stopped at any comfortable degree. The Powered Standup also features Independent Powered Recline and Independent Powered Foot Elevation. These built-in options make it convenient for the user to change his position and relieve the stress on the body by assuming comfortable positions. The stand-up option enables the user to come to a vertical position and ensure blood circulation into the lower limbs and also accomplishing certain amount of physiotherapy. Prem can operate it by way of a joystick and buttons. The wheelchair has been an instrument of bringing about a major change in Prem’s life by giving him better mobility and independence.
The wheelchair was given to Prem Singh on 26 July 2009 at the Army Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali in the presence of a few of the supporters of the cause. A technical representative of Callidai Motor Works demonstrated the wheelchair’s features and trained Prem in using it. The initiative could be successfully completed due to the enthusiastic backing from supporters who identified with the cause and the blessings of the Director of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre. We hope this story inspires more people to reach out and help those amongst us who need a helping hand.
After seeing Prem in his wheelchair and understanding his difficulties, both physical and psychological, a plan was conceived to improve his situation. It could happen to anyone, and comrades-at-arms and fellow skydivers wanted to make a difference. If he had a powered wheelchair, Prem would be able to move on his own, thereby enabling him greater freedom and independence. With the belief that Prem deserves a fighting chance at making his life better, but considering the fact that he cannot afford to buy the wheelchair which can improve things for him, like-minded individuals were mobilized through an email campaign. People from India and abroad, soldiers and civilians alike pitched in to raise funds for the cause. Close to Rupees 2.5 Lakhs was raised by way of the initiative, to be used for procuring a wheelchair and to set up a fixed deposit in Prem’s bank.
After extensive research on mobility solutions for the disabled and taking into account Prem’s specific needs, a custom-built wheelchair was made at Callidai Motor Works, Chennai for Rupees 1.15 Lakhs. It is a Powered Standup Wheelchair whose Tilt Angle can be stopped at any comfortable degree. The Powered Standup also features Independent Powered Recline and Independent Powered Foot Elevation. These built-in options make it convenient for the user to change his position and relieve the stress on the body by assuming comfortable positions. The stand-up option enables the user to come to a vertical position and ensure blood circulation into the lower limbs and also accomplishing certain amount of physiotherapy. Prem can operate it by way of a joystick and buttons. The wheelchair has been an instrument of bringing about a major change in Prem’s life by giving him better mobility and independence.
The wheelchair was given to Prem Singh on 26 July 2009 at the Army Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali in the presence of a few of the supporters of the cause. A technical representative of Callidai Motor Works demonstrated the wheelchair’s features and trained Prem in using it. The initiative could be successfully completed due to the enthusiastic backing from supporters who identified with the cause and the blessings of the Director of the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre. We hope this story inspires more people to reach out and help those amongst us who need a helping hand.
August 2009
