Javid and his team posed during a press conference at Hotel Vivor Kohima on April 6. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 7
Thirty-three year old, Mohammed Javid, a paraplegic is on a mission to travel 28 states across India and six union territories to create public awareness on how to handle disability and motivate people for rehabilitation to relive their lives.
A successful corporate banker from Chennai, Javid, survivor of a road accident, reached the state capital, Kohima on April 6. He is self driving his modified car, accompanied by two companions—Kannadan, a professional social worker and Jasiq Zameer, an automobile engineer who left their jobs to undertake the mission with Javid.
During a press conference this morning at Hotel Vivor, Javid said the near-death accident in January 2011 was an awakening call towards how he perceived life to be. The trauma after the accident both mentally and physically left him frustrated and angry at everything and everyone.
“That is when I realised that people don’t see the other side of life of people with disability or accident victims” said Javid, recalling how he was confined within the four walls of his home completely dependent on his family for even a glass of water.
He was pursuing his MBA when he met with the accident while dropping off his brother on his bike. He had to discontinue his study as he was recuperating from the accident and coming to terms with his disability.
“Thankfully, I was admitted to CMC Vellore which has the best rehabilitation centre for people like me,” said Javid adding that it is through this that he learnt to relive his life again. Prior to that, he recalled how he vented out his anger to everyone in his family about his inability to do anything. “I didn’t like being dependent and I was angry at everyone for my inability to do things on my own,” Javid said.
Following his recovery, Javid completed his MBA and worked as a banker. Subsequently he started to live life with a new zest of perspectives and energy. Today, he is happily married to a scientist.
Following his accident, Javid realised how disabled people are deeply affected by their condition. Too much care, through his experience at home, he viewed sometimes become a hindrance for the person to be independent, thereby preventing the person to live his life to the fullest. “My parents and family were pampering me too much and I was not able to come out of the dependency for quite some time” he said.
More quality rehabilitation centres needed
Narrating how he learnt to live life differently through his stay in a rehabilitation centre, Javid said governments across the country must act towards building more quality rehabilitation centers, as India has only about 4-5 such centers at present.
His companion, Kannadan, who has worked in the field of social services for a decade, said one important aspect people tend to ignore is “how to come out” after an injury or accident. With India ranked as having the third most road accidents, and given the lack of infrastructure, facility and people’s attitude towards Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), he observed “living with disability is the toughest in India.”
He concurred with Javid, outlining the need for the governments, particularly the Government of India, to take special initiative to create avenues and spaces for PwDs across the country.
Meanwhile, Javid is registered for the Guinness World Record Book for the longest drive on the road by a paraplegic to cover 10,000 Kms. He started his journey on March 8 from Chennai and has covered 14 states with his next destination being Tezpur.
“I want to inspire people like me. I want to be their voice so that they can live their lives by doing things differently. And I want to tell them to be happy with the fact that you are different and not normal,” was Javid’s message to PwDs.
On a mission to rekindle faith and create awareness among the oblivious, Javid envisions to empower PwDs and try to build a strong support community.
