________________
回
7
The Bravest of The Brave
One can certainly do anything if one has the motivation to do it. Yogesh Gandhi of Mumbai has proven this by setting his own example.
Right from his childhood Yogesh was engulfed in calamities. He was afflicted with polio due to which both of his legs became paralysed. He was almost bed-ridden. For even small things, he depended on the help of others. But then Yogesh was not made of clay. He gradually and slowly attempted to walk, step by step with the help of calipers. He not only wanted to walk but also run. He would see his mates playing various games, the sight of which he would enjoy, more so when the encounters between them would become keen. He too desired to play like any other child of his age. But how could he do it when his legs were paralysed?
Yet Yogesh was made of sterner stuff. He resolved to participate in games. He adapted himself to the physical conditions in which he was placed without losing courage and confidence, all with a smile on his face.
Yogesh liked the game of table-tennis very much. But for a child like him it was too difficult a game to play. It required constant and quick movements at and around the table. For him that seemed almost impossible. Yet he found out a way. To avoid putting any pressure on his legs, Yogesh would hold
66
