Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

Page 83

The Brave Hearts
-
few manufacturers, none was prepared to believe that a person with one artificial leg could win, nay - even participate in such a long distance rally. Every manufacturer, therefore, expressed his unwillingness to manufacture a bicycle suited for his special purpose.
Pavitran did not lose heart. Being an engineer by profession and having experience from the Indian army, he decided to manufacture a bicycle himself by collecting the necessary spare parts from different sources. In the course of time, he succeeded in creating a bicycle that would suit his requirement.
The cycle rally was finally flagged off from Pune on 12th October 1982. In all 33 competitors were trying their luck among whom Pavitran was the only physically challenge participant. All others were able bodied. And yet Pavitran completely disowned the idea that he had any physical deficiency or that he had an artificial limb. The only thing that he kept in his mind was the target of 24,000 km. that he had resolved to cover.
One of the regions through which the participants were to pass was the Chambal valley in Madhya Pradesh, which was known to be infested with dreaded dacoits. In any event the entire terrain through which river Chambal flowed was a difficult one to cross so that even the bravest of the braves would shudder at the prospect of crossing it. But as far as Pavitran was concerned, even though his body was no doubt made of flesh and blood like any other human being, his mind seemed to be made of steel. His entire concentration was focussed on successfully crossing the distance from Pune to Kanyakumari on his bicycle and to win the race.
When Pavitran was crossing the Chambal valley, he was challenged by a group of dacoits at an isolated place. He stood
82