When a combination of hardships and struggles finds its path through the valley of hope and realizes their destiny, only then does man really succeed. It is the beauty of positivity which keeps man going. When man sees hope even in the darkest of storms, he not only lightens his own path, but also lightens a fire of optimism in the hearts of millions who follow him. This is how legends are born, with a pinch of hope through harshest of struggles. One such inspirational name who clearly justifies hardship is Mariyappan Thangavelu, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist and recipient of India’s highest sports award.
Belonging to a state famous for its ancient temples, Tamil Nadu, Mariyappan lived his life like any other Tamilian child with his four other siblings and his single mother. But a very unfortunate, tragic incident almost turned his life upside-down. A five year old Mariyappan got run over by a truck, leaving his right leg permanently disabled. Things started going downhill from then, his mother, who earned a living carrying bricks turned into a vegetable seller but would earn around a hundred rupees per day and this was not enough money to get his leg treated. But she invested this money in the education of her five children. She admitted them to a school, exactly where Mariyappan’s talent was discovered.
One day, while playing volley ball with his friends, Mariyappan’s sports instructor encouraged him to try high jumping. This proved to be a turning point in the life of a child who had already been dealing with a lot since his childhood. From then on, he started participating in competitive events and winning prizes. His talent was discovered by Mr.Satyanarayana, who supported him and took him to Bengaluru for further coaching. Now Mariyappan, like any other celebrity enjoys fame, with millions of young children taking inspiration from him. He has bagged many awards and medals including Padma Shree and Arjuna award, some of India’s highest awards. He represented India in the 2016 Summer Paralympic games held in Rio de Janeiro in the men’s high jump T-42 category, winning the gold medal in the finals. Recently he was awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sport’s awards ,by the Government of India.
Mariyappan might not have a very beautiful beginning of his story, but the rest of his story is what clearly defines him. He lost a leg, but stood up for his struggles, he did not let the power of negative events overpower him. He stood up confident against all the uncertain incidents, his willpower was too strong for any tragedy to affect him. This is what makes him stand out from the rest. He is a huge inspiration to those who feel let down all the time. He is the living example of the phrase “the struggle you are in today, is developing the strength you need tomorrow”.
Mariyappan never saw himself different from any other kid around him, he treated everyone with respect no matter how they treated him before and after fame. He has become an inspiration to millions of young hearts who have suffered similar disabilities. He has helped them understand their worth, and realize that no person in this world should ever feel insecure about things which are not under their control. He is the reason why millions of people who have suffered , have stopped coming to sad conclusions for their stories and instead, started weaving new happy beginnings .People have come to realize that behind every suffering lies a strength within us which shapes us into perfect individuals.
For his strong willpower, self-confidence, determination and hardwork , Mariyappan has become an inspiration. It is not very easy to be able to rise up and voice yourself through sports, exactly what Mariyappan has accomplished. He managed to touch the sky without his legs leaving the ground. His legs didn’t move, but his heart ran and ran till he finally caught success. Success just does not knock on your front door, success keeps running from one person to another, only the ones with honest wings are able to catch it. Even when one is able to get a touch of success, they often try to get a ride on it, causing them to fall down, which was not the case with Mariyappan. Mariyappan was able to keep his determination and honesty going, leading him to bag more and more awards and millions of hearts. This is what makes him an inspiration for everyone.
