AN INSPIRING TALE OF MULUND’S BLIND YOUTH!
Mulund youth, Sanket Bhirud, is an ideal example for the younger generation because, despite being blind, he has never lamented over his handicap! Instead, he has made his handicap his power and achieved name, fame and money! At just 25 years of age, he is working as an Assistant Manager-HR in the prestigious Bharat Petroleum Company and has as many as 50 medals in sports and studies! Recently, he added another feather in his cap by climbing the arduous 1,600 km Nilgiri Abhiyan and aspires to win the international Ironman Triathlon!
Though blind since childhood, Sanket has been very studious since childhood and his blindness has never been a handicap. He has been moving ahead in life triumphantly, winning prestigious scholarships like the Homi Bhabha Scholarship and making his family proud. Besides studies, Sanket developed a passion for sports at a young age. His grandfather introduced him to swimming and Sanket took to swimming so passionately that he won three gold medals and a one bronze medal in swimming at the Paralympics Competition and brought laurels to Mulund.
In addition, Sanket has many more achievements under his belt, like he has established many landmarks in cycling such as the 540 km cycling in Manali, 643 km from Pune to Goa in the famous Deccan Cliffhanger Cycling and, recently, he registered a new record of 600km tandem cycling at Mysore. Sanket has achieved these cycling records after his association with ‘Adventure Beyond Barriers’ during which 2 more blind boys took part in these cycling events.
Sanket had the dream to participate in the popular Tata Marathon Race organised in January this year. However, like umpteen Mumbaikars, Sanket, too, became the victim of the killer potholes of Mumbai. While practising for the Marathon, Sanket fell down due to a pothole and sustained severe injuries on his knees. Thus, a Mumbai pothole shattered his dreams! Nevertheless, Sanket has no grudges against the BMC.
Speaking to Home Times, Sanket said, “I think people should not consider a blind person ‘helpless’. Instead, the society must encourage them and never suspect their talent.” Citing his own example, he said, “Despite being blind, I live my life independently without any support. From morning till night I am busy. I travel in a local train, bus and move around the country without assistance.”
On being quizzed about his future plans, Sanket said, “I wish to win the ‘Ironman Triathlon’ and participate in the swimming competition of the English Channel. I aspire to portray myself as an ‘Ironman’ so that I become an inspiration for other blind people.”
