Zakir Hussain has two stubs for hands, but he does things with them that are way beyond what most people with normal hands can do. He walks clasping two full gas cylinders in the crooks of his elbows. He sits in the cusp of two gates and performs push-ups.
And, he goes on long-distance bicycle rides. Zakir's most notable cycling adventure is a three-day Madurai-to-Chennai ride.
Weaving through the busy afternoon traffic in Chennai, Zakir demonstrates his cycling skills to a select group. Settling down for a chat after the performance, 28-year-old Zakir talks about how he has adapted himself to his disability.
Ten years ago, his arms were severely burnt when he tried to retrieve a cloth that the wind had carried to a high transmission wire. “I was in excruciating pain, but surprised myself by climbing down the stairs of the three-storied building.”
Zakir had a cloistered childhood and the accident changed him considerably. He was filled with the desire to prove he was as good as the able-bodied. He tried hard to excel in what they did. “I didn't want anyone to pity me.” He eked out a living selling garments on the platform.
But for a chance meeting with Mohammed Ali in Chennai, he would have continued that way. Ali thought Zakir's cycling was out of the world and began to help him with other awe-inspiring achievements. Mohammed Rafi, known for his ability to pull packed cars, also took Zakir under his wing, and coached him in numerous feats of endurance.
The best break came when martial arts guru Shihan Hussaini became Zakir's mentor after he heard about him from Ali and Rafi. For the next two years, Zakir will train with Hussaini. For, he is passionate about karate and wants to learn it and teach it to the differently-abled.
