A road accident 13 years ago that crippled him and turned his life topsy-turvy made him an ardent champion of road safety. Negotiating challenges of life and loneliness, George K. Thomas, though confined to a wheelchair, is showing the world how to cope with limitations, overcome challenges and build a fulfilling life.
The 36-year-old is busy working for betterment of the lives of those crippled in road accidents and creating awareness of accidents and road discipline through the NGO ‘Freedom on Wheels’ founded by him.
Hailing from Nalanchira in the State capital, Mr. Thomas suffered irreparable damage to the spinal cord in an accident at Pananvila on September 30, 2005. The memories of the collision between his motorcycle and an auto still haunt him.
Better medicare
“I came to know of the damage caused to the spinal cord only a week later. I was studying second-year BCom at Cooperative College and had to discontinue my studies after being confined to the Government Medical College Hospital here for the next four months. A proper evacuation from the site of the accident to the hospital and better medicare could have saved me,” he recalls.
Support of near ones
His father, Kunjachan K. Thomas, an NRI, mother, Kunjumool, brother Jijo and close friends were all supportive and ensured that he was not confined to bed. Mr. Thomas then wrote a book, ‘Safer Driving’, and was involved in charity works of the NGO ‘Prayukti’ founded by him to help victims of road accidents.
On December 31, 2014, Mr. Thomas got married to Jasmine Issac of Angamaly, who also had an irreparable damage to the spinal cord sustained in a road accident at Bengalaru while doing her degree course in Christ College. Ms Jasmine who was riding a scooter was knocked down by a speeding SUV. “We met at a hospital. We knew each other for four years and our families did not object to our wish to get married. Our families are extending all help to us,” Mr. Thomas says.
“Both of us help out one another and can do 80% of the chores independently. I learnt driving and have got a driving licence for invalid carriage. I love driving the Multi Utility Vehicle and take Jasmine to church and shopping. For long haul journeys to Angamaly and places like Wagamon, we depend on a driver. We use motorised wheelchair, but accessibility is still a major hurdle,” he adds.
Motivational classes
Along with the work of the NGO and taking motivational classes for road accident victims, he found time to complete BA Sociology through distance education in 2015. Mr. Thomas is doing his MA in Sociology final-year through distance education from Annamalai University. “I love to earn from a job but cannot manage to sit in the wheelchair for long hours,” he replies on why he is not taking up a salaried job. His dream of a trauma care centred around main police stations on the lines of the ‘108’ ambulance service to evacuate accident victims within three minutes to the hospital is still confined to paper.
Mr. Thomas is concerned about the high number accidents and fatalities in the State, poor intelligent enforcement system and laxity on the part of law enforcers in enforcing road discipline.
