Meet 26-year-old Amir Hussain Lone. This young lad from Kashmir proves where there is a will, there is a way.
He was 8-years-old when his both arms were amputated after an accident at his father’s factory where they manufactured cricket bats.
His father had to sell off everything to take care of Amir’s medical expenses and treatment.
"I was in my second class at the time of accident," Amir told ScoopWhoop over phone from his hometown in Bijbehara. "That accident devastated not only my life but of the whole family."
Inspite of losing his arms, he never lost hope. He credits his grandmother who has been a constant source of inspiration and stood by him through his growing years.
"She took my care as her service in the path of Allah and didn't let me to quit studies. After the accident, the school authorities asked my family to get me enrolled in some school for specially-abled children but my grandmother pushed me to attend the school," Amir said. "She told me to just sit in the class and listen to what the teacher says."
It was not easy, he continued. "One day, when a teacher told a fellow student to help me with the work, the student retorted with 'I am not his slave', I felt sad but it inspired me. I went to a shopkeeper and bought a pen. We were poor so I couldn't buy a notebook. I went to a cloth merchant and asked him for a bolt-cardboard around which the clothes are rolled, to write upon. I started writing on walls to practice till I was able to master it."
Amir studied till 12th standard, passing all subjects by writing his answer sheets with his feet.
He loved cricket as a child. Without a television set at home, Amir use to watch cricket matches at neighbour’s house. “One day they didn't allow me to watch and threw me out of the house. I still didn't leave and peeked through a window hole to watch the full innings. I felt as if they were telling me cricket was not for me. That was the time I decided to learn cricket."
Amir idolises Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and taking a cue from master blaster, continued to practise his cricketing skills with his grandma. "My earliest cricket practice started with my grandmother who used to bowl to me. I wish she was alive today and see me representing J&K at national level," Amir said.
Source: YouTube
Amir, till date, has represented J&K at national level in different tournaments in Delhi and Lucknow but isn’t quite sure if this will earn him his bread and butter.
"Nobody understands us. When I went to New Delhi and Lucknow, I found sensitiveness and special attention towards people like us, but in Kashmir, there's a lack of awareness. There's no association of para-cricketers in J&K. Neither is there any support from government."
