Chhattisgarh: Differently Abled Ex-Army Man Becomes World Record Holder In Driving

Laxmikant Shirke was dealt a rough hand when he lost his left foot and right hand in an accident almost 10 years ago. Hailing from Maharashtra, the 59-year-old worked at the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), a flagship unit of SAIL, after taking voluntary retirement from the Maratha Regiment of the Indian Army in 1996.

Life was good for the man till 2011 when one day while boarding a train at the Bhilai station in Chhattisgarh, he lost his balance and fell. Shirke lost his left foot and right hand in the accident. He was bedridden for almost a year.

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Shirke said he was advised by everyone to stay at home. However, being an Army officer for years, Shirke had a sense of fighting back. He said, "How could I ever accept defeat? Despite my family and relatives opposing my choice to drive, I decided to give it a shot."

New Indian Express

He had full support from his wife Chhaya and son Saransh; he bought a car with automatic transmission so that he did not have to shift gears manually.

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"There are highs and lows in life, and at times, a disadvantage could pose an extreme challenge, my father told me. When I look at him, it is his courage and confidence that drives him," said Saransh.

"The accident posed tough challenges, but it also gave me a new direction, a sort of reinventing myself. I believe my life began only after embracing the challenges," said Shirke. He drives his car from his Raipur home to the Bhilai office.

Before the accident, Shirke was working as a technician in the electrical division in BSP's merchant mill. However, considering his physical disability, he got another job as a senior staff assistant in a library.

While being on the job, he read books on those who created world records by doing something out of the box.

"I had gone against the wishes of my family whom I could not convince as to how I would drive in heavy traffic. But I had made up my mind," he said.

Dainik Jagran

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Shirke broke the world record held by the Australian physically challenged man Javier Stephen's of driving 25,000 km in 2016.

Later, he created a new world record of driving a total of 1.26 lakh km.

He was recognized by Limca Book of Records and Golden Book of Records.

Till now, he has won five car rallies organised in Raipur.

"I look forward to being part of the endurance drive car rally for the disabled from Kanyakumari to Dehradun," he said.

World Record Holders Club

When free, Shirke visits schools, colleges to share his struggles and how they made him stronger.

"Never give up; keep chasing your dreams," is his mantra in his motivational speeches, says Hercharan Kour, a women's rights activist in Bhilai.

H/T: New Indian Express