Mind over body
Vijayendran
Born in an illiterate and poor family in
Kalyanapuram, Tanjavur district, Vijayendran experienced hunger and poverty. It was the time of Chief Minister
Kamaraj, and he announced free mid-day meal scheme for schoolchildren. As there was no food in the house, his parents wanted to send him to school so that he could have one square meal at least a day. As he had no shirt to wear, his mother got torn ones from the neighbours and stitched them and gave them to her son. Vijayendran went to school happily as his stomach could be filled with food everyday.
Some children used to carry the remaining food in the evening to their homes.
Vijayendran also did the same. His mother used to wait for him with hunger for the leftover food. He was a very average
student
in class. Somehow he was able to clear up to class-8. Then he realised that he was sent to school mainly to get his free mid-day meal. Then he decided to go for work as he wanted to earn something for the family.
In the daytime he went to quarry and broke stones. At night he learnt Karate and
Silambattam.
He supported the family with his earnings and developed not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind. Looking around him, he saw pitiable conditions. The worst thing that affected his village was illicit liquor. Many ignorant villagers took to drinking as it was cheap and they felt that it would help reduce
body
pain. But in that process, many became victims and lost their lives. The whole family of the deceased underwent untold misery and the women and children suffered a lot.
Vijayendran's wife and children had witnessed these scenes in their village many a time. They discussed the realities at home with Vijayendran who had decided to make a door-to-door
campaign against illicit liqour.
In 1985, when Vijayendran was 30 years old and had the full support of the local women who rose in favour of his activities, showing their opposition towards people manufacturing, selling and buying illicit liquor. The anti-social elements in the village wanted to silence him. So, one night, they attacked him in which Vijayendran lost his right hand.
Though Vijayendran reported the incident to the local police immediately, no case has been registered. He was hospitalised for one long year. After some time he started his propagation with the support of the women. Once again he had to face his opponents who were terribly angry with him for blocking their business. As they knew to play the necessary tricks to safeguard themselves Vijayendran became helpless. The anti-social elements used this opportunity to attack him again and in that process he got his left hand also cut.
The doctors fixed it with great difficulty. But another shock awaited him. The doctors who had examined him during the operation found that he was affected by the serious disease called lukemea parkura. He was sent to Chennai for special tests which proved positive of the dreaded disease and needed immediate operation of the gall bladder. They also warned him that he would survive for three years only after the operation. So, Vijayendran decided not to have the operation but continued his
exercises regularly. It is a great surprise to the medical world that he is keeping himself fit and survives as a great achiever.
But problems continued in one way or the other. When he was teaching Karate to a friend he hurt his leg and was bedridden for some time. But Vijayendran continued his physical exercises to keep himself fit. He had read in newspapers and journals about various achievements of able-bodied and disabled people. He had a good physique and wanted to achieve something.
He read in a paper about a German who created a record of sitting and raising 1,709 times continuously. With a disabled body, Vijayendran wanted to defeat that record and practised that action hard. He was able to do it 1,800 times in one hour and continued the same for five long hours. It was a great achievement for Vijayendran. On hearing about his talent, an
American who wanted to excell him came to Vijayendran and took practice from him. He was successful in accomplishing the feat for 21 hours. Now the same person is trying to do it for 25 hours.
Vijayendran has an urge to perform something different and novel. He does not mind what others feel about it. Sometimes such actions look very odd and strange but Vijayendran does not give up his efforts. He tries to walk in a deep tank; he balances with one hand with a flame on a thin rope tied high above the ground level and jumps and walks over it. He wants to accomplish many such records in his life time.
He recollects how able-bodied he was till his 30th year and how he lost his right hand because of his service-minded activities in his village. He feels sorry for depending on somebody to carry out his day-to-day activities. He wants everyone to know the sufferings undergone by the disabled and show care and concern for them instead of pity.
Vijayendran has planned to undertake a 90-day tour by walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. The purpose of this action is to create an awareness among the people about t.he effects of communal riots and use of atom bombs in war. The Handicapped Association at Tanjavur has started doing the necessary arrangements for the first phase of his tour. The flame would be first carried by Muniratnam, who was born handicapped, and Vijayendran would distribute pamphlets to all. He is hoping to get the cooperation, support and encouragement of the government, social organisations and, above all, the general public.
He is doing all these for the public cause. His earnings are meagre. With a strong will he plans his future and achievements. He does masonry work using his single hand. Though he is aware of his physical disability, he has a strong mind to challenge the anti -social elements who damaged his body.
He has three daughters and one son. His eldest daughter is doing medicine; the second one is in class-10; the third one is in class-8. His only son has completed his class-10 and won the first place for his excellent physique.
Vijayendran's social awareness, achievements, human values, etc., have taken him to great heights but he is not satisfied as his thirst for achievements could never be quenched.
Shanmugam can be contacted
@:
No: 54 Kamaraj Road,
Ramakrishna Nagar,
Alwar Thirunagar,
Chennai- 600 087.
Phone: 248 60 221
E-mail: shanmugam@azagi.com
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here to buy this book
(Extracted
from the book 'Hope is Life')
