Going out on a limb for a good cause

Para-cyclist Aditya Mehta completed a gruelling 1,450 km ride from Delhi to Mumbai to raise funds to provide amputees with prosthetic limbs, special sports and education

When para-cyclist Aditya Mehta wheeled his bicycle into Mumbai, at the Gateway of India, on Sunday, it marked the end of a grueling ride that began on December 14 in Delhi, and took him over a 1,450 km journey. Cycling with the help of his one limb (he is an amputee), Aditya soldiered on despite a fall, bruised knees and a painful ankle to complete his ride, which took him through Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Through his feat of endurance, Aditya is raising funds to provide amputees with artificial limbs, fund their education and provide specially designed sports equipment for their use.

Speaking with us a day after his momentous ride, Aditya shared some of the challenges he faced while completing his journey. “At the planning stage, many of my friends told me that it would be a smooth journey, mostly filled with flat surfaces. I never anticipated that the journey would be so tough until it actually began,” he said.

Aditya, 32, had previously cycled from Manali to Khardunga La in 2014. The route is the highest motorable road in the world (about 18,380 ft above sea level) and conditions are tough — to say the least. Aditya not only completed the route — perhaps the first in his category (above-knee amputee) to have done so — he also hoisted the Indian flag at Khardunga La on August 15, 2014 and entered the Limca Book of Records.

Still, Aditya felt that his ride from Delhi to Mumbai was no less gruelling — especially since he was riding without his prosthetic limb, unlike with previous journeys.

“When I had previously covered the Manali-Khardunga La journey, it felt simpler due to less civilisation, while the converse holds true for the Delhi-Mumbai journey. We had to manage food at the local dhabas, and the heat at Udaipur was excessive. We would take short naps whenever possible en route. The toughest part was getting accustomed to the Indian style toilets, which was when I experienced a bad fall It was the first time I actually felt like an amputee. The continuous pulling, pushing made my foot numb as I was nearing Mumbai, and I had to manage with about 2-3 hours of sleep per day. We are especially grateful to the police department who made arrangements for our accommodation at guest houses,” Aditya said.

On his journey, Aditya was joined by fellow riders Akun Sabharwal, an IPS officer, and Rajeev Reddy Malchety, the Telangana state vice president, Youth Congress. The Delhi-Mumbai journey was also a way for Aditya to generate assistance for personnel from the police and paramilitary forces who lost their limbs on duty.

Aditya lost his right leg (it was amputated above the knee) after an accident in 2006. It would prove to be life changing in more ways than one. Aditya told us that before the incient, his life “revolved around profits and losses” in his business; a new car was a must every year-and-a-half. “You won’t believe it, but I actually went to the Burj-Al Arab at Dubai for lunch, just to see why it was so expensive... Today, it astonishes me, how I have changed so much!” said Aditya of his metamorphosis.

From material pleasures, his focus shifted to health and fitness. He rediscovered his former passion for cycling and pursued it, despite his new physical challenges. Now, (when he isn’t on one of his endurance rides) Aditya cycles for two hours every day and hits the gym in the evenings, where he focuses on strength building.

His efforts have paid off, and in 2013, Aditya was a double silver medallist at the Asian Para-Cycling Championships. He also established the Aditya Mehta Foundation, which works to provide para-athletes the very best facilities and training. While reports frequently surface about the lack of assistance received by para-athletes, Aditya is satisfied with the support extended to his foundation by the government so far. “My father taught me that expectation is the cause of sorrow. I don’t rely on external support for financial assistance and we raise enough through our rides and motivational talks,” he explained.

Aditya does admit that para-athletes could certainly do with more appreciation for their achievements. “Even after winning accolades, nobody comes to receive us at the airport. The situation would be different had it been a Sania Mirza or Saina Nehwal Also, India still remains cricket-crazy, while there are many other sports that deserve equal importance. My dream is to make people realise that para-athletes are better than able-bodied athletes,” he said.

His Delhi-Mumbai ride done, Aditya is now preparing for his next challenge — cycling the Manali-Khardunga La route once again in 2016. He also hopes to set up a sports academy by 2017.

What keeps him going “It is not physical power, but a strong mind that is required,” Aditya replied. “For me, the ultimate satisfaction in life is to help as many people as I can.”