This amputee calendar will give you all the inspiration you need to survive 2017

The start of every year is marked with new calendars. So if you haven’t yet chosen your calendar for 2017, we present to you this amputee calendar that will give you all the inspiration you need to get you through the year.

Produced by Mission Smile, this calendar is a part of their Project Rising Above which aims at showcasing and celebrating the differently-abled and is sure to change the way you look at them. In a brilliant showcase of what grit and determination can do, each of the models will change your perspective on life. The calendar includes award-winning sportspersons alongside ordinary people who look to achieve their dreams, overcoming the hurdles life has meted out to them.

Preeti Rao, co-founder of Mission Smile says of the calendar that interacting with the amputees made the team better human beings and that they complain a lot lesser in life now. Without further ado, here is the calendar for you.

Manasi Joshi

An Indian Para Badminton player aspiring to win gold at the Olympics in Tokyo, lost her leg in 2011 in a road accident. Joshi already holds the titles of world no. 5 in singles and world no. 3 in mixed doubles. Just before the accident, she won silver in a corporate badminton tournament and went on to win gold in 2012, right after her amputation.

Vishwas K S

This 26-year-old from Bangalore won India three medals at the Canadian 2016 Speedo Can Am Para-swimming Championships. Vishwas lost both his hands in a tragic accident at the age of 10. His father who was a clerk in the agriculture department, lost his life in his attempt to save Vishwas.

Vinod Rawat

Rawat of MTV Roadies fame lost his leg when a truck ran over. He was six years old at the time. He lost his leg because a sum of Rs. 25,000 could not be arranged for his surgery. When he was not allowed to be part of a bikers’ club because of his disability, he founded his own club.

Suyash Jadhav

Double amputee Suyash is a Para Swimmer competing in the S7 category. Jadhav is also the only Indian Para Swimmer to have achieved the ‘A’ qualifying mark for the 2016 Paralympics through the Para Champions programme.

Briju Mohan and Antara Telang

Briju Mohan lost his arm in a bike accident. The Bangalore resident works in Cisco and is the co-founder of One School At A Time (OSAAT). Brilliant at Salsa, he is also learning contemporary dance and yoga.

Right leg amputee Antara Telang lost her limb when an overgrown tree collapsed onto her. She was 18 years old at the time. She lost her leg, but her spirit remained as strong as always.

 

Kiran Kanojia

India’s first woman blade runner and IT professional, Kiran was travelling by train to Faridabad to celebrate her 25th birthday with her parents when tragedy struck. She was sitting close to the door and still had half an hour to reach the location. At Palwal, two miscreants tried to pull her backpack but were not able to do so. One of them then pushed her and she fell off the train. On her way down, her left leg got caught in the door, shattering her foot. The passengers pulled the emergency chain, but amputation was the only option.

 

Mariyappan Thangavelu

Paralympic High Jumper and India’s first gold medallist since 2004, Thangavelu was born in Salem district of Tamil Nadu. After his father abandoned the family, his mother raised the kids alone – working as a daily wage earner and a vegetable seller. At the age of five, Mariyappan was run over by a bus while walking to school. The wheels crushed his knees and he became permanently disabled. He also fought all odds to completed secondary school.

 

Shalini Saraswathi

Bangalore resident, Shalini was struck by Rickettsia with morts, a rare bacterial infection. She had a mere 5% survival chance. Her left hand was amputated in 2013 and her right hand dropped off on its own. Her legs fell prey to gangrene soon after. A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Saraswathi is also fond of salsa and contemporary dance.

 

T Samuel

13-year-old Samuel from Bangalore, was six when he lost his right hand. He was playing with a live wire and was electrocuted. His grandparents couldn’t afford to take care of him any longer so they admitted him into St Mary’s Orphanage. An ardent hockey player, he dreams to be a star goal-keeper someday.

 

Sheryl Rebecca

Sheryl is pursuing her post-graduation in Bangalore and lost her leg nine months ago in a hit-and-run accident. One of her interests is modelling and she has also walked the ramp in her college. She aspires to me a successful model someday.

Arle Ramachandran

This 18 year old hails from Peddapuram district in Andhra Pradesh. He was on his way to compete at the basketball nationals in Goa in 2013 when he met with an accident at the railway station. He continues to play and compete against able-bodied players in various district-level tournaments.

Dhaval Khatri

This Ahmedabad resident is a renowned painter. Dhaval lost both his arms at the age of 14. He accidentally embraced electric wires and his hands were badly burnt leading to amputation.

 

So, what’s stopping you from pursuing your dreams?