Lt Col Dwarakesh Army’s lone blind officer receives PMO invite for Republic Day function
Lt Col Dwarakesh Army’s lone blind officer receives PMO invite for Republic Day function
According to JP Nautiyal, chairperson, para shooting sports technical committee of the Paralympic Committee of India, Lt Col,
Destiny pulled the trigger but
Lt Col Dwarakesh shot back. The army’s only blind active-duty officer currently posted at the Station Headquarters in Pune’s Khadki has never let his impairment stand in his way.
Following an accident having claimed his eyes early in his career, the 35-year-old Lt Col Dwarakesh won a shooting national medal and climbed the Siachen Glacier.
Another landmark looms this week as the Prime Minister’s Office has invited the officer to the Republic Day function in New Delhi.
After grabbing the “Gold” he lost his eyesight, but, not his vision for life. He found a new identity in sports.
While speaking to the media Dwarakesh had said after the officer, who has exelled shooting since his active military service days, scored 591 points in the visually impaired 10m air rifle shooting event.
When quized on the accident, Dwarakesh asserted that , he cannot say anything about what happened except that other army personnel died and he sustained lifelong injuries.
He was in hospital for eight months and one of the last things he remembers seeing is a basketball match he had played at a military station.
As of now, Dwarakesh works in office administration with help from hi-tech assistive gadgets. He added that there are several advanced AI-based software tools that helps him read the computer, cellphones and iPad screens.
While this impairment planted hurdles, he made an appeal to the Paralympic Committee of India, which provided him infrared sensor-based shooting equipment. He practised at a private shooting range in Pune under former Olympian Anjali Bhagwat’s guidance.
In October 2021, Dwarakesh was one of eight disabled Indians to scale Siachen and create a world record. He was determined to climb the glacier and he hid,”
As perJP Nautiyal, chairperson of para shooting sports technical committee of Paralympic Committee of India, Dwarakesh and another civilian woman are the only two blind para shooters in the country.
Both are doing well and their accomplishemishmenyinspire others,” he said. He added that they imported special equipment from Switzerland. “Dwarakesh acquired shooting skills within a few weeks. His hard work, determination, perseverance and love for sport will bring glory to the country.
News Edit K.V.Raman
