The 25-year old national level volleyball player Arunima Sinha who lost her left leg in April 2011 when she was thrown off a train near Bareilly by chain snatchers, reached the Mount Everest on May 21 and became the first Indian amputee to conquer the highest peak. She was here at a media interaction meet organised by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation at a city hotel. Talking to The Pioneer, the incredible sportsperson shared her ‘Wait and Watch’ future with a desire to establish a sports academy at Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) for the physically challenged children.
Tell us about your plan of establishing a sports academy.
I have bought a land of 20 bigha at Unnao with the money I received from Uttar Pradesh Sports Minister, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, court and various institutions when I was admitted at All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) after losing my left leg in the tragic train accident on April 11 in 2011. I require Rs 12 crores 63 thousand for establishing this Pandit Chandrashekhar Azad Viklang Khel Academy. It will provide indoor and outdoor games for handicapped and Below Poverty level children free of cost. I hope the government and renowned businessmen would come forward to help me in fulfilling my dreams.
Being a national volleyball player would you like to join the team againIJ
I am aware that I would not be counted among the normal players now. As of now, the Volleyball federation has not approached me for my opinion. But, I do expect a positive justice for a player from them.
With an artificial left leg, how was the journey of climbing the peakIJ
Initially after that accident I used to hate this artificial leg. It was troubling. My leg would bleed because of the friction while walking. But then, US based company named ‘Innovative’ offered me this artificial leg free of cost. The director of this company Rakesh Kumar Srivastava had also lost his leg in a similar situation like mine in his childhood. I basically hail from Bihar. He too belongs to the same State. It was because of these two connections that he decided to offer this help.
How did that tragic train accident change your lifeIJ
While travelling in a general compartment on April 11, some chain-snatchers took out my gold chain and threw me off from running train near Bareilly. Those two minutes changed my life. I lost my left leg and was admitted at AIIMS till August 25 in 2011. I was pursuing my BA llB from lucknow University then. A young man rushed me to AIIMS. Being a national volleyball player, I used to feel helpless lying at AIIMS. It was then that I saw Tata Steel Adventure Foundation’s mountaineering advertisement. Somehow, I managed to get India’s first mountaineer Bachendri Pal’s phone number who is leading this mountaineering training centre. On phone conversation, I did not reveal my handicapped condition. For the first time, I travelled in handicapped compartment in Purushottam Express and reached Jamshedpur from New Delhi in August end of the same year. looking at me, Pal was all in tears. After a training of around 1.5 years, I was trained for 52 days for climbing the Mount Everest. I crossed the Kumbu Iceball, which is a death zone. I have seen people dying because of the huge ice balls falling on them. There were six people in my group including two cops from Haryana. A local Sherpa Nima Kancha guided me to the peak. At 10: 55 am on May 21, I reached the Mount Everest.
Why do you consider Bachendri Pal as your main source of inspirationIJ
Ever since I joined the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation, Bachendri Pal had encouraged my thought of climbing the Mount Everest. She always quoted me, “You are my tigress. You will definitely reach on top of the peak. Her gentle words can motivate a dead body even.
Tell us about your personal life.
I belong to a middle class family. My father HK Sinha is no more. I am born and brought up in lucknow. I had done my post-graduation in Sociology and BA llB from lucknow University. Presently, I am residing with my mother PB Devi in this city. I have heard from my parents that Bihar is my ancestral home.
What message would you convey to all the young girls like youIJ
Every girl must seek a target in life and chase the dream. Women usually are demoralised when the society underestimates them. This should not be felt. A woman should have the strength that even the almighty is compelled to bless her.