Quadriplegic wheelchair tennis player Boniface Prabhu: On a long journey
When Boniface Prabhu set out on a 30-day expedition, he was confident that he will be able to go from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to spread an understanding on disability in the nation. “Every disabled person has a potential and all we need to do is unleash that,” said the Padma Shri awardee. The expedition covered 5,430 kms, where the 44-year-old participated in more than 50 events in different cities to create awareness and sensitise people about the problems Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) face.
During the month-long journey, he trained more than 5,000 people in basic sign language skills and spent more than 55 hours canvassing and advocating for the rights of PWDs. Prabhu, who is from Bengaluru was in the city to attend a felicitation programme on Saturday says, “It all started on the breakfast table with my friends who work with a soft drink giant. I told them about my wish to spread awareness regarding disability and help people embrace it with an open mind. They immediately geared up and thus a plan was chalked out to vroom from the North to South India.”
According to him, it is important to know the basic sign language skills. “Every disabled person has a potential. Learning sign language will give you another mode of channel to communicate,” he says. Preparing for such a long expedition is in itself a challenge. “I am a fit sports man, but even then I knew it would be challenging. But I was prepared for it both mentally and physically. Of course, the itinerary was looked into with minute details,” he says.
While pit stopping from one place to another during his road expedition, Prabhu’s heart touched a chord while he was in Hyderabad. “In Hyderabad, we were put up in a hotel where there was an 8 inch height entry to the washroom. The owner had welcomed me with flowers and asked me if there’s anything that he can do for me. I suggested that a temporary ramp be put up near the washroom and he agreed,” says Prabhu, who believes that such small changes will help the disabled.
