Kochi: Two days before Christmas Joby Mathew, his wife Megha and son Jyothis were guests at the annual sports day of Atul Vidyalaya at Valsad in Gujarat.
In order to teach their wards the importance of struggle and hard work, the school has an annual obstacle challenge competition - net wall, rope climb, going under barbed wire, platform climb, crawling through tunnels and all those daredevil stuff done in military training.
Watched over by at least 3,000 children, their parents and teachers, Joby did a stunning act. He volunteered to perform the stunts and did them with aplomb. Joby is 37 years old and Kottayam Medical College has certified him as a ‘dwarf’ who is 60 per cent physically challenged.
“Do you know why I took the obstacle challenge?” Joby asks. “You would first want to know what happened afterwards. All the children who competed bettered their timing from last year and a majority of them improved it by over 15 seconds. That’s why I did that. To inspire them, to ignite the fire in them,” he says.
Joby is the epitome of sporting excellence and what he does given his physical shortcomings qualifies him to be a “mighty survivor”.
In fact, 2013 has been the best in his illustrious sporting career and arguably, the most successful one in the calling of any sportperson from Kerala. Joby won five gold medals in the World Dwarf Games held in Michigan, USA - the World Championship or Olympics for able-bodied athletes.
But there is something else about Joby that is quite fascinating. Unlike any active sportsperson Joby talks a lot. In 2013 alone he has given motivational speeches in at least 450 various institutions throughout the country. From schools, colleges, public sector, banks, rotaries, hospitals, police and forest departments to even IIMs, Joby's speeches on the struggle to success is heard with rapt attention.
“Many have asked me why I talk so much,” says Joby with a smile. “Normally sports persons do not speak much, they do the talking in their field of action. But if they are not heard, all you see is
them posing with the medal. I feel like I am a representative of each sportsperson and I talk for everyone, telling the world that if Joby, despite his shortcomings can do so much, you can do it too,” he added.
This person is a mystery man. On a daily basis, he swims 45 minutes in the Aluva river, hits the gym an hour and drives his customised car, an average of 130 kilometres and clears many obstacles - all to be able to compete again and inspire the society.
( Source : dc )
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