PESHAWAR: Gulshan lost her leg in a mine blast some 10 years ago but the tragic incident gave her power to dream. She became physically challenged but she never lost her smile. She has found strength through sports and is able to dream big.

Gulshan, 28, lost her leg in South Waziristan in 2004 when a landmine blew up. It killed her friend and she got badly injured. Her leg had to be cut off in 2008. She had been on crutches since then.

Gulshan could not education as her family was poor and restrictive. There was simply no question of ever taking part in sports. But things changed for the better when she came to Association for Rehabilitation of the Physically Disabled (ARPD) for help.

Gulshan becomes weightlifter after losing leg in a blast

“Some girls were gathered and my instructor told me to lift weight. As you know I am a tribal girl (strong). I lifted 50 kilograms without any prior practice and that was how I started weightlifting,” Gulshan laughed out loud while narrating her first experience of becoming a weightlifter.

She had been taking part in different national level competitions of weightlifting since then and had won competitions. She said that she enjoyed playing table tennis more.

“When I lost my leg I was depressed but sports gave me courage and hope. Now I do all the normal house work any other girl can do,” said Gulshan with a glint and glee.

She said that she wanted to take part in weightlifting competitions and table tennis matches at international level and see the world too.

“I come from a conservative background and I could never get opportunities if I was not hit by landmine. I wonder sometimes if it was a good thing that happened to me,” said Gulshan. She feels that she has more freedom than before. Her family has now even allowed her to play sports and talk to media.

She feels the therapists at ARPD are doing great job. She received therapies and somewhat felt rehabilitated through sports but she had been having health issues after losing a leg.

“I don’t even have a Sehat Insaaf Card and my applications never reached the high-ups. I know that because I never got any response from any government body,” she said.

Despite her health issues and disability, Gulshan has a special ability. She dreams. She dreams of competing in international events, better training and better performance in sports perhaps only then she would be able to get a fixed artificial limb.

“I dream of getting an artificial limb so I can walk once again. I can’t afford it right now but one day may be. My life would change completely if I get an artificial limb,” said Gulshan, again with a smile.

She had appealed for health assistance several times to the former chief minister during the ANP government and even appealed to the former prime minister but no one responded ever.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2018