Yoga as a physical exercise and mental pursuit has helped many of its practitioners but in case of Tejasvi Kumar Sharma it has turned him into a new being altogether. Polio affliction at nine months left him 69 per cent physically disabled in both legs but his father Mithlesh Sharma did not give up, enrolling him in yoga classes. This was the defining moment for Tejasvi, who put his heart and soul in learning and practising it since the age of five. “For me yoga is life as it has given me direction, power, peace, courage and ability to fight back.”
Today thanks to that training, this undergraduate student of German from Jawaharlal Nehru University competes in yoga championships, holds workshops and participates in shows. He has won the bronze medal in the All India Yoga Championship in 2010, silver in group yoga in the 2nd National Yoga Championship in the same year and silver medal in the 4th International Yoga Championship held at Shanghai (2014). A number of organisations have felicitated him for his achievements. He has received the Samta Award, Bharat Yog Ratna Award and Young Achiever Award 2015 among others..
Competitions were never easy for him as neither the organisers nor spectators took him seriously. “They either felt that I had no business to participate or tried to be over sympathetic –– both very discouraging. I wish this mindset changes. The specially abled need encouragement and empathy making them feel a part of the society rather than sarcastic remarks and ‘you poor soul’ attitude.” Having said he says with a chuckle that when he executes difficult asanas everyone is taken aback. These include bhunamanasana in which the chest touches the ground; bajrangasana entailing side stretching with head touching the hips and vrashchikasana the posture of standing on two hands with legs bent around the neck. “Everyone gathers around to congratulate and shake hands with me.”
In his shows he mesmerises the audience with the difficult yoga exercises developed by him including ‘contortions’ like shoulder rotations and touching elbow with his lips. He wants to discover and design new postures for the specially-abled.
Last year was a proud moment for him when he was awarded the Bharat Yog Ratna at the All India Yogasan Championship. It was special as he was honoured in an event which he had participated in the past. “I felt thrilled when other competitors clicked selfie with me.”
Giving complete credit to yoga he comments: “It because of yoga that the world knows me. Earlier I used to drag myself on my chest and today I can stand. The blood circulation in my legs has improved. In past when ants used to bite me I did not feel it. Today I can feel the sensation.” The spin-offs are not limited to physical well being. On being frustrated on his inability to do what his peers did while facing taunts because of his physical condition he resorted to yoga. “I found solace in the meditative process of yoga. It makes me feel calm and gives me inner peace channelising my efforts in positive direction and renewed vigour to improve myself. It still does.”
Happy at yoga being celebrated globally on the International Yoga Day, this ardent practitioner hopes that the universal nature of the art will help in unifying the world and make everyone healthy and wise.
Published - June 19, 2016 06:40 pm IST
