How an injured soldier became India's first Paralympic gold medalist
In short: After a spinal injury during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war, Murlikant Petkar faced a life of paralysis. Yet, driven by an old ambition to win Olympic gold, he pivoted to swimming and achieved the impossible at the 1972 Summer Paralympics.
The journey of Murlikant Petkar is a testament to resilience in the face of physical and mental devastation. Originally a trained boxer in the Indian Army Corps of EME, Petkar's life changed during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. An air attack on his camp left him with a bullet wound to his spine, rendering him a paraplegic. This injury led him to a period of deep depression and a suicide attempt.
His path toward redemption began when his former coach, Tiger Ali, encouraged him to compete in the Paralympics. Petkar focused on the 50m freestyle swimming event. His path was not without further disruption; following a Palestinian terrorist attack on the Olympics, the Paralympics were relocated to Heidelberg. Despite these challenges, Petkar excelled through multiple heats to win the gold medal and set a new world record.
The 2024 biographical film *Chandu Champion*, directed by Kabir Khan, dramatizes this remarkable life. Starring Kartik Aaryan, the film highlights Petkar's struggle against mockery and physical limitations. Aaryan's portrayal of Petkar earned him the Best Actor award at both the 70th Filmfare Awards and the 72nd National Film Awards. While the film received mixed-to-positive reviews and grossed approximately ₹88.73 crore worldwide, it has become a significant cinematic tribute to Petkar's legacy.
Petkar's ultimate recognition came when he was awarded the Padma Shri by the President of India on 20 March. His story remains a powerful narrative of overcoming obstacles, famously encapsulated by his own defiant question: 'Ae, hasta kaiko hai?'—Why are you laughing?
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Chandu Champion
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