President Droupadi Murmu presents Lt Col C Dwarakesh with the National Award for Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday PUNE: A basketball match at a military station in 2014 was one of the last things Lt Col C Dwarakesh saw before an accident left him blind. He would spend the next eight months in hospital, healing and adjusting to life without eyesight while his mind envisioned new possibilities.On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu presented the 36-year-old with the National Award for Persons with Disabilities, recognising an Army career that even disability couldn’t cut short, and one that now includes a world record in para shooting.Lt Col Dwarakesh is the first officer of the Indian armed forces to continue in active service despite total blindness. It’s an achievement made possible by the derring-do of a young officer who never gave up on himself despite no precedent.“As an Army officer, I was trained to have conviction, courage, willpower and tenacity. But blindness is an impediment I couldn’t have prepared for,” Lt Col Dwarakesh told TOI from Delhi. “I overcame this hurdle through academics and technology, clearing multiple competitive exams along the way. I now research para sports, especially for people living with blindness. I converted my disability into a power and found ways to express the way those with vision do. This mindset has helped me reach new heights.”Supported by AI tools and assistive technology, Dwarakesh performs his responsibilities with the same proficiency and precision as his colleagues. In paralympic sports, he is a national champion in swimming and shooting, ranked world No. 3 in the 10m air rifle event. His most recent achievement was a world record score of 624.6 at the Shooting World Cup in the UAE this Oct. As part of the Indian para shooting team, he trains at Army Marksmanship Unit in Mahou.Dwarakesh, who joined the Army in 2009, terms the national award a “full-circle moment”. “I remember being granted commission by the President,” he said. “And to be receiving an award from the President 16 years later for something that redefined me, that’s quite something.”The officer, a native of TN, has also qualified for the UGC NET, making him one of the few visually impaired academicians in management, human resources, labour law, and sports research.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos”Derogatory” BJP Hits Out at Revanth Reddy Over Remarks On Hindu DeitiesOver 70 IndiGo Flights Cancelled Across India as Crew Shortage Triggers Massive Disruption“India’s Diplomacy Has Spine”: Tharoor Praises India’s Assertive Foreign Policy On RussiaRahul–Priyanka Candid Chat Goes Viral As Camera Catches Fun Banter’We Have A Diplomatic Allergy’: Shashi Tharoor Warns India Still Lacks A National Security StrategySanchar Saathi App Row In LS: Cong Flags Privacy Fears, Scindia Says ‘Snooping Not Possible’Rupee Slides To Record Low Of 90 Per Dollar As Trade Uncertainty, Dollar Demand And Oil Costs Spike’Leader Is Bulldozing’: Kharge, Nadda Lock Horns Over TMC MP’s Speech In Rajya SabhaIndia’s Workforce Power Will Keep Growing, Jaishankar Says, As He Takes Down Anti H-1B NarrativesKTR Slams Congress, Says Rahul Gandhi Has No Vision And Is An Albatross Around Opposition’s Neck123Photostories’Dhurandhar’: Times when the Ranveer Singh starrer made headlines6 most unique and expensive celebrity engagement rings that made historyThought of the day for your kid: “Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do.”Mammootty, Malayalam cinema and Bheeshma Parvam; Iconic roles ranked from cult classics to crowd favouritesProsenjit Chatterjee rising in Bollywood with intense and unforgettable characters10 best foods to boost muscle growth and strengthSay these 5 nighttime affirmations and watch your life transform in just days5 brutally honest lessons to take from Virat Kohli on how to crush successMalaika Arora’s yoga secrets: 5 beginner-friendly poses for body & mindHow Bhagavad Gita can heal unknown childhood trauma and unlock blockages for success in life123Hot PicksParliament Winter SessionPutin India VisitWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingNBA Trade RumorsMike TysonWendy OrtizCardi BAuston MatthewsStephen CurryNathan MacKinnonJayden DanielsSuper Bowl LX Halftime ShowMolly Qerim
President Droupadi Murmu presents Lt Col C Dwarakesh with the National Award for Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday
PUNE: A basketball match at a military station in 2014 was one of the last things Lt Col C Dwarakesh saw before an accident left him blind. He would spend the next eight months in hospital, healing and adjusting to life without eyesight while his mind envisioned new possibilities.On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu presented the 36-year-old with the National Award for Persons with Disabilities, recognising an Army career that even disability couldn’t cut short, and one that now includes a world record in para shooting.Lt Col Dwarakesh is the first officer of the Indian armed forces to continue in active service despite total blindness. It’s an achievement made possible by the derring-do of a young officer who never gave up on himself despite no precedent.“As an Army officer, I was trained to have conviction, courage, willpower and tenacity. But blindness is an impediment I couldn’t have prepared for,” Lt Col Dwarakesh told TOI from Delhi. “I overcame this hurdle through academics and technology, clearing multiple competitive exams along the way. I now research para sports, especially for people living with blindness. I converted my disability into a power and found ways to express the way those with vision do. This mindset has helped me reach new heights.”Supported by AI tools and assistive technology, Dwarakesh performs his responsibilities with the same proficiency and precision as his colleagues. In paralympic sports, he is a national champion in swimming and shooting, ranked world No. 3 in the 10m air rifle event. His most recent achievement was a world record score of 624.6 at the Shooting World Cup in the UAE this Oct. As part of the Indian para shooting team, he trains at Army Marksmanship Unit in Mahou.Dwarakesh, who joined the Army in 2009, terms the national award a “full-circle moment”. “I remember being granted commission by the President,” he said. “And to be receiving an award from the President 16 years later for something that redefined me, that’s quite something.”The officer, a native of TN, has also qualified for the UGC NET, making him one of the few visually impaired academicians in management, human resources, labour law, and sports research.
