On the back of determination

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 29

At the age of 23 years in 1997, an unfortunate road accident left Dawinder Singh paraplegic. But instead of resigning to the fate, he has set himself up as a successful entrepreneur and a philanthropist. Presently, he is the vice-president of Spinal Cord Injury Association (SCIA) and working to fast track the rehabilitation process for the victims of spinal cord injuries.

Dawinder was going to Delhi to attend to his copper trading business when the tragedy befell him. “I along with my younger brother had set up the business. It was all going good and annual turnover ran into several crores.” Dawinder was also pursuing his education in bachelors in agriculture sciences at the time.

Having been bedridden for a year, Dawinder launched his e-commerce company in 1998. “Doctors suggested my family to provide me with a computer reasoning because it would help me kill time and keep depression at bay. The computer did open the doors of knowledge for me and I started learning again,” he said.

Presently a successfully diamond and gold trader, Dawinder shared, “Financial independence is important for everyone but even more important for people with disabilities.” Talking about the rehabilitation process, he was confined to bed for five long years. “I did not use a wheelchair all those years.”

Experts at the Indian spinal injury institute, however, advocated the use of one. And he did so, this sped up recovery. Now, his association promotes the use of wheelchair as soon as possible. “Our association also gifts the wheelchairs to the spinal injury patients. What I had learned in five years, we want patients to learn that from my experience,” he said, adding that the association was formed in 2010 and now has around 500 members. The association regularly organises events for its members.

He also got himself a special driving licence to drive vehicles. “Disability is in the mind. One should strive to come out of the depression which seeps in after such injuries and adapt according to the situation,” he suggests. He has also been featured in a book by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment titled ‘Yes, We Can’ – which has 100 inspiring stories of differently-abled entrepreneurs.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.