Polio-hit Buta an inspirational force

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 16

Despite being crippled with polio at the age of two, Shiv Kumar Buta has been an inspirational force for many youngsters proving their mettle in the sports arena.

Football, cricket, kabaddi and power lifting top his list of priorities for promotion of sports. Besides being the driving force behind regular state-level tournaments under the banner of Ahmedgarh Sports Club and Young Star Cricket Club, Buta is also associated with various movements launched by the government under the Tandarust Punjab mission, including DAPO.

A drug-free society and sportsmanship lifestyle for the youth of the state are among his targets.

“I use crutches only when I move out, otherwise I try to compensate physical weakness of my legs with my forelimbs, which are stronger than a majority of people of my age,” says Buta, acknowledging that his family, including wife Nidhi, daughter Charu and son Karan, has always been his strength.

The only brother of seven sisters, Buta did not remember that his crippled legs were ever an impediment in his studies till graduation and performance as a batsman and power lifter in his category. He was District Sangrur Champion in power lifting in his category in 1991.

Arvind Mavi, president of the Ahmedgarh Sports Club, said Buta had been the driving force behind success of 11 state-level football tournaments held to date besides a number of other events, including cricket tournaments, kabaddi cups, eye camps, cancer detection camps and comprehensive drug de-addiction programmes. Observance of National Immunisation Days is also on his regular cards as he makes effort to spread awareness about significance of vaccination in preventing dreaded diseases, such as polio, measles and rubella.

Though Buta has been recognised for his gesture and commitment towards society, he embraces citations from blood banks most, as these remind him his capacity to donate life-saving fluid too. “I donate blood during camps organised in the area from time to time because that persuades others to chip in the noble cause,” argued Buta.

Buta practises acupressure and runs a small flour mill.