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He Pedalled 60,000 km
On One Leg And A Prosthetic:
Amritsar's Toofan Singh

PALLAVI SMART

 

 

 





Toofan Singh Khalsa, 44, left home in Amritsar, Punjab, eight years ago with no money, clothes or food, to travel the country on a bicycle. All he was carrying was the challenge of a disability.

Today, he has covered 60,000 km, visiting gurdwaras across the subcontinent to thank Waheguru for saving his life in an accident that robbed him of his left leg.

Toofan Singh was 35 when he lost his leg in a road accident. He was behind the wheel of a truck.

"It took me over a year to recover. But I haven't looked back since. I follow the road that Waheguru shows me," he says, giving his left leg fitted with a prosthetic limb some rest.

Toofan hasn't spoken to his family since he set out and is uncomfortable talking about them. Once employed as a truck driver, he has been touring the country on a special cycle that holds a suitcase of clothes at the back, a tiffin box carrier in the front and a bunch of colourful parandeh decorating a pole attached to the handlebar, much like the ones you see hanging decoratively on women’s hair-braids or from truck mirrors.

The cycle he rides had to be customised to prevent another accident from occurring. "I realised that it's difficult for others to spot the cycle at night, especially on highways. So, I fitted huge lights at the rear of the cycle to alert trucks and other heavy goods carriers. The large rear view mirror attached to a pole in the front helps me stay aware of traffic behind me," Toofan, who arrived in Mumbai from Pune last night, says, adding that he doesn't carry a map.

"I don't set out with a plan and neither do a follow a map. Waheguru has given me a second chance at life, He will chart the plan for me. Those I encounter at gurdwaras are my guides. In Pune, I was told about the Andheri Gurdwara, so here I am. I hope to visit as many gurdwaras in Mumbai as I can," he said.

Pointing to the suitcase, Toofan said, "I didn't set out from home with this bag. It's proof that Waheguru has helped me along the way. Every time I halt at a gurdwara, someone or the other offers me food and clothes. I get to rest a bit, but then set out for my next destination."

Where's that, we asked?

"I don't know yet."


[Courtesy: Mid-Day. Edited for sikhchic.com]
October 11, 2017
 

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On One Leg And A Prosthetic:
Amritsar's Toofan Singh "









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