By Pravin Kumar
A passionate appeal from Meghna Girish, a woman whose life has been marked by both profound loss and unwavering resilience, has sparked a wave of hope for para-athlete Pawan Kahar.
Meghna, the mother of Major Akshay Girish, an Indian Army officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in a terrorist attack in Nagrota, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 29, 2016, took to X to shine a light on the inspiring yet challenging journey of a young para athlete striving for greatness.
In her emotional post, Meghna shared a video of Pawan Kahar, a cheerful and determined para athlete, practicing relentlessly despite limited resources. Her words carried the weight of a mother’s empathy and a patriot’s pride: “Wish I had the means to sponsor such a brave, cheerful Para Athlete striving so hard towards glory…” She appealed to the compassion of others, specifically tagging industrialist Anand Mahindra, hoping someone with the resources and heart could help Pawan secure a specialized running blade—a critical piece of equipment that could propel him toward his dreams of competing on a national and international stage.
“Can we strengthen his request, India?” she asked, her words echoing a call for collective action.
The response was nothing short of extraordinary. Within 24 hours, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, stepped forward with a promise of support that has left netizens across the country deeply moved.
In a swift and compassionate gesture, Khadse announced, “My office has spoken to Pawan Kahar. Officials of
@PCI_IN_Official & @Media_SAI are in touch with him. Rest assured that all possible assistance in terms of equipment and training will be given to him.”
Her prompt action transformed Meghna’s heartfelt plea into a tangible step toward empowering a young athlete whose determination has inspired many.
Meghna, who has turned her tragedy into a mission of service through the Major Akshay Girish Memorial Trust, expressed her gratitude in a follow-up post on X: “Thank you Madam Minister @khadseraksha
for this prompt response and action.
Pawan Kahar’s story is one of grit and grace—a para athlete pushing past physical and financial barriers, chasing glory with a smile that radiates hope.
As Pawan Kahar continues his journey, supported now by the promise of resources and the prayers of a nation, this moment stands as a testament to the power of community, empathy, and leadership.
