FEATGulshan Kumar creates a world record for the highest number of wheelchair spins in a minute
In 1992, an 18-year-old Gulshan Kumar was administered the wrong medicine, which rendered him disabled for life. However, 10 years ago, life took a turn when fate brought him to choreographer Syed Salauddin Pasha. Gulshan, who struggles to walk with his feeble legs, has made a p
lace for himself in the Guinness World Records by making 63 spins in a minute on a wheelchair, breaking the existing record of 32 spins.
Gulshan recalls that his decision to learn dance didn’t meet with much enthusiasm from his parents. “My father irons clothes to support a family of five. He was not initially convinced, but now, after 10 years of rigorous training in dance, I work as a choreographer at Ability Unlimited Foundation and support my family financially,” says Gulshan, who is awaiting his
Class XII results. He wants to study further through correspondence.
Gulshan is a disciple of Pasha, a recipient of the National Award and the inventor of therapeutic theatre for persons with disabilitie
s. A star performer, Gulshan acknowledges that all credit goes to his guru. “At Ability Unlimited Foundation, we work with the motive to change the perception of people towards the disabled. People today don’t think beyond their clothes and gadgets. It is a small effort from our side to change this notion and dedicate our efforts to the betterment of the disabled,” says Pasha, who has induced hope in differently-abled children with his concept, ‘Dance on Wheels and Crutches’. He deals with artistes whose conditions range from polio and dyslexia to hearing and visual ailments.
Ten years ago, Pasha saw Gulshan, and has been training him in Bharatanatyam, Sufi dance and Kathak on wheelchairs. Gulshan has even performed on television shows, both
national and international.
On the months of practice he underwent to break the world record, Gulshan says: “Guruji tricked me into believing that the world record I am supposed to break is 150 spins a minute. It seemed impossible, but I finally managed to do 63 in a minute.” Gulshan has also performed at the House of Commons in London besides performing to audiences in the U.S., Italy and Nepal.
Ref: http://www.thehindu.com