Born without hands, Malayali school student sets sights on Everest

Aman Ali, a class 11 student from Kerala’s Kozhikode, is determined to conquer Mount Everest by overcoming his physical disabilities with sheer willpower and determination. The young boy, born without both arms, aims to hoist the Indian tricolour at the Everest base camp on Independence Day. A native of Arakkinar, Aman is part of the 20-member Malayali climbing group led by noted mountaineer Sheikh Hassan Khan. The team will fly to Nepal from Thiruvananthapuram on August 4. They will reach Lukla from Kathmandu before beginning their trek to the base camp, which is located 17,598 feet above sea level.

Meanwhile, Aman, who studies at Rahmania Higher Secondary School, is a champion at the Mazhavillu sports camp organised by Cheruvannur Unity FC in association with Gokulam Kerala FC for children with locomotor disability. It was to his coach, Muhammad Shahal, that Aman expressed his desire to climb Mount Everest. Shahal made some enquiries and found out that it would cost at least Rs 3.5 lakh to fulfil this incredible feat. So, the next challenge was to raise this amount so that Aman can show the world that disability doesn’t matter if you have the grit. Xylem Education donated Rs 2.5 lakh, and traveller Santhosh George Kulangara gifted Rs 1 lakh to support Aman’s dreams. Aman is the son of Naduvilakandi NK Noushad, who is a private bus employee, and Rasiya. NK Ashna is his sister.

Aman’s medical condition
Aman’s condition is a locomotor disability connected to Cerebral Palsy, as per reports. A neurological condition, Cerebral Palsy often results in locomotor disabilities that manifest in different ways, including delayed motor development, movement disorders, gait abnormalities and impairments. However, there are many remarkable individuals, like Indian para athlete Haider Ali and US track and field athlete Catarina Guimaraes, who participate in sports and have made achievements despite their condition.

Organisations like the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) also work to develop opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Cerebral Palsy Sports Association of Kerala (CPSAK) is also a non-profit organisation that provides support and training to individuals with the condition to upskill their sports capabilities professionally.