Changanassery native Tazveer Muhammad is like a giant tree, which would diligently grows back to its form spreading fragrance, even if it is cut down from the roots. “When the heart beats race as fast as a raging storm, why would you need a leg to dance”? asks Tazveer, smiling and looking at the void beside his left leg. The youngster who lost his right limb, in an accident, has now become an inspiration for millions of people for his exemplary display of positivity and optimism towards life. Tazveer talks about the fateful accident that changed his life and how he, like a phoenix, rose from the pain to spread cheer and happiness.
Flashback
Tazveer, a spirited and cheerful young man was always surrounded by his friends and he would charm anyone with his positive attitude towards life. Passionate about fashion, the youngster did modeling and even opened a shop which sold trendy readymade outfits. As he loved travelling, Tazveer would often hit the road along with his friends. Tazveer celebrated his birthday on 17th November 2013 with his friends and the gang had a great time together. On the same night, he left for Bangalore for a modelling photo shoot, with his friend Sanoop, on a bike.
The duo decided to ride during the night on the 17th as a hartal was declared in Kerala the next day. However, fate had something else in store for them. At Krishnagiri in the Bengaluru – Hossur road, their bike collided with a bus which suddenly crossed over from a pocket road. It was their dreams too which got shattered on the road, on that fateful morning.
It was the local people who rushed Tazveer and Sanoop, who were badly injured, to the nearby hospital. As Tazveer lay unconscious on the hospital bed, the doctors realized that it was him who suffered more serious injuries than Sanoop. Tazveer’s right arm and left leg were broken, and there was a deep gash on his right leg as well. They were then shifted to the nearby Asoka hospital.
When his friends and relatives from Bangalore and Kerala reached the hospital, they were shocked to see a badly injured Tazveer with most of his body parts covered in thick plasters. However, even amidst the severe pain, Tazveer clearly heard the doctor’s words, “You can play football in just 3 months.” These words were enough for the youngster to see new dreams and set inspiring goals.
A vein in Tazveer’s right leg was ruptured and about 23 bottles of blood, donated by his friends, relatives and even the officials at the hospital, were transfused into his body. He underwent 4 major surgeries to fix the broken bones. Even after all these, Tazveer was complaining of severe pain. Everyone was stunned when the same doctor who promised to make him walk again said that his right leg had to be amputated as the deep wound on it was affected with an infection. Tazveer, who was too weak even to cry, remained motionless on the bed. His close friends who knew about his passion for modeling, travel and football, couldn’t hold back their tears. They ran to many prominent hospitals, with Tazveer’s medical reports, hoping to save their friend. But all the doctors were helpless as there wasn’t anything much to do to save Tazveer’s leg. Finally, his right leg was amputated at the Hosmat hospital in Bengaluru. Those were the days when he was mentally shattered and he refused to meet anyone. He was later shifted to the Matha hospital in Kottayam where he was admitted for 3 months. After undergoing some 13 major and minor surgeries, Tazveer’s life seemed to have bound on a wheelchair.
Friends for life
Since the moment Tazveer met with the accident, his friends had been with him; protecting, caring, motivating and loving him. They took turns to take care of him at the hospital, even helping him to the bathroom. However, they never spoke a word about Tazveer’s lost leg and were determined to bring their friend back to life. Four months after the accident, Tazveer’s friends took him on a wheelchair to watch a movie.
Those who left
While some refused to leave his side, there were others who never visited Tazveer even once. He says that those who loved his right leg more than him were the ones who left. It was the sympathetic words of the ones who came to visit Tazveer during those painful days which motivated him to resurrect himself, confesses the youngster.
The climax
After 11 months, Tazveer started to walk on crutches and within days he learned to walk on his new set of ‘legs’. When he was on the wheelchair Tazveer thought that everyone else was bigger and better than him. However, when he began to walk on the crutches, his perception about life and himself changed as well. He pasted the stickers of Superman and Batman on each of the crutch and imagined himself to be another superhero. He went on another bike ride with Sanoop who too had recovered after the accident.
Tazveer decided to go on a solo trip to Kozhikode to take a break from his routines which were completely depended on his friends. Though his family and friends were against taking such a huge risk, Tazveer was determined to go for the trip. The tour was in fact an opportunity for him to prepare his mind and body to head towards his goals. It was the beginning of his journey from dependence to independence and freedom again. It was while descending the mountain pass at Wayandu that he fell for the first time. Though he was scared first, he pulled himself up with so much vigor. He realized that even if he fell down he could get right back on his feet, and that it was okay to fall.
It was his friend Shanu who led Tazveer back into the world of modeling. Soon he became a busy fashion model with back to back shoots. Meanwhile, he achieved one of his long cherished dreams as well. Tazveer didn’t hesitate to sign himself up for a bike trip to Ladak along with a few friends in Changanassery. The youth and his friend sent their bike on train and joined the group from Delhi. The 15-day trip was indeed a confidence booster for Tazveer and he believed that nothing was going to stop him from achieving his dreams.
Tazveer was on a roll and he began to achieve his dreams one after the other. The youngster who admired the movies made his debut in Malayalam film Aabhasam. He became busy going for the inaugurations of college unions and local shops. Young netizens celebrated Tazveer’s inspiring words on the social media. He has more than 367000 followers on Instagramm and was selected as one of the six youth icons in India by Facebook, in an event held at Mumbai.
He successfully did paragliding in Vagamon and again flew for the filming of the official video on paragliding. Tazveer is now, without his right limb, an actor, motivator, influencer, model, stylist, football player, traveler and many more. Tazveer never stops dreaming and believes that there are lots for him to achieve in life.
