It is often said that if God closes one door, it opens another. This rings so true in case of Dhaval Khatri, who at the tender age of 14, lost both his hands in a kite-flying accident.
The accident happened while celebrating the festival of Uttarayan. Khatri, then 14, was at his relative’s place and was flying a kite. While flying he caught hold of a live electric wire, thinking it was his kite’s string. He received such a shock that it knocked him off his feet, while badly burning his hands.
Such was the power of the shock that it stopped Khatri’s heart for a few seconds and he experienced death for those few fleeting moments. Fortunately, a doctor was passing by and managed to revive him after giving him CPR. He was then rushed to the hospital, where doctors recommended amputation of his burned hands.
As a result, Khatri’s forearms were amputated below the elbow. This proved a most traumatic moment for this 14-year-old, especially when he realized that life would be difficult without hands. But, at the same time, he was happy that he was alive. He took this as a new lease of life and resolved to make the most of his situation.
Not only was Khatri handicapped, but, to add insult to injury, his school gave him school leaving certificate, saying that he was of no use to them. But, this did not deter him, as he trained himself to do everything without his hands. He got enrolled in another school and complete his schooling. Afterwards, he also graduated from college.
