A photograph of Aamir Hussain Lone broke the internet. In it, the young cricketer from Kashmir plays a defensive shot, batting down a delivery on a dusty pitch. Not particularly remarkable, except that Aamir is holding the bat between his chin and his chest. And he has no arms.
One cloudy afternoon of March 2016, after meandering over the 10 kilometre stretch from the Sangam area of Anantnag district in southern Kashmir, driving the bike over the slopes and curves and past the saffron fields, blossoming almond and walnut trees, through the orchards we reach Waghama – a beautiful village of traditional ethos some 48 kilometres away from the summer capital Srinagar.
The village is nestled in the lap of the Phalgham Mountains’ splendour, known for its walnut and apple trade all aided by donkeys making the work load easier for the residents.
Walking through the tin gate at the entrance to Aamir’s place the first thing I find is his bat, itself leaning on a brick wall with the makers name ‘Lalit, the grace’ staring back as a reminder of the prize he received after playing in Lucknow.
It seems a world away from the fateful events eighteen years ago that resulted in Amir losing his arms.
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The family had their own bandsaw which they used to make cricket bats, furniture and the tools for housework.
A seven-year-old Aamir started fiddling with the switches and blades when his jacket got stuck in the conveyor belt, a tragic event that almost claimed his life.
“I had a dream and told the worker not to run the machine on that unfortunate day, but he didn’t listen. My other son Yasir Ahmad was working there too and both were preparing timber for the baker’s shop after chopping tree roots,” Aamir’s father, Bashir, recalls with a lump in his throat.
“He lost 5-6 pints of blood. And it was his maternal aunt [Mugli] who had given him some water after seeing him in a pool of blood.”
The local army unit came to his rescue and took Aamir to their camp, where they bandaged his wounds.
It was a long road back for Aamir, but one he faced with determination. Three years after the accident he returned to his village after spending that time in the Bone and Joints Hospital Barzulla, Srinagar. His life and that of his family had changed dramatically. Food was scarce and land was sold to pay for his medical costs, but they were just happy he was alive.
Aamir enjoys a cup of tea.
The pain after the unfortunate accident still lingers, and Aamir was entirely dependent on his parents and grandmother, who used to nurse and feed him while in recovery.
“It was a miracle. He is the all-rounder of life,” says Aamir’s mother.
Not everyone was as loving and supportive as Aamir’s family, who were advised by villagers to take extreme measures in order to rid themselves of their son, seen as a burden by outsiders.
“Many people told my parents that I was not worth living,” says Aamir. “They even told my parents to kill me as I’d be of no use. But my parents didn’t pay any attention.”
While other kids were at school, Aamir had to stay at home where he taught himself to write, holding a pen between his toes. With no books, he would write on the painted windows of his house.
At 14, and after several rejections of application, he passed his 8th class examination to earn a spot at Govt. Higher Secondary School Marhama, which he walked 5km every day to attend, as he had no money for the bus.
It was here that a teacher suggested Aamir join a para-cricket team, a moment from which he never looked back.
Never lose hope, life never ends, it only begins. Hats off to this young man. https://t.co/zL057q9L66
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It is fair to say that his love of cricket, and a desire to play again, helped Aamir on his path to recovery. The game instilled confidence and provided hope he could live a fulfilling life.
Spending hours a day practicing, he learnt how to bowl off- and leg-spin with his feet, and to bat with his chin. And by his side was his biggest supporter, Aamir’s late grandmother who helped hone his technique.
“Fazi, my grandmother, used to bowl to me in the backyard and I used to play with my foot,” Aamir says.
“She was the ultimate friend of mine, who used to spend hours with me and kept on guiding me.
“‘I am living my life for you my son’, she said. ‘I will serve you till I breathe my last,” Aamir recalled.
After his grandmother passed away, Aamir had to learn to put on his own clothes, bathe and shave without assistance. He remembers, at 17, watching a duckling for hours in a pond to learn the art of swimming. He practiced for over a week before crossing the river Jhelum.
“The struggle in itself is a university which provides a lot of lessons to learn and teach equally for life. I’ve worked hard and that’s why you’re here to interview me, isn’t it?” Aamir smiles.
Aamir shows off his forward defensive.
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When he bats, Aamir presses the handle of the bat with his foot to collect it between his legs. He then holds his bat between his neck and left shoulder with the help of his chin.
He tries to imitate India legend Anil Kumble when he bowls, gripping the ball with his toes and producing a loopy delivery to which he has several variations. He has become a wily spinner, able to deceive batsmen with his flight and spin when playing street cricket. In the field, Aamir uses his thighs to stop the ball, his lap to catch it and right foot to return it to the wicket-keeper.
Not only has his physical appearance turned heads but so has his ability. Aamir has become so effective that he earned a spot in his Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) state para-cricket team in 2013, after coming to people’s attention playing for Bijbehara College and later on playing a friendly match at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar.
He is now captain of the Kashmir state’s para-cricket team and has ambitions of representing his country, a dream that is becoming increasingly realistic as his talent gains wider recognition.
“We will be glad to invite him to come and play for Indian para-cricket team. He is truly an amazing cricketer who has no arms and he makes it look easy which actually isn’t,” said former India captain Ajit Wadekar, who is now president of the All India Cricket Association of the Physically Challenged.
“I know you won’t see me on TV playing for national team anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean I am giving up,” said Aamir. “I will be working hard for it and if Allah wills the dream has to come true one day. I’ve been on DD Sports when we were in Lucknow for the 10th national championship for physically challenged players in December 2015.”
That Lucknow event was organised by the Indian Cricket Federation for Disabled (ICFD) and after hearing of his story its founder, AW Siddiqui, has ensured Aamir has no problem in terms of financial support.
“ICFD is the national body and is under process in affiliation with BCCI, which includes 25 states including union territories. We organise national tournaments, coaching camps for physically challenged cricketers. We want players to connect with us and we’ve been promoting it and Aamir has set an extraordinary example for all of us,” AW Siddiqui’s general secretary says over phone.
“Aamir had no help or support from the Government as such in the past,” Aamir’s friend, Zahoor, explained.
That, however, changed in April this year when Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag district Muneer ul Islam presented a cheque of Rs10,000 (Dh550) to Aamir. It was also been recommended that Aamir be employed by RAMKY Infrastructure, which later agreed to appoint him under corporate social responsibility, on a monthly wage of Rs12,000.
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To truly understand Aamir’s determination you need only listen to a story he tells of being 11 years old, going to collect walnuts. There he found a man named Imtiyaz Ahmad, who offered him three walnuts. Aamir rejected the offer and asked Ahmad for a stick, which he proceeded to learn to throw at the tree. The next day Aamir heads back to the tree and knocks ten walnuts from their perch before heading to the shop of Farooq Ahmad and exchanging the walnuts for the pen which would change his life.
Aamir was asked to stay at home by one of his teacher after being taunted by his classmates but all these adversaries just made him stronger. He kept on working and writing on white sheets that cloth seller Ismail Ahmad gave to him.
At every turn people would laugh at him, but he paid no attention. Aamir carried on writing on wooden blocks and anything his pen could make an imprint on.
“I have seen him fight through physical hardships to achieve his dreams,” adds Aamir’s father with great pride. In every sense, Aamir has become more than a cricketer. The sport has helped shape his life but it is he who embodies the best of human spirit and the ability to succeed against the biggest of obstacles.
Tahir Ibn Manzoor is a freelance sports journalist from Kashmir. He tweets @TahirIbnManzoor. The photos for this article were taken by Shabir Bhat, a freelance photographer also from Kashmir.
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