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Mumbai Train blasts survivor paints the town red with his biking skills

Different Strokes: With a prosthetic arm, man carves a niche with his paintings, sculptors and riding talents

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Mahendra Pitale
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He lost his left hand in the 2006 Mumbai local train bomb blasts, but that did not deter Mahendra Pitale (44) from chasing his dreams. "Whatever difficultiemy way, I was always ready to face them. I never wanted to sit idle and do nothing," said Pitale, a commercial artist and sculptor.

Following the deadly blast, Pitale's hand had to be amputated. However, with the help of a prosthetic arm and a positive attitude towards life, Pitale started afresh. Currently, he works with the Western Railways.

He used to sculpt and colour Ganesha idols before the blasts that left him partially handicapped. A passionate biker, Pitale decided to hit the road with bullet motorcycle after 12 years with his prosthetic arm. He continues to carve paint and bike around.

Some tinkering came handy for him. To continue biking even after losing a hand he shifted his bike clutch from the left to the right side of his bike. There are many who have been inspired by Pitale's courage and have joint him in the bike rallies. He participates in by modifying their vehicle. He participates in bike rallies for good causes and volunteers for NGO's that work for the betterment of the disabled.

"This prosthetic arm has now become a part of my life and I feel nothing unusual about it now. Yes, I cannot work with the same speed as I used to earlier. Also, the support from people around me has enabled me to lead a normal life," Pitale said.

After surviving the train blasts, Pitale's indomitable spirit was the one that helped him overcome his fears and bring normalcy in life again. "While working with the NGO I came across people who don't have both their legs and are wheelchair-bound. There are people who are visually-impaired and have to be dependent on others for their needs. This made me realise that I have not suffered as much as these people must be going through," he said.

A true biking hero, Pitale hopes to inspire others who have been through a similar experience.

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