Special Edition: Freedom on Wheels

Freedom. Ah, the sweet taste of the open road, the wind in your hair and the world beneath your wheels. For many, freedom is the simple will to do what we want, when we want, and go where our hearts desire. The exhilarating feeling of unlimited possibility, the thrill of adventure, the sheer joy of movement – these are the things that make us feel alive. Whether it's a spontaneous road trip to the mountains, a weekend getaway to the beach, or just a leisurely drive through the countryside, the freedom to travel underpins much of our happiness and wellbeing.

But what if the ability to move from one place to another was not something we could take for granted? Most of us understand the plight of people with physical disabilities or disabilities, but rarely think about it in depth.

Mobility is not just a convenience for people with disabilities, it is a herculean challenge. Imagine a world where every step, every journey, every simple task becomes an obstacle course. Public transportation is often inaccessible, sidewalks and buildings are not always designed with inclusivity in mind, and even something as simple as getting into a car can be a hurdle. This lack of mobility not only restricts physical movement, but also limits lives, dreams and aspirations.

Meet Samir Kakkad, someone with a tremendous amount of willpower and courage to write his own story. Samir is no ordinary mechanical engineer. With 80 percent disability on both legs, you might expect him to be limited by his physical limitations. But think again. Samir has dedicated his life to supporting disabled people and ensuring they too can enjoy the freedom of the open road. He runs a workshop – no, a freedom factory – where he converts our everyday cars into accessible vehicles. Despite his physical limitations, Samir's achievements are nothing short of extraordinary and his story is an example of resilience and determination.

Born in northern Gujarat, Samir has faced numerous challenges since childhood due to his disability. But adversity has only strengthened his determination. As a teenager, Samir had a dream – the dream of driving a car himself. With nothing but wooden sticks and ingenuity, he developed his first mechanism that allowed him to manually operate the clutch, brake and accelerator pedals in his family's Fiat 1100D. The feeling was nothing short of liberating.

His father, a caring doctor, encouraged Samir along the way. With his father's support, Samir developed a more sophisticated version of his mechanism – a plug-and-play lever system that allowed him to drive legally and easily. This breakthrough not only changed Samir's life, but also caught the attention of others.

One day, while Samir was driving, the parents of another disabled person noticed his strange construction. They were fascinated and asked about the device. When Samir explained that he had built it himself, it dawned on him that he was not alone with his problem. The need for such mobility solutions was enormous and was hardly being met.

In 1993, Samir founded the Saikia Mobility Hub in Ahmedabad. Here he began retrofitting vehicles with manually operated mobility aids. Word of his innovative solutions quickly spread and soon his workshop became a beacon of hope for disabled people across the country. Workshops from all over India approached Samir, eager to include his kits in their range.

Samir's solutions were simple yet revolutionary: he transformed everyday vehicles into machines of freedom for those who needed it most. His workshop was a hive of activity, producing modified cars that gave disabled people the independence they so craved.

25 years later, Samir's impact is enormous. He has provided mobility solutions to over 10,000 disabled people and enabled them to enjoy the freedom of driving. His innovations have earned him patents and a reputation as a pioneer in adaptive vehicle technology.

His workshop currently modifies two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers and ensures that they meet the stringent requirements to be registered in the Invalid Carriage (IC) vehicle category under the Motor Vehicle Act. The latest version of his device includes a push-button cruise control for cars and two-wheelers, which underlines his commitment to innovation. He has even modified a Porsche Panamera for a private individual in Ahmedabad!

But Samir's sphere of influence extends beyond India. His mobility kits are now delivered to neighboring countries such as Nepal and Bhutan and even as far as Dubai. Each kit is a lifeline, a key that opens up the world to people who are limited by their disability.

In 2011, he conquered the Khardung La in Leh-Ladakh, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. For the uninitiated, the Khardung La is a place that makes even the bravest hearts tremble, but Samir passed through it with flying colors.

But he didn't stop.

Samir also took part in a tri-nation rally, an adventure that took him from India to Nepal via Bhutan with Mahindra Adventure. At the wheel of a self-modified Mahindra Scorpio S11 AT, Samir conquered international roads for the first time. His goal was not only to explore new territories, but also to enjoy the rich cultural exchange. The landscapes of Nepal and Bhutan formed the backdrop of his journey, symbolizing a bridge between nations and proving that mobility and freedom know no borders.

Now we're talking about records. Not just any records, but ones that make your jaw drop and lift your spirits. Samir holds the world record for the longest journey by a disabled person in their own car. He drove a Hyundai Tucson over 14,000 km, 15 countries, 105 cities and eight time zones from India to London.

He tells us: “I drove faster than ever before on the Autobahn in Germany. It was an incredible experience and next to me was a senior CXO of a major German car manufacturer. He was fascinated by the unique mechanism I used to control the car. The precision and ease of use caught his attention and he was particularly keen for me to develop something similar for their vehicles. It was a moment of pride and a validation of all the hard work and innovation that had gone into developing my mobility solutions.”

This epic journey not only demonstrated Samir's willpower, but also brought global attention to the potential and abilities of people with disabilities.

The phrase “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” takes on new meaning in Samir's context. For him, every mile traveled is a step towards breaking stereotypes and expanding horizons. His journeys – both literal and metaphorical – have inspired a community and redefined what it means to be truly free.