Skip to main content
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 12 September 2017

Meet Varun Khullar, India’s first and only DJ in a wheelchair and second in the world. Varun Khullar was raring to go in life when a fateful accident changed everything. He shares with us how he picked up the pieces to work hard for his cherished goal.

THE ACCIDENT

7th of June 2014. The Accident which turned my life upside down

I was selected for my internship with CNBC on 6th June 2014 and they asked me to join from 7th. But I decided to postpone my joining date. I called my friend and made a sudden plan to drive up to Manali. We left Delhi at 6 in the evening. This journey proved to be the most fateful one in my life.

The drive was good and the weather was pleasant. We were about to reach the hotel in Manali, when while trying to avoid a truck coming our way, we slipped and fell 25 feet from the edge of the hill.

We had to be taken to Delhi because of poor medical conditions at Manali. The only thing I remember at that time was that I was not able to feel anything. I was awake but my body was not with me.

After 12 hours of long drive when we reached Delhi, my treatment started at ISIC Vasant Kunj and I was operated upon immediately. After three days at ICU when I was shifted to the room, I still had no clue as to what had happened to me. Nobody from my family also told me anything.

Suddenly the doctor came into the room and started checking my reports. I tried to move and could not move my legs. I couldn’t do it, so I asked the doctor. He then looked at me and pronounced, ‘You will never walk. Your spinal cord was injured and you are paralysed.’ I was stunned. I looked at my mother and she was crying. I made a decision in my mind. I looked at my mother and said, who is he to tell me I cannot walk? I will certainly walk some day. My mother hugged me and said, ‘I believe you.’

NEW JOURNEY BEGINS

The next day was the beginning of a new journey for me. My physiotherapy started but there was no sensation for me chest down. Three months of physiotherapy helped me get some balance back. But there was only one thought on my mind: how to pursue my dream of becoming a music DJ.

After three months I came back home and the first thing I did was to order "Producing Music with Ableton Live" by Jake Perrine because I always wanted to become a Producer cum DJ. I learnt producing music for almost 2 years and continued with my physiotherapy alongside. I kept my mind totally focussed on learning the craft those two years. I started regaining some sensations, which is when I started to go out and also learnt to drive a car. After that I went out and started looking for places where I could learn DJing from a professional to take my learning forward. I started reaching out to people who run DJ Academies, but they refused me as a student on a wheel chair. But I was determined. It was almost like a never ending fight. I travelled to a lot of cafes for work. Some sympathised, and some said they will let me know later, which of course, never happened. And this was only 10 per cent of the places, as 90 per cent places were not even accessible.

THE OPPORTUNITIES

I finally came to know about this Music Academy in Gurugram (ILM Academy) and they were the only ones who were happy to have me and made everything possible for me, from ramps to putting consoles outside. They made all efforts to make me into a professional DJ. But once I finished the course I realised that it was difficult for others to accept me as a DJ in a wheelchair and to understand that I am actually no different from others. I started going around asking for work. This went on for about 6 to 7 months when I was silently pleading to people to judge me because of my work, and not because I am in a wheelchair. Then one day, miraculously,I got a mail from Kitty Su, one of the best clubs in Delhi and they had fortunately judged me on the basis of my work. They offered me a gig. I was so thrilled to finally get an assignment.

MY ADVICE TO PEOPLE

My advice to people would be:
Don't just sympathise with people who have challenges -- empathise with them and encourage them to go forward. If you really can, then try and make places more accessible for people who need to use a wheelchair. It is important to help make it an inclusive society.

Why would certain opportunities and places be out of bound for us?

Are we not a part of the nation??

Don’t we have rights to visit places??

Don't we have rights to access everything that our country offers?

I don't need to be stared at.

We all had to come to terms with our conditions. So why can't the society do that?

We need to be accepted as a part of society, and for this both the government and the people have to come forward. It is ironical indeed that my wheelchair never seemed a hindrance to me, as the society and the people did, which is very disappointing. We are as hard working or sincere in our approach as anyone else. So why are we deprived from our dues??