“When the Going gets Tough, the Tough get Going” and “Perseverance conquers all” 

Just a few lines which become meaningful and relevant when they become the guiding force of your life! My husband Brig Akhelesh Bhargava (Retd) has always lived his life basis above.

He started swimming from an early age and represented UP state in the under 18 age category. His passion for swimming continued through NDA and his service life. Interestingly we met at the swimming pool and got married in 1989.  The exigencies and vagaries of service life did not allow him enough time and opportunities to follow his “first love”. However, in 2014, things changed when he was posted at Mathura. 

He revived his swimming and in 2015 went onto represent Delhi State in the Master National Swimming championship at the age of 53. 

In 2016, life gave a rude jolt when he was detected with 90% artery blockage in two of his major arteries. The Doctors were surprised to see a fit man who was leading a disciplined life, nonsmoker, non meat eater, great cholesterol levels, regular exercise… checking all the right boxes and yet diagnosed with heart disease!! It was recommended to carry out Bypass surgery as soon as possible. 

Even as we were coming to terms with this news, he had a reaction to Ecosprin; an anticoagulant that is regularly given to patients undergoing Angiograms. The dose led to a small bleed(haemorhage) in his brain and he lost peripheral vision in his right eye followed by extreme and unbearable headaches. 

He underwent surgery in Feb 2017 and with determination and grit slowly and steadily and living by his life motto started on his path to recovery. I never saw him once disappointed or giving up!

                                        

June 2017(just 4 months post-surgery), he was back with his first love… “the Swimming Pool”. Gradually he built up pace and distance and in 2018, he took part in the 15th Master Swimming Championship at Vishakhapatnam and won a Bronze Medal. This after just 1 year of surgery was quite a feat but knowing him came as no surprise to us as family members.                                     

Since then, he has been regularly winning medals, (two bronze in 2021, one silver in 2023 and one gold and two silver in 2024). Life handed us another lemon in September 2022, when he got a bad bout of dengue that plunged his platelets to dangerous levels meriting blood transfusions and hospitalizations.

 As he turns 63 today, he continues to train regularly. 

It doesn’t matter if he wins medals hereafter, but what is important is his perseverance and “Never say die attitude”. He fills me with immense pride as he sets an example for many to follow who give up when the going gets tough. 

Life is not easy and comes with its share of ups and downs but then there are some who refuse to give up are the true winners and live life to the fullest! 

Today he continues to swim but thats not all, he is a SSB trainer who trains young aspirants to join the Indian Armed Forces, he is an author who has authored many articles that have been published in leading publications, he is MBA finance and a keen stock market enthusiast and works as the research head at my company Beekay Taxation & Investment LLP.

Aniupama Bhargava