<p>M.P. Anil Kumar, a former fighter pilot who was paralysed from his neck down 26 years ago but led a life that inspired a documentary and featured in school curriculum, died of cancer Tuesday. <br /><br />He was 50.<br /><br />Kumar studied at the Sainik School in Thiruvananthapuram. <br /><br />He joined the National Defence Academy and excelled in the 65th Course. He was adjudged the best air force cadet and also won a gold medal for aerobatics before becoming a fighter pilot.</p>.<p>But a road accident in 1988 left him paralysed below his neck at 24 years of age.<br /><br />"From then on, with his sheer determination he faced all the adversities with a smile on his face. He learned to work on a computer using a special stick which he held in his mouth," said Rajesh Nair, his school senior.<br /><br />Another school batchmate, K.S. Haridas, said Kumar was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and was under treatment for the past one month.<br /><br />"A few days back he was moved to the Military Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Pune but his condition deteriorated and he was taken back to the hospital," said Haridas.<br /><br />Kumar, who had been living in Pune city since the paralysing accident, celebrated his 50th birthday May 5. Many of his school friends had come to Pune to see him.<br /><br />"It was a memorable get together. Many came from different parts of the globe, just to spend a day with our dearest classmate... We had tears in our eyes when we bid goodbye to him, but he remained calm and cool," said Jacob Panicker, a retired naval officer and Kumar's batchmate.<br /><br />His friends had made a short documentary film "And the fight goes on" that in 30 minutes told the tale of the real-life fighter.<br /><br />His story of grit and determination was included in school curriculum in Maharashtra and Kerala.<br /><br />Kumar breathed his last Tuesday, a day after the documentary on his life was screened at a short film festival in Kochi, attended by many of his school friends.<br /><br />The funeral will be held at the Pune Cantonment Board Crematorium Wednesday morning, said Panicker.<br /></p>
<p>M.P. Anil Kumar, a former fighter pilot who was paralysed from his neck down 26 years ago but led a life that inspired a documentary and featured in school curriculum, died of cancer Tuesday. <br /><br />He was 50.<br /><br />Kumar studied at the Sainik School in Thiruvananthapuram. <br /><br />He joined the National Defence Academy and excelled in the 65th Course. He was adjudged the best air force cadet and also won a gold medal for aerobatics before becoming a fighter pilot.</p>.<p>But a road accident in 1988 left him paralysed below his neck at 24 years of age.<br /><br />"From then on, with his sheer determination he faced all the adversities with a smile on his face. He learned to work on a computer using a special stick which he held in his mouth," said Rajesh Nair, his school senior.<br /><br />Another school batchmate, K.S. Haridas, said Kumar was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and was under treatment for the past one month.<br /><br />"A few days back he was moved to the Military Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Pune but his condition deteriorated and he was taken back to the hospital," said Haridas.<br /><br />Kumar, who had been living in Pune city since the paralysing accident, celebrated his 50th birthday May 5. Many of his school friends had come to Pune to see him.<br /><br />"It was a memorable get together. Many came from different parts of the globe, just to spend a day with our dearest classmate... We had tears in our eyes when we bid goodbye to him, but he remained calm and cool," said Jacob Panicker, a retired naval officer and Kumar's batchmate.<br /><br />His friends had made a short documentary film "And the fight goes on" that in 30 minutes told the tale of the real-life fighter.<br /><br />His story of grit and determination was included in school curriculum in Maharashtra and Kerala.<br /><br />Kumar breathed his last Tuesday, a day after the documentary on his life was screened at a short film festival in Kochi, attended by many of his school friends.<br /><br />The funeral will be held at the Pune Cantonment Board Crematorium Wednesday morning, said Panicker.<br /></p>