A Special Dad

He was barely 25 when he got married. In about a year or two, he carried his newborn son in his arms. And within a few days she divorced him and left him to take care of their son.

Farhan, a specially gifted boy suffers from  brain damage. His parents imagined him to lead a normal life like their other sons, but forgot that there was more to Farhan than their expectations. Farhan’s childhood had been but normal; since he looked no different than the other children; it was extremely difficult for this special child to adjust with the others. Farhan had a reasonable IQ level and was able to receive formal education from an institute for special students. His family could barely make two ends meet and under such circumstances, Farhan was married to a normal girl. In a few years, she realized that there was something amiss her husband. On knowing the truth she immediately sought separation and left her son for her husband to take care of.

Farhan’s older brother too suffers from a mental disability and is bed ridden. His parents are old and ailing. Amidst all this, Farhan’s youngest brother took on the herculean task of providing for the whole family. He works at a call center and has given up living for himself because he has 6 stomachs to fill and 6 lives to enrich. The family is in shambles where each one is fighting a battle, not just to survive but also to be happy.

Through the years that Farhan raised his son Rafi, his little son never knew under what circumstances he was growing up. Farhan leads the life of a single parent with his little Rafi who is 14 years old now. The teenager boy has matured faster than most his age. He loves his father but also knows that his father isn’t like the other fathers, he’s different.

We at Advitya are doing all that it takes to help the 40 year old single father cope with what life has given him – trials, tribulations, despair, scorn but also hope, love and his bundle of joy – his son! Everytime we celebrate someone’s birthday at Advitya, he takes back with him an extra chocolate. “For my son, he likes chocolate” he always says.

We need your support so that Farhan can continue being a part of Advitya. Financial constraints are a constant hindrance and threaten his term at Advitya. By sponsoring him, you aren’t only doing your bit for him, you’re making a world of a difference to his son too.

*The names in this story have been changed.*

Inflation.

If someone shreds your hundred rupee note into a million pieces and hands them to you with a victorious smile, you’re most likely to punch him/her in the face. I almost did.

I was seated at the dining table, ruffling through my wallet which had my last hundred rupee note for the month. 8 days left for the month and hundred rupees isn’t a very good equation. I couldn’t ask mom for next month’s pocket money in advance, she’d probably show me the door. I ran my fingers through my hair and puffed a sigh. Exasperation was reaching levels that couldn’t be curtailed. It’s always about the money; whatever happened to barter? I could exchange 3 apples for a plate of dosas, a beaded necklace for stilettoes or a shower cap for a nail polish! But no, the green buggers were out there, making life difficult with every passing day. Inflation and all that jazz.

Neha sat at the other end, looking at me puzzled. Why was the dearth of money an issue? Why couldn’t I simply get more? She seemed to ask. I tried explaining to her that money was losing its value. “If I could buy 2 chocolates for Re.1, now I can buy only 1 for that much money. Life is difficult.” She still looked perplexed. I didn’t probe further into the matter because I wasn’t expecting her to understand. She never understands these ‘normal’ things.

I went to the bedroom as I heard the phone ring. Meera aunty had called. She decided to catch up with me before she got engrossed in some juicy gossip with my mother. As I finished I called out to mom, who was in the balcony, to take the phone.

Just then, Neha rushed into the room and darted towards me with the biggest smile she had ever smiled. I looked at her expectantly; she held out her hand and thrust a dozen pieces of paper into it. When I looked at it I saw Gandhiji torn into bits. My blood boiled and I looked at her as if I was going to slap her. But the smile didn’t shake, not even momentarily. I screamed and looked at her for an explanation.

“You were worried because you had only one note. Look, I made more money out of it so you don’t have to worry now!”

I cried. Not for my money, but for my special friend who made life look so simple.

*Neha (name changed) is a specially gifted girl with Down Syndrome. The piece is inspired by a real life incident.

-Vallari Shah

Our wonderful and dedicated teachers and volunteers.

Our volunteers and teachers. Some are missing
from the picture.

Our group of creative talent continues to arrive at work each day with eagerness and commitment. Our monthly entertainment programs, games and recreational activities are designed to keep the youth active and motivated.

Advitya has been blessed with an extremely dedicated and diligent set of volunteers whose age group ranges from 14 to 60. Their energy, determination and enthusiasm continue to fuel 's success in enriching the lives of mentally challenged youth.

Great care is taken by each volunteer to communicate with each child.

Who we are!

Advitya is an NGO which encourages the creative talent of mentally challenged individuals. The organisation was established on 1st August 2000 with a mission to create a Centre with a group of youth who are unable to continue in their special schools due to their age or the need for more more meaningful and satisfying way, in an atmosphere of shared love and joy.

The youth at Advitya are rejected by most institutions because they cannot adjust easily there and require personalised attention. Although they are adults, they need to be showered affection like infants and crave or emotional security. At Advitya most of these troubled youth shed their depression and behavioural problems in just 15 days, our personalized attention helps therse children make the transition from being tantrum throwers to calm and confident young adults. Today they have conviction in their abilities and a purpose in life.

The FIRST. Person and post!

Ms. Anjali Shah (Extreme right)

Ms. Anjali Shah is the main thrust behind Advitya and has accumulated a tremendous amount of experience in working with mentally challenged children.

For several years she worked as a special teacher with Dr. Mehta's School, Malad and later she moved on to help children at Dilkush Special Workshop Juhu. The experience made her eminently qualified to commence this project.