Real stories. Real people. Infinite perspectives
"I am Attika Seth, proud mother of Shaurya Seth, a 16-year-old boy with an incredible journey. Shaurya was diagnosed with autism when he was just 18 months old. At the time, my husband and I were involved in our own business, but the moment we received his diagnosis, my priorities shifted completely. From that point on, there was no looking back.
In the early years, Shaurya lived in his own world. Brain Fogged, he barely noticed my presence. As a mother, this was incredibly painful. But we refused to give up. We invested countless hours exploring therapies, courses, and interventions, each one laying a small but crucial foundation for his growth.A significant breakthrough came when we followed the Son -Rise program (US) and IAHP (The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential). The changes in his behavior were remarkable, and we finally saw a shift—he began to engage with the world around him.
Academically, Shaurya struggled, and despite our best efforts, traditional schooling did not work for him. Eventually, we decided to let go of academic expectations and focus on what truly mattered—his happiness and self-sufficiency.
Today, he is attached to a vocational center where he is learning daily life skills, along with exploring creative avenues that keep him engaged in a meaningful way. One of the most beautiful surprises in Shaurya’s journey has been his passion for painting. I never expected that he would find his voice through art, but he did. He is attached to Arts and Souls Foundation, which focuses on training neurodiverse children in art. His art has given him an identity beyond his diagnosis, and it fills my heart with joy and pride. He has also trained in computers through AIMS Media, expanding his world further.
Like any parent of a child with special needs, we have faced countless challenges—behavioral struggles, moments of loneliness, and the silent grief of unfulfilled expectations. But over time, we learned the most important lesson: acceptance. Instead of focusing on what Shaurya couldn’t do, we began celebrating everything he could. And in doing so, our lives became lighter, happier, and more meaningful.Our only true wish for Shaurya is that he enjoys good health, a fulfilling life, and the freedom to be himself. And as a parent , our role is simply to support, encourage, and love him for who he is.
Thank you for listening to our story."
“Shaurya is the most loving child a mother could ever get. He is pure hearted, gives love to everyone he meets and is such a popular kid in class. Everyone wants to be with him, sit with him, eat with him and play with him. Just because his expression is different, does not mean that he does not carry the capability to perceive the world. With his words, actions of excitement or frustration, he expresses his thoughts. He also engages with people he loves, and the best part is that he never feels obligated to respond. So if he likes a person, he likes that person with all his heart. He is fond of painting and uses shades of blue and green most of the times. Somehow, he just gravitates to these colours. Maybe these are water colours, and he connects with these since he is a water baby too. All in all, Shaurya is such a delight to be with, and I couldn't have asked for anything more or anything better for myself in my life. I am truly blessed to be his mom.”
“Abhirup 17 years old. He was diagnosed with autism just after his second birthday. His paediatrician could identify the symptoms before we did as we had no idea about autism.We initially thought only his speech was delayed but after his diagnosis, we straight away started with all the therapies.Abhirup spoke his first words after 6 months of therapy. Slowly along with his therapies he started blending with the children - going to a regular play school. This year he'll be appearing for class 10 board exams.He loves swimming and skating. But before that has really been into music. He’d pick up songs in Hindi, English, Bengali and even Sanskrit. There language is no barrier for him. For the past couple of years, he has entered the world of art and doing great till now .We're hopeful that he'll be able to make a career in this field in future.”
“ My son Yash, born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, is one in a million child. He has undergone 5 surgeries but nothing has stopped him. He continues to pursue his interest in art and music. Playing with water colours and acrylic colours have given him the power to transform, illuminate and grow. He loves to do abstract art as well as intricate, fine art...thats his forte. His paintings have been appreciated in varied circles and many have found place across the globe, adding beauty to aBangalore Cafe (Terrabites), farm houses in Bhimtal and Dehradun (Golden Commune), HAL office in Delhi, Max Estates in Noida and many more. Yash is trying to make a mark in the field of art and is continuing to learn in pursuit of excellence. Yash truly is a warrior...”
“Ansh is different but not less than anyone, he loves painting and listening music, his artworks are incredible and says a lot about the struggle they go through on daily basis. It's a way of venting out the piled up emotions.”
Watch Ansh’s film, “Beyond Labels” here.
“Debarghya is a young artist on autism spectrum. Debu found his calling in art at the age of 13. Over the last few years he has participated in many exhibitions and his art has been appreciated by experts and audience all alike. Being limited verbal with learning difficulty, art is Debarghya’s way of expressing himself. He posts his artworks on his instagram page colorsofdebarghya and his Facebook page Debarghaya art world. This year Debarghya has won Kala Samman Award by Kalagram Society, Gurugram. Debarghya recently moved to assisted living where he is learning to live independently. In ALAP, Debarghya works in the work vocational centre and learns reading, typing, activity of daily living in a group set up.
“My son, Avyukt, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. At that time, I was leading the Economics Research unit at McKinsey & Co. The moment I received his diagnosis, I made the difficult decision to resign and dedicate myself entirely to raising him. The initial years were incredibly challenging. It was hard to reconcile that such a happy, lively child was facing significant developmental issues. The past 14 years have been a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. But every experience pushed us to find better solutions, driven by the belief that winter always turns to spring. In recent years, Avyukt has made remarkable strides. He has discovered a profound passion for art, which has become a beautiful form of expression for him. His talent has blossomed, leading to participation in numerous exhibitions across India. His artwork has garnered attention not only locally but internationally, with pieces sold to art enthusiasts in the US and Johannesburg. One of his proudest achievements was winning first prize in a national science painting competition, a testament to his incredible growth and talent.”
“Aniruddha Sural ( Anirudh) , a neurodiverse artist born in 2011, has overcome significant health challenges to find solace and expression through his art. Despite the developmental disabilities , Anirudh's love for art bloomed in 2022 as he discovered the joy of color and the freedom to break free from conventional rules. Anirudh's infectious smile and love for travel have also influenced his artistic style. His vibrant paintings often reflect the joy and wonder he finds in the world around him. His talent has garnered recognition both nationally and internationally, with his works displayed in prestigious venues such as DLF, Le-Meridian, JW Marriott, The Haat of Art, and Ambience Mall Gurgaon. His achievements, including gold and bronze medals at the Kalanirvana International Visual Art Exhibition, highlight his global impact.Life might throw you curveballs, but Aniruddha's shown us that even if you're a little off-center, you can still knock it out of the park.
“My favourite moment with my son is waking up every morning. He’s a very diffrent person in the morning, very happy all smiles, big hugs. He looks for me , and he’ll be all snuggles- I think thats the best moment. He also loves things to be in pairs. If he see’s anything in a pair he’ll pick it up and play with it. It’s the cutest thing !”
"They say, it takes a village to raise a child. Little did I know I will need a whole lot more than that.
As I realised my journey as a mother is going to be tough , I met some people who made me feel it will be impossible but then I also met people who gave me hope, optimism, courage.Today when I look back and see how my son has grown into this kind & loving boy, I thank God for my truly special child. Autism is difficult to understand in the beginning. It is also hard to manoeuvre as systems are not streamlined in our country. Our society is competitive, judgemental and unkind. But I wish to say this to the moms who share my story,“ You will be fine and so will be your child. There is bright light at the end of the tunnel , just keep holding on to each other and keep walking.”
“Rudra was born a healthy baby and reached all his developmental milestones on schedule. However, around the age of two, we noticed some signs that concerned us—such as a lack of conversation initiation, not pointing at objects, and increased irritability due to limited speech. We decided to consult his pediatrician, who recommended that we see a developmental pediatrician. After a thorough evaluation, our son was diagnosed with autism. We promptly began speech and occupational therapies. As parents, my partner and I provided him with numerous social opportunities, and we soon noticed significant improvements, including his ability to initiate conversations. The integrated schooling at Vasant Valley School has greatly contributed to our son's overall development. Today, our son is 11 years old and in the 6th grade, leading a happy and fulfilling life. He attends a mainstream school and is actively involved in chess, basketball, and advanced Lego building. This progress is a testament to the timely intervention and our acceptance as caregivers. My advice to parents of children diagnosed with autism is that while the journey can be challenging and caregivers may face difficult moments, it's important to remain hopeful and prioritize timely, early intervention to help the child lead a fulfilling life.”