Manish Aggarwal, a teacher at Doaba Khalsa School in Jalandhar, has an inspiring story of raising his 22-year-old son Bhavnish, who has Down syndrome. Despite being told by a priest shortly after Bhavnish's birth in 2003 that his son would not survive long, and later by a doctor that he would never achieve anything in life, Bhavnish has grown into a young man who teaches yoga and performs dance, earning national acclaim for his expressive and energetic performances.
From Shock to Acceptance
Manish recalls the initial shock upon learning of his son's condition. 'His medical documents bore the words Down syndrome, which I knew little about then. A doctor told us, "ye zindagi mein kuch nahi kar paega" (he won't be able to do anything in life). For us, it was a complete shock.' In their ignorance, the family turned to religious ceremonies and were even duped into spending exorbitant amounts of money on so-called cures. However, after exhausting these 'solutions', Manish realized the answer lay elsewhere.
A meeting with disability activist Amarjit Singh Anand in 2011 proved to be a turning point. 'Since then, I've never looked back,' Manish says. He transformed from a struggling parent into a resilient activist and advocate for the rights of specially-abled individuals. Today, he serves as secretary of the Chanan Association for MR Children, secretary of the Ma Bharti Sewa Sangh, joint secretary of the disability organisation Saksham, and secretary of the Punjab Aided Schools and Colleges Association.
A Son's Achievements
Manish proudly states, 'Today I can proudly say my son is my life's greatest gift and now people identify me through his name.' After seeking guidance, the family took Bhavnish to India's premier institute for Down syndrome in Chennai. Back home, Bhavnish began dance classes at the Sakshi Feet Up Institute of Dance, which changed his life. He now accompanies his father to school almost daily, training students in yoga. He has won countless dance contests, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and earned accolades from actor Hema Malini for his dance moves in an online contest.
On World Yoga Day, the father-son duo will attend a yoga session at Vidya Dham in Jalandhar. Manish has been taking his son to school, events, and NGOs since childhood. 'If he skips school, we get numerous calls asking about him. On a normal day, he gets more calls than I do. His wit wins people over,' Manish adds.
Family Life and Advocacy
At home, Bhavnish encourages his mother to dance Zumba to shed extra kilos and has even turned his non-dancer father into a dancer. Manish likens it to the dialogue from the film 'Sitare Zameen Par': 'Our kids keep the childhood always alive at our homes.' Manish's favourite activity is conversing with his son after work and going on vacations with the family, which includes his high school topper daughter Akshra and wife Bindu Aggarwal. They have recently travelled to Jibhi, Manali, Nainital, and Kashmir.
Manish emphasizes the need for sensitivity among medical professionals. 'Sensitivity on these issues begins from doctors themselves. These days they are diligent and aware, but in our times they weren't. So we have held countless seminars and awareness sessions among medical professionals too. Even securing my son's medical certificate was a chore.' He notes that some parents in their area hide their specially-abled children and do not take them out. 'We are trying to reach out to as many people as we can.'
Manish concludes, 'My son cares about me much more than I can. When we are sick, he doesn't leave our side. He's my friend, companion and I take him everywhere. People love him. There's no other way I'm meant to bring him up. That is what I would say to other parents.'
