In a remarkable and poignant story spanning three decades, a Mumbai family has lived through the evolution of HIV from a feared death sentence to a manageable chronic condition. The journey of Sameer C (name changed) and his wife Chanda began in 1996, a time shrouded in fear and misinformation about the human immunodeficiency virus.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
The couple's encounter with HIV started unexpectedly when Chanda, then just 19 years old and pregnant, developed a painful case of shingles. Medical investigations led doctors to test her for HIV, a relatively new and terrifying diagnosis in the mid-90s. The result was positive. The news came as a profound shock to the couple, who maintained they had not engaged in any behaviour traditionally classified as high-risk for contracting the virus.
This initial discovery was only the beginning. In the years that followed, Sameer, his parents, and eventually his son were all found to be HIV-positive. Concerned about his parents' failing health and low immunity, Sameer took them to see renowned infectious diseases specialist, Dr. I Gilada. This sequence of events painted a unique family medical picture, setting them apart among the 62,571 people living with HIV in Mumbai.
Unraveling a Medical Mystery Across Generations
Dr. Gilada proposed a fascinating theory to explain the family's situation. While the first HIV cases were officially identified in the United States in 1981, evidence suggests the virus was circulating much earlier; a 1959 sample from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was later found to contain HIV-1. "HIV has been in circulation for decades," Dr. Gilada explained, "so it's possible that Sameer got HIV from his parents and could be the oldest living case of mother-to-child transmission."
The doctor reflected on the dramatic shift he has witnessed in his four-decade career. "I have seen the worst-ever to best-ever scenarios," he stated. In this family's case, the narrative is tragically clear: the first generation—Sameer's parents—succumbed to HIV and related illnesses. The second generation, Sameer and Chanda, are now thriving on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). The story of the third generation, their son, is one of both challenge and hope.
Progress Amid Persistent Stigma
Despite medical advances that have transformed HIV into a manageable condition, the social burden remains crushing. The stigma is so severe that Sameer and Chanda have kept their status a secret from their extended family, and even from their own son for many years. Their son, now 29, discovered his HIV-positive status only last year when he was diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis.
"No one in our extended family knows our status. We eat nutritious food and stay healthy," said Sameer, a resident of Mumbai's western suburbs. Their story underscores the painful dichotomy between medical success and social acceptance.
Data from the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society offers a broader view of progress. Released ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, the figures show encouraging trends: HIV/AIDS deaths in the city have fallen by 20% in the last four years. Specifically, deaths decreased from 1,210 in 2021-22 to 974 in 2024-25. The current year (2025-26) has recorded 491 deaths so far. Furthermore, the incidence of HIV among pregnant women in Mumbai has seen a dramatic 56% drop over three years.
This family's three-generation saga is a microcosm of the global HIV story—a tale of loss, survival, medical triumph, and the slow, ongoing battle against a stigma that modern medicine has yet to cure.
