Mithila Naik-Satam, Maharashtra
The 7-year-old Avnish from Pune, Maharashtra, holds an Indian Flag at Mount Everest at an altitude of 5,500 meters (18,200 ft) to witness the sunrise over the Eastern Himalayas at the height of 8,848 meters. This may read like news that would stay with you for a while, but as you read on, you’ll know what makes this 7-year-old’s story a world’s first.
No, this isn’t Avnish’s first trekking experience at high altitudes. He has travelled and hiked in Leh at 3,500 meters. But what makes it awe-inspiring is that he was born with a chromosomal disorder, Trisomy 21 (down syndrome), and was given up for adoption by his biological parents.
He was adopted as a 22-month-old by a single parent, Aditya Tiwari, who quit his job as a software engineer becoming the youngest single father in the country.
The Tedious Adoption Process In India
Aditya fought a laborious battle against unfavourable adoption laws in the court and recalled the day he got Avnish’s custody as the day he got his life’s purpose. Speaking of the system, he mentions, “I got Avnish’s legal custody on 1 January, 2016, after one and a half years of struggle.”
The laws at that time did not allow unmarried people to adopt, but this did not dissuade the then 27-year-old Aditya, even though it meant making over 30 trips from Pune to Bhopal, writing numerous letters to everyone, from the Prime Minister, the Women and Child Welfare Minister to the Madhya Pradesh Government.
He adds, “All I wanted was to adopt a child with intellectual disability. What I got for 18 months was mental, emotional and financial trauma. I first saw Avnish, now my son, during a visit to an orphanage in Indore in 2014. The authorities told me he wasn’t adopted because he was ‘mental’.”
It was after adopting Avnish that Aditya realised that there was no separate category for intellectually-disabled children in India, nor did the government give them disability certificates. This prompted Aditya to send an online petition to the government and it created a separate category for such children.
Best Mommy Of The World
Aditya’s journey with Avnish got him to win the “Best Mommy of the World” award in 2020 by Wempower. He believes that parenthood isn’t gender-based and adds, “Motherhood isn’t defined by gender or age but instead is a choice and is a spirit that I live each day with.”
With a smile, he continues, “When we are a parent, we seek ways in which we can make our child’s life better—maybe this is what a mother’s love is. I have never put myself into any character of a mother or father. I have always tried to become a good parent for him and a good human being.
“Society is changing, but there’s still a long way to go. There’s a different mindset when people see a man single-handedly raising a child. It’s not that we can’t parent or just the women who can do this. Society just sees us as bread earners and not as the primary caretaker.
“Taking care of a child is a tough but rewarding task. I don’t just go to work, but I am also raising a life.”
As I hear Aditya tell me about his and Avnish’s journey, I gather it has always been adventurous. Aditya tells me what made him answer the calls of the mountains was that he wanted to change the perception of those with special needs and explore trekking options and show the beauty of the Himalayas to neurotypical as well as neurodivergent people.
Aditya and Avnish have both broken most stereotypes. Aditya says with a smile, “Avnish has taught me how to be a parent and I am in awe of him every day. The discipline, patience, and love I see in his eyes are unmatchable. I want the world to know, Down’s on the top of the world!”
The writer is a development worker from Maharashtra. Share your feedback on features@charkha.org