Nineteen-year-old Aaditya Netha was shaking a leg to ‘Marana Mass’, a song from Rajinikanth’s Pett a when I first met him at Elliot’s Beach. It was a sultry Sunday morning, but scores of people with Down Syndrome gathered at the beach to take part in a rally, organised by Down Syndrome Federation of India.
“This is the first time I’m taking part. And I enjoyed coming here,” said Aaditya, who was born with Down Syndrome. According to the organisers, the idea was to commemorate the World Down Syndrome Day, which is on March 21. People with Down Syndrome are known for their distinctive physical features. “For instance, they have almond-shaped eyes,” said Ashish Mehta, whose four-year-old son Kanav was diagnosed with the genetic condition. The initial days were particularly challenging for Ashish, who had to deal with the social stigma associated with it.
“I was a young father at that time and had no idea about this condition. In fact, a lot of people asked me to write off my child because he was also born with a congenital heart defect. But I never gave up on him.”
When Dr Rekha Ramachandran’s daughter was born with Down Syndrome in 1981, she decided to set up a foundation, assisting the community.
“Nobody used the word Down Syndrome back then. Instead, they called my daughter mentally-retarded. That’s when I made up my mind that I would never let this happen to another parent,” said Rekha, who’s also the co-founder of Down Syndrome Federation of India (DSFI). She added: “It has taken me 35 years to start this initiative. The driving force, however, have been the parents.”
DSFI has been closely working for the cause of all those who have Down Syndrome. “Though we see over 30,000 cases a year, we have been able to identify the maximum numbers,” she said, adding, “We still haven’t been able to penetrate into rural areas.”
Rekha states that people with this syndrome have a secure future.
“We have been training children at our centre in Mylapore. Nowadays, they are also getting job opportunities. For instance, a young girl from Bengaluru with an interest in art became part of the artistic community,” she said, adding, “One of our students, Arti Krishnamoorthy, is a swimmer and is currently in Dubai to participate in the Special Olympics.”
For details, visit: http://www.downsyndrome.in or dial: 42112249/9841197394.
