Pranav Bakhshi, 17 lives in New Delhi and has a diagnosis of Autism. In a video interview he shares his likes, his experience with photography, golf and his desire to walk the ramp. He talks of using music and his anxiety journal as a therapeutic aid. Don't miss the video interview #AutismAwarenessWeek
Anupama Bakhshi shares her perspective on her son Pranav
Pranav Bakhshi had a traumatic birth history and at two his speech regressed, leading to a diagnosis of ASD. There was no denial. Just an overwhelming initiation, like for all autism parents, into the world of autism jargon, therapies, theories, support and the lack of it. As much as I could, and as rapidly I could, I equipped myself for the journey ahead. As he moved from the play school where he found meaningful integration to a bigger integrated set up, he continued to show keen interest in a variety of things and his inclination to explore, to know and to be in the space where he could stay in touch with his areas of interest has continued.
Click here for Pranav's Video Interview
His first interests were sketching and skating. As he was exposed to different activities and possible interests, some in the form of hobbies that his older sister pursued, he loved some more than others. Music has been bliss always and along with it came mimicry, dancing and acting. Making dubsmashes has been a favorite past time, too. In his teens he developed a strong interest in golf and it continues. And for as long as I can remember, he has been clicking pictures. We would marvel over the beauty and uniqueness of some and slowly realized that he was constantly honing his skill on his own. He is often seen with his camera, is patient with it, has his preferred subjects and places where he likes to click and is excited about all his photography assignments. Evoluer appointing him as their official photographer has been the fillip that his passion for photography needed.
He was exposed to ramp walk at the yearly Velvi Theatre Festivals that he looks forward to attending. He loved it absolutely and participated in a ramp walk event soon after. He wants to continue doing that and is looking forward to his next ramp walk experience eagerly. He had pointed to a TV screen displaying models walking the ramp in a clothing brand shop in a mall a couple of years ago and said, ‘’I want to do this’’. I remember I had chuckled then. But I carried the guilt of that chuckle and am determined to support him in this area of interest.
Click here for Pranav's Video Interview
He is affable and amiable, extremely close to his sister and indeed very caring. He and I constantly share, discuss, plan, analyze and infer and that helps him deal with obsessions and anxieties. His writings in his anxiety journal help him resolve issues. We have delightful ‘flashback’ conversations and he dissects his own behavior in the past and terms it ‘kiddish’ and ‘immature’ sometimes. And of course, there are moments of realization and introspection for me, too. His mentioning someone resembling Amitav Ghosh made me ask him who he is. He not only told me he authored ‘Sea of Poppies’, he went on to tell me the month and the year I read that book and then so many others, months and years in place. In any case, any event to be recalled, Pranav is prompt with the date, year and day!
Our kids know and notice much more than we can ever imagine and mainstream curriculum can never ever be a yardstick to measure their prowess. Pranav is encouraged to grow and exist in the spaces that he has chosen for himself and he knows that he has our support.
