This Father's Day, meet India's youngest dad who adopted a special child

Only a woman can take care of a child.

So many of us have grown up believing this or still do. While parenting is a two-person job, dads don't really get the credit they deserve.

But Aditya Tiwari, a software engineer from Pune did something exceptional which made him win the honour of "world's best mommy" on International's women's day this year.

Wondering what made him so special?

On January 01, 2016, Aditya Tiwari became the youngest single parent in the country to adopt a special needs child, Binny. Even though Aditya and Binny (whose official name is Avnish) found their family in each other, the journey wasn't as easy as it seems. In India, where the topic of adoption itself raises eyebrows, coupled with stringent laws, getting Binny home wasn't easy. Aditya spent six months convincing authorities as to why, he, a single man, just 27 years old was fit to raise a child with Down's Syndrome. From then to starting his own welfare society, raising awareness, he is just the dedicated father and an inspiring figure for a lot of us.

So this Father's Day, we caught up with Aditya, who is now raising Avnish in Pune and working to make a difference in the lives of many other special children, like his own Binny...

On adopting a special child and breaking stereotypes
From being the first one to make the change, Aditya is now the one who has inspired many others to make the change in their lives. "I feel good because seeing my story, now even other single parents and couples are going for adoption, more so, thinking of giving kids with special needs a home", humbly says Aditya.

Five years after adopting his child, Aditya quit his IT job to start a special welfare society which helps raise awareness on Down's syndrome as well as counsel people who have a different-needs child or wish to adopt. Aditya also has a separate initiative which helps find employment opportunities for those with special needs. He has also worked with the United Nations for the same.


What made him decide on adoption?
"I did it because nobody wanted to adopt Binny. I was bombarded with questions, such as why I wanted to adopt a child, and if I was unable to produce one biologically ", the father says. The first time Aditya met Binny was on his father's birthday when he visited an orphanage and learnt that Binny was the only child who wasn't adopted by anyone else.




Avnish suffers from Down's syndrome, which is a chromosomal condition that leads to facial disability, mental deficit and also causes a variety of birth defects. Binny, like a lot of Down's syndrome babies, was also born with a hole in his heart. Even though Aditya knew taking care of his child was going to be difficult, he knew Binny was meant to be his son. He also faced problems in legal procedures, since the minimum age of adoption in India was 30 (which has now been reduced to 25). From shooting more than a hundred emails, following up with authorities and pleading with government officials, he fought for over six months, before finally bringing his baby home.

Overcoming hurdles and challenges during adoption
Bringing up a special needs child is tough and requires a lot of help and patience. "We have a special educator for Avnish. Special needs children have different toys and raising them needs a lot of patience." However, Aditya is nothing but grateful for the chance to get to care for a baby like Avnish. " It's a different experience and an adventurous one but we learn something new every day. I am glad to have him by my side. We are spending every bit together. What more could I ask for?"

Being a single dad in India- how difficult is it?
Aditya knows the struggles which single parents, and particularly single dads experience. "It's not easy being a single dad here. You hear a lot of things. I faced discouragement within my own circles. and family. There's just one thing you have to remember-which is to parent your child and the rest is smooth-sailing."


Getting to learn from his son
Even though Aditya encountered a lot many struggles in the process of officially adopting Avnish, getting the chance of parenting his son is life-changing for him. "Avnish has taught me how to be a parent. I am in awe of him every day. Discipline, patience and the love I see in his eyes is unmatchable"

Even before Aditya got to bring his son home, he spent all of his weekends with him. Making weekend trips from Pune to the charity home in Indore, bearing his expenses and feeding him when he could, he indeed is an inspiration for all of us.

Do fathers get due credit while raising a child?
Dads have changed and they are playing a more active role in raising kids. But does that mean equal credit? Aditya replies that 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 child. It's not that we can't parent, or just the women who can do this. Society just sees us as breadearners are 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. I have heard so many times from women "oh, we have carried a baby for nine months, you have the easier job", but it's not that. All parents and caretakers need equal credit."