Aradhana Panigrahi

  The journey of motherhood with autistic children is a beautiful testament to the strength, love, and resilience of both the child and the mother. Motherhood is a journey filled with joys, challenges, and unexpected twists. For mothers of autistic children, this journey may come with unique hurdles and complexities. It is an adventure filled with unique challenges and triumphs, and above all, it's a journey marked by unconditional love and acceptance.  During my training in a therapy center, I have seen mothers of autistic children demonstrate extraordinary patience, understanding, and dedication as they navigate the complexities of raising a child with autism. They tirelessly advocate for their child's needs, whether it's seeking out the best educational resources, accessing therapeutic interventions, or breaking down societal barriers to inclusion. These mothers celebrate every milestone, no matter how small, and find joy in the unique talents and perspectives their chil

  H oli, the festival of colours, time of joyous celebrations, vibrant hues, and cherished memories. As the day arrived, I found myself standing in front of the wardrobe, looking at the forgotten corner and thinking about what to wear for the day’s activities. During the search, I could feel the magic in revisiting the old days associated with the dresses. I could smell the faint scent of memories that lingered within the folds. These dresses were silent spectators to the laughter, friendships, trials and pure spirits of the good old days. Each dress had witnessed moments of joy, sorrow, victory, and loss. The moment I slipped into its familiar embrace, I felt nostalgic, carrying me back to simpler times. The clothes whispered secrets of the long past, laughter shared with the dear ones, wipes of inconsolable tears and lot more. The old outfits became a medium of tangible link to memories through which I relived moments of absolute bliss and bitter-sweet desires, taking on a full spect

O ne evening while returning back from office, I took an auto-rickshaw. Leaning back in the seat, I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the cool breeze and sway of the vehicle navigating through the busy streets. As it halted at a traffic, I opened my eyes and looked out at the passing scenery and sounds of the bustling city. Suddenly I noticed few third genders standing on the traffic waiting for the signal to cross the road.  Typically, as I pass by any third gender I think about their living, employability and acceptance into the main stream livelihood. I admire by how brave they were to be themselves in a world that often fails to understand or accept them. I felt a surge of admiration for their courage and resilience, and a commitment to stand up for equality and acceptance for all members of the community. As they made their way across the street, I silently cheered them on, grateful for their presence and the reminder to always be a friend in the need for inclusivity and just

Maha Shivratri is a day I always look upon because that is the highest number of hours I spend in a temple in silence. With the prayers, I thank Lord for all the strength, resilience, mindset I get to face life, say sorry for wherever went wrong and seek wellbeing for the people I truly love and care. I believe engaging in silent contemplation at the temple during these hours can be a profound and peaceful way to connect with the spiritual self. While in silence, I speak the most, I pour my heart out and go through an extreme emotional awareness. I feel silence while embracing spirituality is a way of introspecting that can direct you to the better understanding of self and connectedness beyond the physical realm.          Silence acts as a powerful focus. From a psychological perspective , absorption in silence often involves mindfulness and rumination. It can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and enhance overall mental well-being. Silence involves creating a quiet environment to min

S he was carefree, educated and independent who never thought of moving back from anything without giving it a try.  She always aimed at gaining a name for herself and that she could with her academic and other creative activities. She always thought that she was safely protected by four walls; however, one was yet to be completed. The three walls were her Father, her Mother and her Brother & sister-in-law. She kept herself and her little niece secured within it. For the little one, who was her life, she was a guard herself. They were the parents who constantly pushed her to move on and face new experiences and achievements. She was a free girl with her traditional and moral values intact.      A girl, when it came to marriage, she always believed of being a perfect wife and an ideal daughter-in-law. The day arrived and the man, who was expected to complete the Fourth  wall of protection, was finally there.   It was an ideal match. He fascinated her with promises to take care of

Rest in Peace or Return if Possible is not meant for the small kids for whom it is too early to leave the world. The reason-- they were the victims of Child Sexual Abuse. For sometime the media and public will be in outrage as a result of the murder of a little child victimized of an attempted rape during the school working hours, which grabbed all attention, but after a few days who is going to remember, apart from ‘ a mother who carried the kid in her womb, a father who carried to tomb and a sibling who accompanied to school but alas lost a friend forever ’. Once you leave your children at the school gate or anywhere and keep watching him/her till she fades away from your sight, you are not sure that you can see them safe at home again until they come back with a happy and cheerful face. That’s the sad scenario of today where a child begins the formal journey towards life and the society  in which the children are meant to be kept secured. The kids, neither a girl child nor a boy c