From a single father of autistic child to a mentor for hundreds like him

It was a very smooth life for Raghu Behl (40) till about 12 years ago. His wife Nidhi Behl used to take care of their son Sayyam (then two-yr-old), while he remained occupied in his printing and pharmacy businesses.

Little did he know at that time that everything was set to go topsy-turvy for him. A year later, his son was diagnosed with autism. While the couple was still learning to cope up with his condition for the next three years, Nidhi was diagnosed with fourth-stage breast cancer.

Nidhi passed away in 2011, taking a promise from Raghu to work for the betterment of their son and to open a centre for autistic kids in Jalandhar.

Fulfilling his wife’s dying wish, Raghu has been running “Care for Autism” centre at Sheikhan Pind on the Hoshiarpur road. At the centre, he is not just taking care of his 14-year-old son, but also about 100-odd children like Sayyam. The centre has special educators and therapists for speech and behavioural issues and psychologists who work on improvement in the children, besides holding week-end counselling sessions for the parents.

“I can never match the level of care that Nidhi showed for Sayyam. But I am certainly a better father now. Till the time she was around, I was totally carefree as I knew that she would manage all his requirements. After she was gone, the responsibility naturally started sinking in me. I started devoting a lot of time for him. Now, I can say with confidence that Sayyam is all-settled and a fully expressive child with no behavioural issues at all," Raghu said.

The father-son duo share a unique bond. They listen to music together, watch movies, go cycling and holidaying, enjoying each other’s company. Raghu showed two diaries which his wife left behind. “In her last days, Nidhi had jotted down do’s and don’ts for me with regard to taking care of Sayyam. She had told me to ensure that Sayyam always got a fresh meal, which I ensure till date," he said.

Raghu, with teary eyes, said, “Ever since Nidhi realised that her end was near, she was after me to start a centre for autistic kids. As parents, we had to run around a lot between Delhi and Chandigarh for special training sessions for Sayyam. She wanted that no other parents should suffer the way we did. I told her that I could not manage my business, her treatment, care for Sayyam and a centre all at the same time. But she was very adamant. So, I converted a site which I had purchased for starting a factory into this centre. Despite her ailment, she actively pursued the project till it finally got inaugurated. Sadly barely a month after we opened it, she passed away. After her demise, I was so broken that I was in no mood to continue with the centre. But looking at Sayyam, I took the resolve that I have to do it for my son’s sake. Today, I feel accomplished as a father, a single parent and a mentor to hundreds of children like Sayyam whose lives I am trying to improve each day".

        A truly dedicated step

“Ever since my wife Nidhi realised that her end was near, she wanted me to start a centre for autistic kids. I told her that I could not manage my business, her treatment, care for our son Sayyam and a centre all at the same time. But she was adamant. So, I converted a site which I had purchased for a factory into this centre.” – Raghu Behl, whose son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two

Jalandhar