What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
DELHI: At just nine years old, Avnish Tiwari’s life is a poignant tale of both sorrow and triumph. Born with a heart defect and Down Syndrome, he faced abandonment at birth, finding refuge in an orphanage in Indore. In 2014, Aditya Tiwari, a software engineer with a multinational bank, crossed paths with a young boy at the Missionaries of Charity Centre in Indore. This encounter marked the beginning of a challenging journey toward adoption.
Despite the hurdles, Avnish Tiwari emerged victorious. He’s delivered TEDx talks, scaled the heights of the Mount Everest Base Camp at the tender age of 7, and become a beacon of hope for children facing similar challenges. Recently, he had the honour of meeting President Droupadi Murmu and, on another occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the youngest recipient of the Prime Minister National Children’s Award for 2024 among 19 awardees. The upcoming milestone is a prominent position in the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path this January 26.
The Government of India’s citation, awarded in the “social service” category, lauds Avnish’s resilience, stating, “Avnish is an incredible young individual who has overcome tremendous obstacles in his life. Master Avnish has trekked Mt. Everest base camp at age 7 and became inspiration for other children.”
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In 2014, at the age of 26, Aditya Tiwari, then a single man, encountered Binny, the infant who would become Avnish, in the Missionaries of Charity orphanage. The decision to adopt was instantaneous, but legal restrictions presented challenges. The law required Aditya to be 30 years old to qualify for adoption. However, in August 2015, changes to the Central Adoption Resource Authority rules lowered the age limit to 26 for single males. By January 2016, Aditya Tiwari brought Binny home.
Aditya Tiwari shared, “I knew that Avnish was born with special abilities, but I decided to make him special even in terms of his capabilities.”
Avnish’s achievements began early, at the age of two-and-a-half, when he played a pivotal role in his family’s recognition by the Golden Book of World Records. Aditya Tiwari was acknowledged as the youngest single parent, at 28 years and 4 months, to adopt a differently-abled child. In 2020, at six years old, Avnish gave his first TEDx Talk, advocating for children with special needs.
In April 2021, Avnish made history as the youngest differently-abled child, at seven years old, to reach the Everest base camp. Aditya Tiwari reminisced, “Avnish has always been full of courage. I remember that when we reached there, he was extremely happy.”
Since 2016, Avnish has been a global advocate for disabled children, participating in seminars and engaging with professionals and others with disabilities. In 2020, he addressed the 12th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
Now a student at the Mhow Army Public School, Avnish continues to inspire children like him. Aditya Tiwari remarked, “Avnish now travels around the world to raise awareness about therapies that can help. When he interacts with them, he may speak in broken sentences, but always with a smile. And when children clap for him, he is always filled with a sense of pride.”
