A real Sitaare Zameen Par: Living with Down syndrome, 45-year-old is dancer, champion swimmer and yoga instructor

Indian Express

27-06-2025

At 45, Babli Ramachandran is a Bharatanatyam dancer, a yoga coach and a champion swimmer. Nobody quite enacts the navarasas the way she does on stage — be it pain, joy, fury or love. Overcoming physical difficulties and pain, she not only mastered her asanas but decided to become a yoga trainer. She has difficulty seeing underwater but by practising with float dividers, she developed her own sense of spatial awareness to keep her body on course. And win at the Special Olympics National Games. Currently, she is travelling across the UK with her mother, telling her to 'chill, feel the wind and not worry.' Born with Down syndrome, she may have had delayed learning but is a multi-disciplinary achiever.
Babli, who was written off at birth, is more mainstream than normal people. And it is people like her who have inspired actor-producer Aamir Khan to make Sitaare Zameen Par, a film that argues for acceptability of neuro-diverse people. Babli even inspired her mother, Dr Surekha Ramachandran to become a researcher on Down Syndrome and pursue a doctorate on the mental health challenges it poses, like depression. She now runs the Down Syndrome Federation of India to help parents groom their children to lead independent, dignified and quality lives. 'Your child is not abnormal, just has a different intellectual and body capacity. They will be as strong and fearless as you are. If you fear this condition, then they will mirror it,' says Dr Ramachandran.
IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE PARENT
'Raising a child with Down's syndrome demands a powerful emotional shift. Yes, they will need medical monitoring throughout as most have congenital defects. The child will adapt and grow, follow the parent's cue but the parent must evolve first and look at them just as they are,' says Dr Shrinidhi Nathany, consultant, molecular haematology and oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram. For that, she advises, parents have to absolve themselves of guilt. 'Most cases of Down syndrome, a condition when a human has 47 instead of 46 chromosomes, arise from a random error in cell division during the formation of the reproductive cells (egg or sperm) or in early embryonic development. While Down syndrome is a genetic condition, the extra chromosome that causes it is usually not passed down from parent to child,' she explains. Now the life expectancy of those living with it has increased to 60 years with some even living beyond, given the right environment.
Dr Ramachandran recalls how Babli was born with cataract, required surgery, had multiple health issues and a bad bout of pneumonia, all within six months. But her heart was strong and she came back every single time. 'The fact that everybody believed she would die was an eye-opener. Everybody chose to focus on her limitations, her drooling, her seizures or the fact that she had to be given enema every day to clear out her intestines because her gut muscles were weak and unable to contract. So I decided to work on her strengths and treated her just like her brother. She realised she may be different but was equally valued,' says Dr Ramachandran.
Of course, puberty brought its own challenges for Dr Ramachandran. 'Babli became detached, indulged in self-talk, had hallucinations and talked to imaginary people. There were bouts of aggression, eating disorders, facial tics, mood swings and repetitive, obsessive behaviour. While her behavioural issues compounded, I realised that it was also the time of developing her communication, self-care and motor skills,' she says.
THE MAKING OF AN ACE SWIMMER AND MORE
Dr Ramachandran enrolled her for swimming and dancing, both of which would enhance her cognitive and motor capacities. In fact, she signed up Babli for regular swimming classes and contests where there were bigger and stronger competitors. 'She would lower herself in the water, hear a whistle and then lunge forward. And then she would ask me to move away. That was a fantastic feeling. It meant that if I trusted her as a parent, she would be in charge,' says Dr Ramachandran.
Similarly as a Bharat Natyam dancer, Babli developed her own grammar of finding her spot on the stage although she couldn't see the markings. She would follow the spotlight, go to its rim and assume her posture. 'Babli talks through her dance. She started emoting in her sleep, while eating, while bathing and throughout the day and night. It is her tool of self-expression,' says Dr Ramachandra. She has now been part of dance troupes to Singapore, Malaysia and MIT and since Covid imparts yoga lessons to people living with Down's syndrome. Despite the gloom of lockdown, Babli ensured that she spent her time doing all that she wanted to do. 'She swam, she dressed up, she had fun with her nephews and she kept herself busy with music and dance,' says her mother.
'There was a time when she sought companionship, wanted to get married, which is such a stigma. She even went into severe depression. That's why we encourage social meet-ups between those with Down syndrome, so that they can find their partners,' says Dr Ramachandran.
WHY DOWN SYNDROME KIDS ARE TALENTED
Children with Down syndrome often surprise us—not by doing what we think is impossible, but by doing it in their own time and in their own way. 'Scientifically, we know that the condition affects cognitive development, but this tells us little about the child's spirit, creativity or emotional intelligence,' says Dr Nathany.
Many children with Down syndrome have extraordinary mimicry skills, strong musicality, a natural affinity for rhythm, and an infectious ability to connect emotionally with others. 'Their memory for faces, songs and daily routines can be remarkable. Their sincerity, lack of pretension, and empathy make them exceptional friends, coworkers, and sometimes, artists. We now understand these are not exceptions; they are expressions of neurodiverse potential,' adds Dr Nathany.
When given access to early therapies and inclusive education, many go on to develop real-world skills—some become dancers, painters, athletes, even entrepreneurs.
MAKING THEM A PART OF SOCIETY
Dr Nathany believes that the biggest barrier is not chromosomal but societal. 'Scientifically, we know that the brain is plastic. Neurodevelopment is shaped as much by environment as by genes. A nurturing home can change a child's trajectory,' she says.
Mainstreaming begins with inclusive education: schools must adapt curriculum and teaching strategies, not label children as 'slow.' 'Employers must open doors to roles that match their abilities. Policy must shift from tokenism to genuine accommodation—accessible transport, adult transition support, workplace sensitization,' suggests Dr Nathany.
As for Babli, Dr Ramachandra tells us that she likes to call herself Purneshwari (one who is complete). 'But for me she is bubbling with life. She is so sentient that she always calms me down, saying, 'Everything will always be okay.''