Friday, May 30, 2014

Arun Shourie on his tale of cerebral palsy and enduring love | The National

Arun Shourie on his tale of cerebral palsy and enduring love | The National

The day his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Arun Shourie was working as an economist with the World Bank in Washington. He was later to return to India, where he would become a cabinet minister, prolific author and newspaper editor, who fought corruption and campaigned for press freedom during his time at The Indian Express and The Times of India. At that moment, however, when he and his wife Anita finally learnt there was a reason for the things that had bewildered them since the birth of their son, he was an unknown Indian from an affluent and distinguished family at the beginning of his ­career.

As they absorbed the news, the kind doctor gave them what Shourie calls the "best piece" of advice anyone could offer: "I have not been to your country but from what I have heard, you have strong, well-knit families there. That is what the child will need as he grows up – a net of love and security." They took his advice and returned to New Delhi. Realising the couple would need help in raising Aditya, the maternal and paternal grandparents took up the job. Shourie says these two elderly couples devoted the rest of their lives to loving and raising Aditya, the "darling of the family".

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/books/arun-shourie-on-his-tale-of-cerebral-palsy-and-enduring-love#ixzz33E3vzcSt

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