Youth Junction

Six years ago, after completing his business degree (BBA), a young apprentice started his business journey in the newly inaugurated family garment store called Youth Junction. There was excitement around this new store in the small farming community of Timarni, Madhya Pradesh, India. Now fashion-seeking youngsters did not have to make a four hour hike to nearby cities of Bhopal or Indore for trendy outfits. For the Gadres, especially Siddharth, Youth Junction is a bold endeavor; a family dream come true. Siddharth has been managing the store with his Dad, Upendra, for the past six years. On first meeting, Siddharth comes across as a shy youth, but once you get to know him better, he has much to share with you. Siddharth is an iron-willed lionheart. For the past 25 years, after thousands of physical therapy sessions; after a couple of surgeries and years of medical intervention; after trying out every other alternative medicine like homeopathy and ayurvedic, he says he has developed a lot of confidence due to a therapy called Nadi Yoga. He maintains good eye contact and his muscles feel more relaxed. He is excited that he has reduced use of his wheelchair in favor of a walker, and aspires to walk using a stick.

Siddharth’s twin brother Kaustubh was recently offered a position as Senior Analyst QA, in Accenture, after a stellar recommendation from a client he worked for at the beginning of his career. Kaustubh has a degree in Computer Engineering from Bharati Vidyapeeth in Pune, and has been named and received a model employee award multiple times in his previous jobs. To follow his aspirations and dreams, Kaustubh moved out of his hometown of Timarni in eighth grade due to better opportunities in bigger towns. His role model, his older cousin, was studying for and striving for admission to good engineering colleges and Kaustubh did not want to be far behind. The determined boy was willing to give it his best shot, even if that meant staying away from his parents. Like his twin, Kaustubh too is a strong-willed braveheart. By the age of ten, after having worked tirelessly with his physical therapy regimen for years, slowly got him off any kind of supportive device. He too has undergone a few surgeries to get his leg muscles more relaxed and stronger. 

Four days after their birth, Kaustubh, and his twin brother Siddharth, who were preemies, suffered asphyxia (lack of oxygen) causing cerebral palsy. Both brothers were affected - Siddharth a little harder than Kaustubh. Siddharth experienced spasticity in all his limbs, torso and face. Kaustubh was mostly affected in his legs. In the face of adversity, the calm, patient, sensible couple, Purnima and Upendra Gadre, looked at their beautiful little boys and resolved that their babies would grow up into independent young men. As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. For the past twenty-eight years, this couple hasn’t left any stone unturned for their boys - now smart, independent young men! 

After the birth of their twins, the Gadres' life started revolving around pediatricians, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, then physical, occupational, speech therapists, nutritionists. They consulted homeopathic and ayurvedic specialists. Living in a small town of Timarni, where they didn’t have access to specialists, they visited cities like Indore, Pune and Hyderabad - sometimes setting up temporary homesteads for months in these places while the kids went through therapy and the parents learned techniques to continue upon return to their home. It was an uphill battle and test of their courage and patience to have two young kids follow through with a strict and painful regimen of therapy -  but as a family they persisted! 

While this went on, there was also the question about the kids’ schooling. “When my dad asked me if I wanted to go to a regular school, at first it felt like a big decision. But once I made up my mind, there was no going back. My teachers and friends were very supportive. As there was no wheelchair access to other floors, my teachers made sure my class was always on the ground floor”, says Siddharth. “I was determined to succeed, so I sat through all my classes. And if I was feeling low, I would talk to my friend almost every week, who uplifted me.” Both kids felt that there was always support, from family, friends, care-givers and well-wishers, every time they reached out. When I asked Kaustubh about his big plunge to live away from his parents at the tender age of thirteen, he said it was very tough at the beginning. Though he missed his parents a little earlier on, it was a step forward towards independence, living with his grandparents at an early age. It made him stronger and ultimately he was ecstatic with his reward of getting admission to Bharati Vidyapeeth, which was a great college. 

I remember the day the twins were born. I remember hearing about the asphyxia they suffered. “Cerebral Palsy” seemed like a huge word. Then I remember the family’s dogged effort - never giving up, never losing patience. There was never any anger, or frustration or bitterness - just a saintly calmness as they persevered. Siddharth recently started his own business, without a partner, working all on his own. He is now an LMD (Last Mile Delivery) partner for agrostar. A very well suited business for this farming community, and a business close to Siddharth's heart. He continues sessions with Dr Ganatra in Dehradun. Kaustubh is excited about his new job with Accenture. He aspires to be a Business Analyst in his future roles, and says his experience with QA helps him get a big picture. My heart bursts with joy to see these young men thrive independently, to see where their difficult journey has led them!

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