For Apurva Singhal and his family, understanding their son Agastya’s abilities has been a journey filled with uncertainty, patience and many discoveries. Born in 2008, Agastya lives with autism and has faced several challenges with walking, speaking and communication since childhood. But as he turned 18 this April, his father discovered a remarkable ability that has left the family amazed. During a conversation with The Times of India, Apurva, who lives with his wife, Agastya, and their younger son in Greater Noida (West), spoke about his son’s journey, his recently discovered ability and the importance of creating opportunities for children like Agastya as they grow into adulthood.
From a childhood of unanswered questions to an autism diagnosis
When Agastya was born, there was no indication that anything was different about him. “When he was born, no one knew, not even the doctor, what was not okay with Agastya,” his father told The Times of India. The family’s concerns grew when Agastya was around four years old. He began walking in an unusual manner, using his hips, which came as a shock to his parents. The family consulted several doctors, but initially there was no clear explanation for what was happening. As Agastya grew older, his challenges became more noticeable. He struggled with walking, speaking and responding to people. When he was around five or six years old, doctors eventually diagnosed him with autism, following which he began therapy. His educational journey also changed as his needs became clearer. Agastya studied in a mainstream school until Class 4 before moving to a special school. For the Singhal family, supporting Agastya has remained a continuous process. Apurva works in a private job, while Agastya’s mother is a home baker. His younger brother is seven years younger than him and currently studies at a mainstream school.
Father discovers a remarkable ability
One of the most unexpected discoveries came after Agastya turned 18 this April. His father noticed that his son could identify the day of the week for dates, including dates from the past and future, with remarkable speed. Apurva shared a video of Agastya on his Instagram account, @apurvasinghal77, demonstrating the ability. In the video, he asked his son different dates, and Agastya responded quickly with the corresponding days of the week. His father described the ability as something the family had only recently begun exploring. He said Agastya can tell “any day of the week for almost any date”, including many dates from the past or future. The discovery has encouraged the family to explore whether Agastya has other abilities that can be developed further. His father said the family has received several comments and questions from people asking what other areas they have explored. “We keep trying,” his father said, explaining that music is one of the areas they have started exploring with Agastya.
From calendar calculations to music and a call for opportunities
According to his father, Agastya has been making progress in music as well. “One of the areas is music, and so far he is doing fair.” Agastya has already submitted his Grade 3 Trinity piano examination, giving the family another area in which to explore his potential. For his parents, the aim is not simply to showcase an unusual ability but to understand what interests and skills can help him become more independent. Apurva also believes that support from society and the government will become increasingly important as children with special needs grow into adulthood.He stressed the need for greater awareness as well as employment opportunities that can help such children build independent lives. The challenge, he believes, extends beyond childhood education and therapy. As these children become adults, families need pathways that allow them to participate meaningfully in society and, where possible, work towards independent living. Agastya’s story is therefore not only about an extraordinary ability to calculate calendar dates. It is also about a family’s continuing effort to understand his strengths, explore new possibilities and prepare him for the future. For Apurva and his family, each new skill offers another reason to keep exploring. And as Agastya enters adulthood, the hope is that society will look beyond a diagnosis and recognise the abilities, interests and potential that children like him can bring to the world.