Author: Mr Sumit Sehgal Author | Poet | Mentor to Young Minds Founder, Young Dragons’ Literary Hub | 21st March, 2026
Some experiences quietly shift the way we look at life. My journey with NRF — The Neuroaid and Research Foundation has been one such experience.
Last year, when I conducted my first storytelling workshop at the NRF Summer Camp, I entered the room thinking I would be the one teaching. Instead, I walked out having learned something far more meaningful.
The children I met, welcomed stories with a warmth that was deeply moving. Their responses were immediate and genuine. As I narrated the stories, their eyes lit up with curiosity, laughter, and emotion. They followed every character, every twist, every moment with remarkable attention.
What struck me the most was their ability to feel the story.
They laughed when the story was funny and reacted when the characters struggled, and though they did not ask questions, their curious faces revealed how deeply they were following every moment. It reminded me that storytelling is not about intellect alone; it is about connection. And these children connected with the stories beautifully.
Another powerful moment came when I attended the Purple Lit Fest in Goa, a celebration of inclusivity and expression. Watching the children participate in different activities and perform on stage was truly eye-opening.
None of them seemed confined by the labels society often places on them.
They were confident, expressive, joyful, and wonderfully alive in the moment. They performed without hesitation, spoke with courage, and embraced the stage with an authenticity that many of us adults struggle to rediscover.
Their performances were not about perfection.
They were about presence.
And that honesty was powerful.
One moment that remains close to my heart happened during the Talk Buddies Club – Christmas Carnival. It was also a special occasion for us, as we celebrated the official book launch of Quiet Corners, Bright Worlds – The Art and Science of Storytelling for Children with Special Needs, conceptualized and co-developed in collaboration with The Neuroaid and Research Foundation.
Amid the festivities, a young girl with Down syndrome approached me. She noticed the book I had written and looked at it with genuine curiosity and excitement. I could see the interest in her eyes as she held the book and explored it for a few moments. Without thinking twice, I gifted it to her. The smile that followed was simple, pure, and unforgettable.
Children with Down syndrome are often misunderstood by society. But spending time with them reveals something profoundly important; they are not different in the ways that truly matter.
They observe.
They feel.
They love.
They respond to kindness and warmth just like we do.
In fact, many of them do it with even greater honesty.
Organizations like The Neuroaid and Research Foundation (NRF) are doing tremendous work in creating spaces where these children are not merely included but truly supported and celebrated.
They remind us that inclusion is not an act of charity; it is an act of humanity. And perhaps that is the real lesson.
These children do not ask for sympathy.
They ask for understanding.
For patience.
For love.
And when we offer them that, we discover something beautiful in return; a reminder of what it truly means to be human.
