Chains to Change, A Fight for Mental Health Reform in India
👋Hello Readers,
Today’s edition combines warm tales, creative ideas and the rich culture of our people. There is a lot of goodness to focus on and happy endings in these great stories! 😊✨
Wherein, uplifting stories of people helping one another in crisis and cutting-edge breakthroughs that aid in improving living conditions in the society today, we seek out the optimism around us. Wondering where all the good news is about some persons doing great things or perhaps local legends and the works they are doing in the society? We have those and more! 🎉🙌
So, buckle up and start this.
💬 Navigating Perspectives
On August 6, 2001, tragedy struck the Moideen Badusha Mental Home in Erwadi, Tamil Nadu, when a fire claimed 45 lives—patients chained to their beds, unable to escape. This shocking event exposed the grim reality of mental health care in India, where stigma, neglect, and outdated laws often overshadow compassion and progress.
A Family’s Battle with Schizophrenia
Amrit Kumar Bakhshy, former president of the Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA), knows these challenges intimately. For over two decades, he has cared for his daughter, Richa, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1991 after a traumatic event at her boarding school. The family’s journey has been marked by a constant cycle of remission and relapse, social isolation, and immense personal sacrifice. Relatives withdrew, neighbours grew fearful, and Bakhshy’s wife even left her job to provide full-time care. Desperate for answers, the family tried everything—from medical consultations to rituals—highlighting the confusion and lack of reliable information that many Indian families face.
Finding Hope Through Community Support
Recognizing the need for community and support, Bakhshy moved his family to Pune, enrolling Richa in the SAA’s day center. Here, patients could socialise and receive care without being isolated from their families or society. This innovative approach balanced the need for support with the importance of integration, offering a lifeline to both patients and caregivers.
From Personal Struggle to Legal Reform
Bakhshy’s advocacy didn’t stop at home. As SAA president, he played a pivotal role in pushing for legal reform. In 2010, he contributed to the drafting of a new Mental Health Act, emphasising patient rights, humane treatment, and better facility standards. The law, passed in 2017, banned outdated practices like direct electro-convulsive therapy for minors and mandated improved conditions in psychiatric wards. While some provisions—such as independent patient admission—remained contentious, the Act marked a monumental shift from colonial-era laws, prioritising dignity and care.
A Legacy of Hope and Change
Bakhshy’s journey culminated in his book, Mental Illness and Care-giving, a guide for families navigating similar struggles. His story is a testament to the power of personal experience in driving systemic change. While challenges remain, families like the Bakhshys remind us that compassion, advocacy, and reform can transform even the most difficult journeys into beacons of hope for others.
🗣️ Stories that Matter
Journalist Radhika Bhirani bravely shares her journey through multiple miscarriages, infertility, and gestational diabetes before finally experiencing motherhood. Her story highlights the emotional complexities of pregnancy loss, societal stigma, and the importance of hope, support, and open conversations—encouraging women to share their struggles and find strength in solidarity.
Sikkim became India’s first 100% organic state through visionary leadership, starting in 2003 with a ban on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The Sikkim Organic Mission trained farmers, provided support, and improved infrastructure. By 2015, all farmland was organic, boosting incomes, tourism, biodiversity, and earning global recognition for sustainable agriculture.
Babli By Night, a documentary by 23-year-old Neel Soni, explores the life of Babban, a Muslim trans forest guard in rural Uttarakhand living with HIV/AIDS. The film sensitively portrays queer struggles and has been long-listed for the 2025 BAFTA Student Awards, highlighting rarely-seen stories from India’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Hyderabad struggled with overflowing garbage dumps. Today, the city leads India in waste management, thanks to a network of ‘swachh autos’, advanced processing at Jawahar Nagar, and circular economy principles. Managed by Re Sustainability, Hyderabad turns waste into compost, energy, and recycled materials, setting a national example.
💡Do you know what day it is!
World Turtle Day, A day dedicated to raising awareness about the protection and conservation of turtles and tortoises.
🔖 Quote of the day
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."
In the final words of Today’s India, we trust that you have been encouraged by the beautiful stories that have lifted the country up. Be it the startups or old practices to more sociable stories making sure that no one is left behind, there is always a sense of progress and oneness.
As we take these strides, let’s make sure we promote kindness, creativity, and teamwork. And till the next time; may you take pleasure in bringing happiness and inquisitiveness in your day to day activities!
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