How this Mumbai mom learnt swimming for her autistic daughter, a record-breaking swimmer

Rachana Rai left her job to support her daughter, but she has no regrets (Photos Courtesy: Rachana Rai)

When Mumbai-based Jiya Rai, a girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder, became the youngest and fastest para-swimmer in the world to successfully swim across the English Channel in 2024 at the mere age of 16, the world hailed her achievement.

Interestingly, a lesser-known aspect of her success is that of her mother's efforts. While both parents took the initiative, the teen's mother went beyond the ordinary to learn swimming, only so that she could teach her daughter the skill. While she couldn't predict the future, Rachana Rai made sure she left no stone unturned to help her daughter. After all, they have come a long way since her birth.

Embracing her daughter's autism diagnosis
When 44-year-old Rai, who was an organic chemistry teacher, gave birth to Jiya in 2008, little did she know that her life would change after her daughter's autism diagnosis. "At the time, I was balancing my work, which included a teaching job at a school and tuitions for students of eighth and ninth grade, along with my responsibilities as a mother. However, on Jiya's second birthday, we observed that her behaviour was different than other kids. She used to play with toys differently. She wasn't able to speak by then. After several tests, doctors told us that she had autism," the Colaba resident shares.

"My husband (Madan Rai, an Indian Navy officer) and I are both educated, but we knew nothing about the condition. We were informed that we'll have to take support of therapies, and Jiya will always have to be dependent on others," she adds.

While it took some time and research for the parents to understand the condition, Rachana refused to abide by comments that wanted to make her believe that Jiya would never have a career. She explains, "My life changed as a mother at that point. But I believed that if God has given this life, there might be a reason. I decided that I will listen to advice and take help from others, but I won't accept that my child won't have a career." After her daughter's autism diagnosis, Rachana left her job at the school in 2011 but continued to give tuitions, but even that was about to change.

Changing people's perception
The Mumbaikar gave birth to her second child - a son - in 2012, while also taking care of her daughter and managing work. It didn't get easier as gradually, people started noticing Jiya's mannerisms and passing negative comments. She expresses, "People would take their kids away from her, and say things like ‘Hume aapka bacha paagal lagta hai (We think your child is mad)'. Her admission in school was also challenging as we were told to enroll her in a special school. There's no problem with that, but I felt that communicating and mingling with kids who are not like her would bring a difference. So, we kept trying, and she was admitted on the condition that her progress would be reviewed in a year," the mother of two children reveals.

However, everyone there viewed her from a lens of sympathy only, until a swimming event at school changed things. The Mumbai mother shares, "When Jiya participated in the competition, she won two gold medals. People looked at her differently after that. Everyone clapped. I saw an opportunity and thought that she might finally get the respect she deserved through swimming."

This journey wasn't without challenges. While some swimming schools in Mumbai refused to enroll her, other trainers were unable to teach her in a way suitable to her learning process. Rachana found only one way out - to personally get involved in her daughter's swimming journey.

"I told the trainer, ‘You teach me, and I'll teach my child'. I was a complete non-swimmer. So, I learnt it step-by-step and started teaching her. I observed that visual cues are her strength, and she used to listen to me more than others. I taught her different strokes. I would show her swimming videos, and the visual aspect helped her," she says. Rachana stopped taking tuitions and dedicated her time to mentoring her daughter, and helping her son with studies.

In the process, she has given up so much, but did she ever regret giving up her job? "I did leave my job for her, but it's not a sad sacrifice. My husband and I both help train her, but I decided to give more time because she understands me better. Jiya won her first national swimming championship in 2019. Her awards include the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar in 2022 and the National Award for Disability in 2023, among many others. She has 39 gold medals in swimming. When I look at her achievements, I feel extremely proud. Yehi meri achievement hai, yehi mera profession hai, yehi meri salary hai (this is my achievement, this is my profession, this is my salary)," she expresses excitedly.

With a Master's degree in Organic Chemistry, Rachana did want to advance her career and become a scientist, but life had other plans. The best part is that she's not complaining. In fact, the Mumbai mother counts her blessings. "I remember one incident where we had gone to a temple. There, after praying to God, Jiya ne mere saamne haath joda (Jiya folded her hands in front of me). One lady told me that at a place of worship, she is keeping you at an equal pedestal as God, so never give up on her. That has stayed with me. I believe that we should instill so much ability in those with special needs that the disability takes a backseat," she concludes.

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