Sitare Zameen Pe: A Tribute to a Geneticist from my Mentorship Journey

Last weekend, I took my daughter to watch ‘Sitare Zameen Pe’ (2025), and it was such an endearing watch.

A poignant message so beautifully packaged with humour, with the so-called ‘tingu’ basketball coach Gulshan, as the metaphorical mirror of our society as to how most of us view the specially-abled.

While we laughed at Gulshan, we all know, deep down, most of us have an attitude like his, and we need subtle yet profound lessons to steer us in the right direction. This path we can embark on only when the need for a positive change comes from within.

However, this is not about the film review; this article is a tribute to a very special mentee who, during our mentorship journey, deepened my understanding of Down Syndrome and special needs parenting through a more accepting and empowering prism.

When Kartar Paaji would patiently explain the condition to Gulshan, it was so endearing. It was so beautifully explained that it reminded me of one of my mentees, Dr Shruti Bajaj, who explained Down Syndrome exactly like this during our writing mentorship sessions.

Writing Mentorship with one of India’s leading geneticists

Several years ago, in 2018, I had the golden opportunity to mentor Dr Shruti Bajaj, Director & Consultant Clinical Geneticist, The Purple Gene Clinic, Mumbai. During her time in my Writing Mentorship Program, we ventured on one of the most enriching journeys I’ve experienced.

It was one of the most enriching few months where I got to learn so much about people with special needs.

Luckily, our mentorship coincided with March 21st, which is celebrated as World Down Syndrome Day, and Dr Shruti wanted to write about this topic that she holds very dear to her heart.

Why doctors chose my writing mentorship programs

During my mentorship years, I’ve mentored several doctors, and it’s not that they’re bad at writing, as they claimed when they joined my writing mentorship program. You see, as medical professionals/ doctors are required to write numerous theses, research papers, and case studies, they can do so with less effort when writing within their medical fraternity.

The challenge sometimes arises when doctors have to write for the masses, when they want to reach out to a broader audience beyond the four walls of the medical fraternity. They aim to create awareness and simplify medical jargon, enabling them to better help and connect with patients and their families. They want to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and public understanding—making the information available in a compassionate and accessible language.

Writing about Down Syndrome

So, during our mentorship course, Dr Shruti wrote this brilliantly informative piece “Looking ‘Down’ to myths and opinions- World Down Syndrome Day” and in her words, “I take the onus upon myself to dispel the fog around this condition, and create some clarity and awareness about this ‘not-so-rare’ disease.”

When you read through this article, you will see how sensitively and simply Dr Shruti has explained the condition of Down Syndrome. She sheds light on why Down Syndrome happens, how it manifests, and what the myths surrounding this condition are.

One aspect of my mentorship is that I always ask my mentees, “Why do you want to write about this topic? What do you hope to achieve?”

For Dr Shruti, as she wrote this piece, “Ultimately, it is the parents’ prerogative to take a decision regarding the continuation of a pregnancy diagnosed as having Down Syndrome. As Clinical Geneticists, we offer the ‘complete picture’ to the family and empower the parents to make further decisions. I will end the write-up with clarifying one last myth. Down Syndrome is named after Dr John Langdon Down, who first described this medical condition and its cause. A parent once asked me, “Is it that this condition is called Down syndrome, as an antonym to Up? Signifying that my child is a little less privileged, a little less of an achiever, in any way?” Calmly nullifying the thought and bruising a hurt esteem due to the countless prejudices faced in her day-to-day life, I firmly told her a NO. After sharing the truth of how the condition gets its name, I suggested that your child may be Down, but he is never OUT!”

Dr Shruti and I had a wonderful time learning together. I thank her immensely for trusting me and allowing me to guide her along the writing mentorship process. At the same time, she enlightened me about this subject.

She’s a brilliant story teller, if you have the time, give this piece a read and you’ll be amazed at her observation skills of writing this story as a part of her assignment on a tissue paper at a restaurant and sprucing it up before submitting it – When stories unfold – The Lady with the Red Wine.

Today, when I watched the film ‘Sitaare Zameen Pe’, I could help explain this condition to my daughter, who listened and watched with rapt attention. Since the narrative was so positive and uplifting, the film gently edged us to be more accepting of this condition.

And I thank Dr Shruti for this write-up several years ago that made me understand this condition in a more accepting and humane manner that uplifts and empowers, and not from a sympathetic view.

The Write Compass isn’t about perfect grammar or fancy words — it’s about thinking clearly, communicating better, and growing through writing. Whether you love writing, fear it, or avoid it — if you believe it could help you think better, speak better, or lead better — come, let’s explore that journey together. Connect with us over a Discovery Call and let’s chalk out a mentorship plan that’s best suited for you at The Write Compass.