Originally reported and written in March 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Anjor, a sleepy fishing village, is the site of the popular Mahalasa festival. The festival is happening on the last leg of 10-year-old Sara’s trip to Anjor, where she has gone to visit her cousins Avi (15), Noor (8) and Shreya (12). One of the events during this festival is the ‘Lemon and Spoon’ race, and the organiser is calling out for participants. 

The race involves a participant holding a spoon in their mouth with a piece of lemon on it and till the finish line they aren’t allowed to let it fall off. When Ajay (father to Avi, Noor and Shreya) goes to register Sara, Noor and Shreya for the race, the first two reject the idea entirely. 

Shreya, however, raises her hand to participate in the race much to everyone’s surprise. 

After all, Shreya has Down Syndrome, a condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome, resulting in significant developmental challenges. Her condition, however, doesn’t stop her from attempting new challenges. Participating in the race with 24 other neurotypical children, Shreya doesn’t get off to a good start. Despite repeated attempts, she is unable to place the lemon on her spoon as the other participants have marched ahead. 

Take one step, and the piece of lemon would come tumbling down. This happens multiple times and soon the cousins watching from the sidelines hear jeers and muffled laughter from the audience. Sara and Noor, meanwhile, fear what those jeers may do to Shreya’s confidence. But Shreya doesn’t wilt under pressure. After her 100th attempt, she finally makes the walk towards the finish line with Sara, Noor, Avi, their parents and the crowd egging her on.

Shreya refuses to bow down before the notion that those born with an extra chromosome like her are any less than others. She didn’t join the race to win, but participate and be a part of something new. As she crosses the finish line much to the delight of everyone present, a six-year-old boy called Neil asks her how she did it. After this conversation, Neil then invites Shreya to a housewarming party his parents are hosting for the neighbourhood children. 

Mind you, just a few days earlier, Shreya wasn’t invited to the party, while her sibling Noor did receive one. Shreya’s mother Shivani receives this news with much happiness and surprise. 

This is only one example of Shreya’s fortitude. But the incident, fishing village, festival and cousin Sara are fictitious creations in the book Extra: Extra Chromosome, Extra Love by award-winning children’s author Archana Mohan and illustrator Prarthana Merchant. However, there is nothing imaginary about Shreya, her siblings Noor and Avi, their mother Shivani Dhillon, an award winning social entrepreneur and India Inclusion Summit Fellow for 2022, and father Ajay. 

Narrated through the character of Sara, it’s a heart-warming tale of how these siblings solve the mystery of ‘The Moon’s Third Eye’ in Anjor with the indomitable Shreya leading the way, combining elements of love, compassion, courage, fortitude and acceptance of persons with conditions like Down Syndrome. This children’s book was published earlier this month by Bengaluru-based Bookosmia, a leading Indian publisher “for kids, by kids”, spread across 150 locations. It’s part of their ‘Not That Different’ imprint (initiative), which the publisher argues is led by children to understand and embrace neurodiversity, as well as drive inclusion.  

Understanding Down Syndrome

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small ‘packages’ of genes in the body. They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during........

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