Latest news with #Viraj
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Against all odds, nonverbal autistic Brookline teen gets accepted into MIT
'Oh my God, Viraj,' his father cried out, overcome by joy, before reading out loud the sentence they were hoping they'd hear that day in March: 'On behalf of the admissions committee, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the MIT class of 2029.' While his father's excitement was visible, Viraj Dhanda appeared stoic, almost unresponsive. Inside, however, the teen beamed. The acceptance letter proved wrong every doubt others had about him. Then he smiled. Advertisement The Related : 'If you choose to go down the path I took, you will experience heartbreak, prejudice and doubt,' Dhanda, who communicates through a tablet, typed in an interview with the Globe. 'But it will pale in comparison with the joy of being able to have a voice.' Advertisement Sumit Dhanda, left, sits with his son, Viraj, at his family's home in Brookline on Monday. Viraj Dhanda, who is autistic and nonverbal, was accepted into MIT. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe At age 2, Dhanda was diagnosed with autism. He went through a variety of therapies and interventions, but he couldn't talk, and the adults around him believed he just had low intellectual ability. But when he was 10, a babysitter suggested an His first device looked like a lunchbox and had four buttons: yes, no, stop, and go. 'It was a huge flop. Viraj wanted to have nothing to do with it,' said Sumit Dhanda. Then he tried a dynamic device, which allowed Viraj Dhanda to access other commands and personalizable buttons, such as to request his favorite song or television show. The process was slow, but he eventually started pressing buttons to request pizza or to go to the park. Then, right before his 13th birthday, Dhanda had a breakthrough while watching a Netflix show called 'Super Why,' where animated superheroes spell out words. Related : 'The word 'waterfall' gets spoken out, and before the superhero really spells out the whole word, Viraj says, A, T, E, R, F, A,' Sumit said. 'I can't remember what the next word was because I was so stunned by what was happening. And he does the same thing, speaks out some letters to the extent that he can articulate them ahead of the word being spelled on the screen.' That was Sumit Dhanda's 'aha' moment, when he realized his son was capable of so much more. 'It was just an astonishing revelation,' his father said. 'He wasn't just bright, he was brilliant.' Advertisement A year later, Dhanda started working with letter boards to spell words. Eventually, he transitioned to a traditional keyboard. The first sentence Dhanda remembers typing was, 'I imagine I can speak.' 'It was so incredible to see all these feelings that he had in his head that he was never able to express,' Olivia Henning, his former babysitter and tutor who worked with Dhanda while she was a student at Boston University, said. 'He had a really strong spelling, way of writing,———— and speaking that just came from learning from constantly observing the world around him without being able to actually participate in it.' The journey to communicate took time. Dhanda struggles with fine motor skills stemming from a condition called apraxia, which affects the brain's ability to coordinate movement. The teen now communicates through a Lenovo tablet with a 10-inch screen and regular keyboard. He types using his right thumb only, producing about eight to 10 words per minute. As Dhanda started to communicate using full sentences, his father decided to have him tested again. This time, he scored in the 99 percentile of a neuropsychological test, suggesting he was ready to take college-level math, his father said. Viraj Dhanda during his graduation ceremony from Fusion Academy Newton. He is a nonverbal autistic student who was accepted into MIT. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff It was only in the past few years that Dhanda's academic skills flourished as he found support from educators at attended traditional public schools, but Sumit Dhanda said they didn't fully accommodate his needs. Educators often wanted the child to focus on functional skills rather than academic ones, his father said. Advertisement 'At first, I wasn't necessarily sure if this was a student that we could take on,' said Jessica Pechhold, head of school at Fusion Academy Newton. After evaluating Viraj, the school created a personalized plan for him and matched him with teachers willing to develop lesson plans with rigor above their usual curriculum, Pechhold said. 'I've heard from all of his teachers how much he's able to express himself, and they're able to see his brilliance, his insights, his perspective and opinions,' she said. 'The challenge really may not be as insurmountable as it appears.' Dhanda quickly dove into his fascination with numbers. Calculus became his favorite subject. 'Calculus allows me to apply math to real-world problems like optimizing the dimensions of a rectangular shipping box or a cylindrical can,' he said. 'I loved how Fusion immediately embraced my intellect and welcomed me with open arms.' The teen nearly aced the ACT college entrance exam, scoring a 35 out of 36. He graduated high school Friday in an intimate ceremony where one veteran teacher described him as 'both the most disabled and the most accomplished student I've ever taught.' Dhanda will take a gap year but plans to join MIT in the fall of 2026. The father and son duo will move to Cambridge together. While the teen is still deciding what to study in college, he sees his future self as an economist, a writer, or a disability advocate. 'There is hope,' the teen said, 'despite what the experts may have told you.' Marcela Rodrigues can be reached at
News18
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Comedian Viraj Ghelani's Nani Gets A Surprise Visit From Her Fav, Rupali Ganguly
Last Updated: Viraj's grandmother is known to be a huge admirer of Anupamaa and Rupali, and the content creator captured the moment. Rupali Ganguly, renowned for her exquisite role as Anupamaa in the popular daily soap, continues to win over audiences with her stellar acting. However, it's her recent off-screen gesture that has truly melted hearts. Despite her demanding schedule, Rupali made time to visit the ailing grandmother of content creator Viraj Ghelani, a passionate fan of both the actress and her show. This heartfelt act showcased Rupali's genuine care for her admirers, leaving a lasting impact. Viraj captured the emotional moment and shared it on Instagram, posting a series of touching photos of Rupali spending quality time with his grandmother. In his caption, he wrote, 'When Rupali learned about Nani's health struggles, she regularly checked in with me over calls to ensure everything was okay. Yesterday, she carved out time from her busy shoot to visit our home in Kandivali. Nani was thrilled, like a child meeting her superhero. Thank you, Rupali, for this unforgettable joy!" A video showed Rupali chatting, joking, and holding Nani's hand, offering the warmth and attention every fan dreams of. This gesture underscores why Rupali remains a beloved figure both on and off the screen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viraj Ghelani (@viraj_ghelani) Last year, Viraj shared a heartfelt video of his grandma crying after viewing a scene from the popular TV series. In the video, Viraj's grandma is seen having an emotional moment after Rupali's character Anupamaa is involved in an accident. Viraj assures her that it is only acting and not real. Later, he goes above and beyond, calling Rupali Ganguly and requesting that she talk with his grandma directly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Meanwhile, Rupali is one of the highest-paid actresses on television, and Anupamaa has consistently been in the top five on the TRP charts since its debut in 2020. The show is keeping fans glued with intense drama lately. With Anupamaa leaving the house to start a new life, the following episodes will be packed with emotional moments, unexpected turns, and heartbreaking decisions that will keep fans on the tip of their seats. First Published:
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Viraj Gehani shares Rupali Ganguly's sweet gesture as she meets his grandmother who is a fan of Anupamaa
, beloved star of the hit show Anupamaa, recently made headlines not for a performance, but for a deeply touching gesture that showcases the warmth behind her on-screen persona. The actress took time out of her hectic shooting schedule to visit the ailing grandmother of popular content creator Viraj Ghelani—who happens to be a devoted fan of Anupamaa. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Viraj shared the heartfelt moment with fans on social media, posting several pictures and videos capturing the pure joy on his grandmother's face. 'The moment @rupaliganguly got to know Nani is not doing good with her health, she followed up regularly on call with me and made sure everything was going good,' Viraj wrote. He further added, 'Yesterday, the moment she could squeeze time from shoot, she came home to Kandivali and spent some time with Nani and Nani—oh my god—she was soo happy, she was like a kid meeting her favourite superhero… Lots of love and thank you.' In the shared clips, Rupali is seen warmly chatting and laughing with Viraj's grandmother, holding her hand and giving her the kind of attention that only a true fan would dream of. It's clear the actress made a lasting impression—both on the family and her fan base online. Fans praised the actress for her compassion, highlighting how she mirrors the nurturing and empathetic character she plays on screen. Rupali Ganguly's sweet gesture is a reminder of how small acts of kindness can have a profound impact—especially when they come from those in the spotlight. This visit wasn't just a fan meeting their favorite star—it was a beautiful reminder of humanity, humility, and the power of connection.
News18
31-05-2025
- Health
- News18
'Was A 15-Minute Procedure': 4-Year-Old Dies After 'Minor' Surgery, Family Alleges Negligence
Last Updated: The family said that the child was admitted to SK Jain Hospital in Delhi for a minor operation A four-year-old boy died after a 'minor" surgery at a hospital in East Delhi's Pandav Nagar on Thursday, with officials confirming that his family has alleged medical negligence. According to the family, Viraj Sharma was admitted to SK Jain Hospital for a minor operation. However, within an hour of being hospitalised, he was declared dead. 'He would have gone to Class 1 next year. They (doctors) told us it was just a 15-minute procedure," Viraj's father, Gaurav Sharma was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. The family added that on May 22, doctors had advised some tests to assess whether Viraj was fit to undergo the procedure. According to the boy's father, the test results came back normal, and the doctors gave the go-ahead for the operation. 'On May 28, the doctor told me to bring my son the next morning. On Thursday, around 8 am, I took my son to the hospital. At 8:40 am, they took him to the Operation Theater and told me that it would be done in 15 minutes," said Gaurav, a graphic designer employed at a Noida-based software company. Gaurav said he waited outside the operation theatre until 9:15 am before receiving any information. 'The doctors said they had given him an injection before the operation, which has caused some reactions. They said he was breathing heavily and that his condition is critical," he recalled. He was then taken into the OT, where, according to him, doctors were using electrical pumps on his son's chest. Shortly after, he was informed that Viraj needed to be transferred to another hospital. 'My son's nose was bleeding, his nails were blue, and his body was cold. He was not moving at all. Still, I took him to Makar Hospital with one last hope," he said. At Makar Hospital, doctors conducted an initial examination and declared the child dead. A police complaint has been lodged at the Pandav Nagar police station, and Sharma has also submitted a written complaint to the DCP East District office. Police confirmed that a post-mortem was conducted on Friday, and the findings are awaited to determine whether medical negligence was involved. 'We have constituted a medical board and the inquiry will start as soon as the post-mortem results are in," said DCP (East) Abhishek Dhania. First Published:
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
4-year-old dies after operation at East Delhi hospital, family alleges negligence; inquiry launched: Cops
A medical board has been constituted after a four-year-old boy died at a hospital in East Delhi's Pandav Nagar on Thursday, and his family alleged medical negligence, said police. Viraj Sharma, the child, was admitted to the SK Jain Hospital on Thursday for a minor operation, said his family. Within an hour of the hospitalisation, however, he was declared dead. 'He would have gone to Class 1 next year. They (doctors) told us it was just a 15-minute procedure,' said Viraj's father, Gaurav Sharma (39). On May 22, doctors recommended some tests for Viraj to see if he was fit for the procedure, the family said. The test results, his father said, were normal, and the doctors had agreed to conduct the operation. 'On May 28, the doctor told me to bring my son the next morning. On Thursday, around 8 am, I took my son to the hospital. At 8:40 am, they took him to the Operation Theater and told me that it would be done in 15 minutes,' recounted Gaurav, who works as a graphic designer at a Noida-based software company. Gaurav waited outside the operation theatre till 9:15 am before he heard an update. 'The doctors said they have given him an injection before the operation, which has caused some reactions. They said he was breathing heavily and that his condition is critical,' said Gaurav. Gaurav was then taken to the OT, where, he said, doctors were pumping his son's chest with electrical pumps. He was then told that Viraj had to be shifted to another hospital. 'My son's nose was bleeding, his nails were blue, and his body was cold. He was not moving at all. Still, I took him to Makar Hospital with one last hope,' he said. At Makar Hospital, where the child was taken, after initial examination, the doctors declared him dead. A police complaint has been filed at the Pandav Nagar police station. Sharma has also written to the DCP East District office. The police said a post-mortem was done on Friday, and the results are awaited to ascertain if it is a case of medical negligence. 'We have constituted a medical board and the inquiry will start as soon as the post-mortem results are in,' DCP (East) Abhishek Dhania said. In a statement, Dr Ankit Jain, who was overseeing the treatment of Viraj at the SK Jain Hospital, told The Indian Express that the postmortem report was awaited to ascertain the cause of the death. 'After the inquiry, only we will know the exact reason for the death,' he said.
