Underweight at birth but born with a sharp intellect
Kids should be allowed to grow up at their pace. It is not wise to interrupt them unnecessarily, and if need be, parents should change themselves instead of expecting the children to change. Such is the philosophy of Dr. Sumedha Bajpai, whose little daughter – Shashvika Bajpai (Paakhi) did get a certificate of appreciation from the India Book of Records on May 18, 2022, for her amazing memory and sharp mind.
Shashvika’s family lives in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Born on October 01, 2019, she was under-weight at birth and weighed only 1.7 kg. Being a premature baby, the first three months of her life were very difficult. Before her birth, the mother was in Surat, Gujarat, and used to recite Gita and Ramayana. Doctors had said that girls have more inner strength hence even if they are underweight, they soon become normal. The same happened in her case, that’s why Dr. Sumedha believes that the phrase Women’s Empowerment was technically wrong. Women are empowered from birth and they just need the right environment and good upbringing. Women don’t need further empowerment.
At the age of 2 years and 7 months only, Shashvika was able to identify 7 figures, 17 body parts, 10 colours, 7 celebrities, 11 vegetables, the alphabet from A to Z, 6 flowers, 8 vehicles, 6 national symbols, 8 Animal Sounds, and days of the week. Also, she could recite A to Z alphabet and Gayatri Mantra and she could draw 6 parts of the body very easily.
Dr. Sumedha has done a Ph.D. in Management from NIT Jaipur, and MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. She is a trainer by profession, while her husband Mr. Pranjal Bajpai is the DGM at Union Bank of India. In the sixth month of pregnancy, a conference was to be attended in Bangkok, but the doctor had warned of premature delivery, yet Dr. Sumedha decided to visit Bangkok. She tells that during the Covid period in March 2020, Shashvika unexpectedly started walking on her knees. The daughter was very mischievous from birth, whereas the 11-years-old son (Aaron or Pranshu is of a calm nature.
Dr. Sumedha does not work full time so that the child can be brought up properly. She believes that 90 percent of the growth of a child takes place by the age of 4 years. Shashvika has the freedom to understand things in her own way. She paints the walls of the house, applies toothpaste on the sofa, and sprinkles sugar all over the house. The husband gets upset, but Dr. Sumedha says that after a while the child herself would stop doing it. The child should be allowed to make up her mind. Posters and a blackboard have been put up in Shashvika’s room for educational purposes. She is learning fast and can even read the lift numbers in reverse order. Dr. Sumedha says that a five-year-old child can learn five languages with ease. Every child is talented in some way or the other, and parents just need to be aware.