Delhi: Bipolar man to be judge, father recalls struggle

NEW DELHI: Bhavya Nain, 36, has been an achiever throughout his life. He was a top ranker in Class 12. So, his father, advocate Kawal Nain, wasn't surprised when he learned of his son's ambition to become either a judge or a professor.
He chose to pursue law and was well on his way to realise his ambition when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. His father glosses over those details but such a diagnosis can shatter both patient and family.
Mental well-being is no longer a taboo subject, but it was in 2010, at the age of 25, that Bhavya was diagnosed and sought medical counselling and treatment. "He has faced quite a battle on that front. Notwithstanding that, he cleared his LLM as one of the toppers," Kawal told TOI.
Eight years later, he cleared the Delhi Judicial Service Examination in the category of persons with disability. It, however, took him another three years to fight the system and engage in a legal battle. On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed him to join the service, with his seniority intact, after the Delhi high court, too, had ruled in his favour.
The high court administration had earlier declared him unfit to discharge his duties and also pointed out that his disability was not found to be permanent and that it had been in remission since 2018.
Any mental illness label comes after a painstaking diagnosis. Mood swings for one can be taken as errant but normal behaviour for a long time and neither the person nor the parents are willing to go down that road. That could be one of the signs of a bipolar disorder among many. You could experience extreme high at one time and extreme low at another. You could feel anxious, show impulsive behaviour and have low self-esteem. All this and much else can come in the way of your studies, work and relationships.
It is only when you feel the pain of disruption that you may be ready to seek medical counselling. Medication and counselling help in not only managing the disease but also improving your quality of life. Cognitive behavioural therapy can help you cope and improve your executive skills. And Bhavya's journey so far shows that early interventions, persistence and support from your family can go a long way in helping you lead a successful life.
"The apex court has given a wonderful judgment, a path-breaking one. It will go a long way in giving the message to people, especially to those with disabilities, that notwithstanding your disability, you can excel in your field," said Kawal. Beaming with pride, he said, "My son is naturally quite happy. As a father, it's the biggest achievement I could have had. I am a practising lawyer. My son wanted to be a judge or a professor. He worked as an assistant professor at Amity Law School and did a wonderful job. He edited two books in a short duration while working there. At his age and with his illness, it was a very rare thing to do," he said.
In fact, even while studying, Bhavya joined his father at work. "He worked as a real engine behind me, doing research work and assisting me in drafting the pleadings and researching the law. He also worked as a law clerk in the Supreme Court and did very well," recalled Kawal. That experience helped him in clearing the exams. "If you have a disability, you have to work harder. You have to learn how to live with your disability. He has been working with me for nine years. In between, he joined as a law professor," Kawal remarked.
Bhavya is always busy researching and studying law and helping out his father. When he is not buried in work, he loves to watch cricket. "I think the Supreme Court's order will convince others that they also can contribute to nation-building. Every person has an equal right to contribute in his own way to nation-building. We can really grow. My advice to all is never get discouraged. The only motivation is 'you can'. Once you have worked that out, all your energy works to make it happen," he said.
Kawal underlined the need for a good doctor and a supportive family to overcome your disability. "The family plays a very important role in the life of people dealing with mental illnesses. If your family supports you, you can come out very fast. The Supreme Court has rightly observed in the order that such issues are to be dealt with sensitivity. People with disabilities are not to be treated differently. They are a part of society. Once you cross the threshold, nothing should stop a person from joining the mainstream," he added.
Kawal feels that the Mental Health Act, 2016 has opened the doors for such people. "People with disabilities have their limitations. They don't know their rights, they don't know how to go about realising them. The Act made a provision for awareness programmes. If these awareness programmes are carried out at regular intervals and people come to know about their rights, it can really bring about a change in society... It's an area where society has to work so that all those persons who suffer can live their lives with dignity," he said.