A Mother’s Journey of Raising an Autistic Child

By Mariya Rajan

April 11, 2026

Antara Dey Chowdhury was a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force when her life changed course. In 2012, after her son Kabir was diagnosed with autism, she made the difficult decision to leave her military career to care for him full-time. What followed was years of navigating therapies, schools, and a system that offered little guidance to families raising autistic children. Five years ago, Antara faced another painful decision.

As Kabir grew older and his needs became more complex, she placed him in assisted living. The choice weighed heavily on her, even though he comes home often and remains at the centre of her life. The experience exposed how isolated many families feel and how few support structures exist for autistic adults and their caregivers. That turning point led Antara to act beyond her own family. In 2022, she co-founded Redili, an initiative that works with autistic individuals and their families.

The organisation focuses on helping autistic young adults develop practical skills and meaningful work, while also supporting mothers who often carry the weight of caregiving alone. Antara’s work grew out of difficult personal choices. What began as a mother trying to build a stable life for her son has evolved into a community that helps other families navigate the long journey of autism with dignity and support.