What does it mean to show up for someone you love when the path ahead is turbulent and unclear?

In this episode, Ira talks to Amrit Bakshy about his journey as a father to a daughter living with Schizophrenia. He reflects on the early days — when information was scarce, fear was high, and every decision was consequential and how all those experiences slowly reshaped his life, his priorities, and his own understanding.

Over time, his personal journey grew: doing his best to support his own child, helping other families walking similar paths. It’s a conversation about learning as you go and what it can look like to care deeply in the face of uncertainty.

Because even in uncertainty, curiosity means hope.

00:00 Intro — A Father’s Role as Caregiver  

01:37 When His Daughter’s Illness First Appeared  

05:50 Learning about Schizophrenia With No Information available  

08:55 Medication Struggles & Early Treatment Mistakes  

12:00 Turning to Faith, Stigma & Family Strain  

14:30 Moving Cities to Support Long-Term Care  

17:05 Finding the Right Medication & Stability  

19:50 Life Now — Ongoing Care & Future Worries  

21:50 Living Without Shame or Hiding the Illness  

27:15 It’s the Illness, Not the Person  

41:40 When a Loved One Refuses Treatment  

49:25 Why Medication Is Often Non-Negotiable  

51:40 The Importance of Early Intervention  

52:50 Hope, Awareness & Support in Schools  

54:00 Emotional Hygiene Exercise & Closing  

For more information, click here.

CREDITS:

Host: Ira Khan 

Agatsu Foundation Team 

Research: Rohini Sen 

Art Design: Neeta Borkar

Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha 

Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha 

Visual Designer: Alika Gupta

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar 

Editorial Assistance: Devanshi Chandak, Rachna Sukuru

Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni

Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Recorded at Grey Spark Audio Academy, Pune