With the support of his friends, he managed to recoup. Tiwari also tried to find support groups in the country to help him cope better. “There were many such groups internationally. But I don’t speak English as well as they do. So, whenever they would talk about their emotions, I couldn’t understand it, let alone express it,” he recalls. Therefore, in August 2017, Tiwari started the AARUS (Ability to achieve your Responsibility with Unity and Support) Foundation based out of Kandivali. On World Vitiligo Day that falls today, he is organising an event that aims to spread vitiligo awareness, after a series of week-long activities that had people making posters and sharing selfies and motivational videos on social media.

Akash Tiwari

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.76%

AAP 43.10%

INC 24.14%

Submit

View All In Poll

The main event today will include talks by vitiligo model Shefali Sharma and actor and ally Rekha Rana, while Tiwari will perform a rap song titled, I am happy to have vitiligo. The evening will include a play and poetry session by participants. “I work part-time as a promoter for an organic products brand, so 80 per cent of this is self-funded. My goal is to tell people that colour doesn’t matter,” Tiwari concludes.

On: Today,2 pm to 6 pm
At: Terapanth Bhavan, Gokul Garden VWX, Kandivali East.
Call: 9930259228

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates