Kerala boy with Down Syndrome fights against all odds to become a chef

A baby boy was born in Kerala at just six months of pregnancy on January 13, 2004, and he was named Gabriel. The person who named the child gave an explanation too – ‘A person who came to give pain to the mother’. And whenever Thrissur-native Rajani looked into the eyes of her son Gabriel or took care of him, those piercing words would ring in her ears. She was in an abyss of despair when fingers were pointed at her and when the sword of ostracism hung over her head. Rajani did two things to save her family during the time of crisis.

Firstly, the family, consisting of Rajani, her husband Francis, Gabriel, and her eldest son Efrayim, who was 15 months older than Gabriel, decided to share a bed and go to sleep by hugging each other. Secondly, the family decided to cook together every Sunday because they were not invited to most of the celebrations. This concerted effort helped the quartet to brew happiness and peel off the pain. 

Trial and tribulation 
Like all children with Down syndrome, Gabriel had difficulty holding things and eating food independently. But the ‘Sunday kitchen’ was the perfect training school for Gabriel to do everything without any help. Gabriel had sustained kitchen knife injuries, but he rarely cried, as people with Down syndrome have decreased perception of pain. Rajani would know about the injury only when there is bleeding. 

It was an uphill task to teach Gabriel to hold a knife. Sometimes it would take him hours to peel an onion. He loves black tea with a dash of lemon. With Gabriel learning to squeeze a lemon, the whole process served as therapy, helping him hold things with his hands. When Efrayim left for Bengaluru to pursue a course in hotel management, Gabriel shared his desire to become a chef. As he is speech-impaired, Gabriel expressed his yearning, in his own language, to wear a coat and tie, like his brother, to become a chef. 

Paving a tasty path 
After Gabriel completed Class XII, Rajani took him to NIMHANS in Bengaluru to equip him with the skills to perform the necessary cutting and slicing for cooking. He was enrolled in the Lavonne Institute to learn the ropes of baking. In a bid to get admission to a reputed catering institute, the mom-son duo had to visit nearly 16 colleges in and outside Kerala. For some, they were an object of ridicule. Though other colleges were willing to give admission, Gabriel was not happy. Later, Rajani and Gabriel went to Munnar Catering College, which was tucked away in the Munnar hills. The college authorities were more than glad to give admission, but with the caveat that Rajani had to stay on the campus. 

A special assembly was convened to inform other students about Gabriel’s arrival. An exceptional student is joining the college, but that person is no different from others, the students were told. A notice board in Rajani and Gabriel's room had photos of Gabriel cooking, with the heading ‘His Excellence’. There were news reports about Gabriel, along with a sticker ‘Master Chef Gabriel’, and a quote from Walt Disney. “All our dreams can come true if we dare to pursue them.” 

November 2025, Suryanelli
While standing on the campus of Munnar Catering College, Rajani has a word of advice. “The kitchen is the best therapy unit for special children as it is a laboratory to test all human senses.” At that time, Gabriel, with his customary special smile, is dealing with the heat of the kitchen with a cool head, peeling garlic with a knife, slicing ginger, kneading dough and mastering cooking without devouring theory books. 

It may be noted that many specially-abled children are studying in various streams of hotel management. But Gabriel is one of the few special-needs students who are into cooking. He was over the moon when he got his elder brother Efrayim’s uniform – black suit and tie. 

Gabriel, the Gentleman 
In his childhood, Gabriel couldn’t control saliva in his mouth with his lips. He gained control over his lip following therapy using burning candles. Now, Gabriel wakes up in the morning, takes a shower, shaves and dresses immaculately before leaving for college. He cleans the washroom without fail and irons clothes. He also cleans the room and spreads the bed sheet like in a hotel. But two ‘knots’ are still evading him – the tie knot and the shoelace knot. 

From dancing to swimming 
The ingredients used in baking should be weighed accurately to ensure optimal taste and texture. Surprisingly, Gabriel doesn’t need a weighing scale as his hands are more than enough to gauge the weight of the ingredients. Though he can’t count, his mind math is exemplary. If a time is set for any task, his invisible mind clock starts to click with the accuracy of a traditional clock. 

“The focal point of the campus is undoubtedly Gabriel. He goes for a dip in the swimming pool on most days. His presence attracts other students to the pool. He also hits the gym regularly. And Rajani is a mother to all students on the campus. The arrival of Gabriel has ushered in some positive change in the campus,” notes Chef George Chacko, College principal. “There are many restaurants run by people with Down syndrome in foreign countries. What you need while serving food is a beaming smile, and these people naturally have a captivating smile,” he adds. 

“He is in a different league altogether. He does everything with a perfect touch. Boredom will be a thing of the past if Gabriel is in the class, as he has a great vibe,” says close friend and classmate Sharon. Gabriel is an ideal example of inclusive education. He never needed any consideration as a special child, says Mahitha, who is studying cooking after completing a course in social work. 

Rajani believes her son has developed verbal communication skills. Gabriel has shown emotional growth, as he knows how to build friendships and sometimes picks fights with friends, she adds. Gabriel is gearing up to compete in the National Para Swimming Championship, to be held at the Balayogi Aquatic Complex in Hyderabad from November 15 to 18. 

Find the way
Children with special needs are a concern for many parents, and Rajani has a few tips to help overcome this challenge and keep worries at bay. These children have loads of talent, and it's time to zero in on the right flair. There is vocational therapy after Class X. Instead of degree courses, take a professional course route to become self-sustaining, notes Rajani, who studied cooking and psychology to help her son. 

One obvious question is whether parents in lower-income groups can find such a solution. And Rajani leads by example. She availed a loan of Rs 3 lakh at an interest rate of 4 per cent from the State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation to educate her son. Now she is repaying the central portion of the loan using the pension for people with disabilities. Gabriel is learning to live in this harsh world. He is into cooking, housekeeping, ironing and whatnot with a warm smile on his face.