When Varun Sawant laced up his shoes for the Tata Mumbai Marathon in 2020, he wasn’t just running a race—he was rewriting narratives. Diagnosed with autism at the age of 2.5, Varun today is a proud long-distance runner, a passionate baker, and a determined individual who doesn’t let labels define him. And in every step he runs, every cake he bakes, there is a quiet, steady message: I am possible.
“I enjoy running. It’s a passion,” Varun says. “I have fun running with my buddies at Malad Back Road, Chikoo Wadi and National Park. I feel strong when I run.”
His strength became visible to the wider world in 2020 when he completed his first major race with mentor Kaushik Bhatia. “We enjoyed,” Varun recalls with a smile. “I was happy with the medal. My college friends celebrated it. Harsha Bhogle tweeted about me. The newspapers had my picture.”
That moment became more than a personal win—it was a celebration of ability, resilience, and visibility. Since then, Varun has become the first autistic adult in India to run the Boston Marathon, and Asia’s first autistic adult to complete a full marathon. And yet, ask him how he feels about being called an inspiration, and he simply says:
“I’m just doing what I like. I’m grateful that people feel I’m an inspiration.”
A Mother’s Belief
For Mrs. Sawant, Varun’s mother, every step in this journey has been hard-won.
“Varun was echolalic and didn’t have conversation skills. Back then, all we wanted was to be addressed as Aai and Baba,” she shares. “But we respected his individuality, even when society didn’t.”
Over the years, she and her husband celebrated every milestone—big and small. From mainstream schooling to passing the 10th standard with no academic assistance, from interning at top hotels like ITC Maratha and Grand Hyatt, to receiving appreciation letters, to now running a cloud kitchen bakery, the achievements haven’t stopped. “It’s difficult to choose one,” she admits warmly.
More Than a Diagnosis
Varun doesn’t speak in long-winded monologues—and he shouldn’t have to. His words are clear, focused, and powerful.
“I feel fabulous. I am focused, determined and hardworking. Autism is just a part of me, it doesn’t define me.”
This kind of clarity is often overlooked in a world that prizes long, articulate answers as proof of intelligence. But as Mrs. Sawant points out, “Conversation is about being able to express—it could be in any form. Society has set norms about the good, better and best… it’s time we change that.”
And change begins with listening.
Rising Above Misunderstandings
Autism is a spectrum—and an invisible one at that. According to Mrs. Sawant, the biggest challenge is ignorance.
“People don’t know enough. It’s the most marginalised disability. In a country where success is tied to marks and speech, autistic children are often looked down upon. But trying to fix or cure autism is the most dangerous thing. We need inclusion—at schools, colleges, workplaces.”
Even as Varun faces occasional misunderstanding, his coping strategy is gentle but firm:
“I don’t pay attention. I be around people who I am comfortable with.”
He surrounds himself with people who see him—not just his diagnosis.
Baking, Independence, and Self-Worth
When Varun bakes, he thinks of both taste and health.
“Eating tasty food is good, but if it’s healthier, it’s better. Healthy food can be tasty.”
He now runs a cloud bakery that sells handmade muffins, cookies, and breads. At home, the Sawants encourage his independence while being quietly present.
“We only help when he needs it or when he asks for it,” says Mrs. Sawant. “That protects his self-esteem and his respect for himself.”
A Message for the World
Ask Varun what makes him feel strong, and he says, “Running. It’s accomplishing.”
But ask his mother what the world can learn from him, and her voice is full of pride and clarity.
“Autism is just a part of him, not everything he is. Personally, I’ve learned to live in the moment, like he does. Do 100%, be happy about it. Don’t compromise on hard work.”
And when asked what it means to see her son teach the world what’s possible, she smiles:
“I simply love his faith in the words—I M Possible.”
In His Own Time, In His Own Way
Some questions Varun didn’t answer—because he found them difficult, or perhaps, not necessary to say out loud. And that, too, is okay. His story is already rich with meaning.
From marathon medals to warm cookies, Varun Sawant is leading by example: focused, joyful, and uncompromisingly himself. Not despite his autism—but along with it.
And in doing so, he’s showing us what possibility truly looks like.
