A. PICHAI loved to play cricket as a small boy. He first discovered that he was affected with Leprosy when he was only twelve years old. He says that the hardest thing about having Leprosy, is the loss of his fingers on both of his hands. These are very obvious scars left by this awful disease. In his community, he was not allowed to even enter a bus. He will never accept the idea of accomplishing less than his full potential.
The thought of becoming an artist makes him feel proud. Since he has become an artist, he has forgotten past sadness and loves proving to everyone that even a man with no fingers can paint small animals. Now, he enjoys painting landscapes. Much of his inspiration comes from sacred cows. His favorite color is blue.
With his new skill, he has paid school fees for his grandson. He hopes that someday, his grandson will become an electronic engineer. He supports a total of four family members in addition because of the sales of his beautiful art.
For the lucky ones who purchase his art, he would like them to know that if a man with Leprosy and no fingers can paint, anyone can do something to make the world a better place. When asked what he would like to be doing five years from now, he replied,“I would like to be alive!“



Colony: Bharathapuram
Name: A. PICHAI
Sex: male
Date and place of birth: Chettikulam
Age: 67
Brothers: 1
Sisters: 1
Married: no
Wife's name:
Children:
Year of infection: 1948
When did you come in the colony: 1948
You live with the family in the colony:
Why:
The family live in
Have you ever painted before: No
Why do you want to learn painting: because of the stipend available
Specials:
Are you happy to stop begging and start painting, if yes why: Yes
[/color1]Pichai died in 2009. We miss him.