K. DAMODHARAN is sixty-eight. He has been living with the affects of Leprosy since the age of seven. He says the hardest part of his every - day life, is the loss of full use of his hands and his eyes. He used to feel sorry for himself and he once believed the awful and degrading things that people would tell him. He learned to adjust to what others say and is no longer surprised by the way people treat him. He knows he is bigger than this disease!
Damodharan joined the Bindu Art School shortly after its opening. He loves to improve and learn new techniques. His favorite color is dark blue. In the beginning, he would paint elephants, cows and houses. Now, he paints people since he has become an artist. He has also been able to stand on his own two feet and does not depend on begging for his sustenance. In five years he hopes to be recognized for his artistic talent and participate in competitions. To those who buy his paintings, he would like them to know his story and see him as a success and a role model.
Now, he has dreams and is working to make them come true. His greatest dream is to live a long life and travel all over India and hopefully, the world!



Colony: Bharathapuram
Name: K. DAMODHARAN
Sex: male
Date and place of birth: Pondicherry
Age: 67
Brothers: 4
Sisters: -
Married: unmarried
Husband’s name: -
Children: -
Year of infection: 1946
When did you come in the colony: 2003
You live with the family in the colony: No, I live in the old age home.
Why: Desease
The family live in I have no family
Have you ever painted before: No
Why do you want to learn painting: I like drawing, forgetting worry, forget family relation ship
Specials:
Are you happy to stop begging and start painting: yes