J. JAYALAKSHMI is 28 years old. She has overcome much in her life. She remembers when she was three years old, all of the confusion surrounding the discovery of her diagnosis of Leprosy. She had no idea what Leprosy was or how the disease would change her life. Being such a young girl, she could not understand why she was forbidden to play with oter children. She wondered why God gave her this awful condition. Her parents never spoke to her about it and later abandoned her. She learned about Leprosy though horrible treatment and unkind exclusion in everyday life.
Before she became an artist, she did not know anything about drawing and painting! She has gradually learned and developed her own style improving so much, that now, she is one of the most popular artists at the Bindu School of Art. Yellow and green are her favorite colors. She says that her inspiration comes from her day to day experiences.
Since she has turned to art as a way to express her feelings, she has forgotten her sadness and family problems. Now, she supports a family of three with her income. In five years it is her goal to earn more money and perfect her new - found talents in art.
To the buyers, she would like them to forget about the disease and its debilitating affects. We all have ways that we can make a difference. She would like to begin a program of her own to help the elderly people in her colony.



Colony: Bharathapuram
Name: J. JAYALAKSHMI
Sex: female
Date and place of birth: 21st March 1980
Age: 28
Brothers: 1
Married: yes
Husband's name: Jayakumar
Children: 2 boys
Year of infection: 1985
When did you come in the colony: born and brought up here
You live with the family in the colony: yes
Why: we belong to this place
The family live in the Bharathapuram colony
Have you ever painted before: No
Why do you want to learn painting: for earning my livelihood
Specials:
Are you happy to stop begging and start painting: Yes, I love painting