Y. UMA was a happy little girl who loved helping her mother and playing with her siblings. When she was nine, her hands became limited in movement and it became more and more difficult for her to do even simple tasks. She had Leprosy. She was no longer treated with respect and was forced to leave her family. This was very hard for her at such young age. She believed she would never marry or be able to paint again.
Now, she is thirty-five. She is married and an accomplished artist! When she first began coming to the Bindu Art School, she painted very small and used little color. Her paintings have improved over time. She learned to paint larger, more vivid pictures. She loves colors. Her favorite color to paint with is yellow - it reminds her of her youth. Uma is inspired by her own ability to improve and progress as an artist. Now she is able to help provide for her family with the profits earned at the school. She ist the most profitable of all the artists. She has had so much success, that in three years, she will leave the school and start a business of her own. She hopes to acquire many contacts and inspire new artists with her work.
One thing she would like the buyers to understand, is how to learn to recognize the accomplishments of the artists because of their hard work and efforts and see the beauty of the work for what it is – not the disease that the artist happens to be afflicted with.


Colony: Bharathapuram
Name: Y. UMA
Sex: female
Date and place of birth: Bombay
Age: 36
Brothers: 1
Sisters: 3
Married: yes
Husband’s name: Yasu
Children: 2 boys, 1 girl
Year of infection: 1995
When did you come in the colony: 1980
You live with the family in the colony: yes
Why:
The family live in the Bharathapuram colony
Have you ever painted before: No, because I don’t know how to paint
Why do you want to learn painting: because I want to earn money
Specials: Kolam (Rangoli)
Are you happy to stop begging and start painting: yes