Unsung Heroes: How Girija defies odds using art to reshape her dignity and livelihood

Indian Express

a day ago

Written by Mehak Singh and Bhoomika Roy Banerjee
At 28, S Girija's life is a testament to endurance and strength. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic condition that causes extreme bone fragility, she has endured not just physical hardship but the weight of being doubted, underestimated, and dismissed. Yet she has transformed that pain into purpose. For her customers, she is the artist behind delicate handmade earrings and personalised clay artwork. For herself, she is something far more powerful: a woman who refuses to give up.
This disorder has been Girija's lifelong companion, but that has not stopped her from pursuing her dreams. Her bones are fragile, and her body aches constantly, but she stays firm on her journey and her passion towards artwork. Girija was born in Bengaluru's Chickpet, a bustling market area. Her father is a tailor, and her mother a housewife.
Girija never went to school or college. She watches TV and learns. She is fond of cartoons and movies, especially James Bond. She doesn't allow a lack of formal education to define her.
'People ask why I didn't study. I just say, 'It didn't come to my head,' she said. But what did come to her — naturally and persistently — was art. 'I started when I was around eight. I would draw cartoons. My mother saw it and encouraged me. She couldn't fulfil her dreams, so she said—let's make yours come true,' said Girija, who also tried her luck in a government job but was denied one due to a lack of formal education.
What carried her through was not just medical care but the ironclad bond she shares with her mother. 'We are not like a normal mother and daughter — we are friends. We fight; she shouts; sometimes she slaps. But mostly she is my chill mom,' Girija said. The humour slips in easily, but there's darkness too. 'When my mom is sick, I feel so helpless. I want to take care of her now. That's my dream. I don't want to depend on my parents financially anymore. I want to be the one they depend on,' she said. This desire for independence fuels her work.
Girija started selling art in 2020. Initially, the business was at a slow pace. No followers, no orders. But then one woman, Preeti from Mumbai, found her Instagram in 2022 and became her first client, and then she became her friend. She gave her hope. Since then, she has made dozens of earrings and clay pieces. Everyone thinks she sells a lot, but unfortunately, her business is just taking off, and a lot of hardships come with it. With every piece comes physical pain and exhaustion.
'One earring takes me four to six days. A full clay artwork? Maybe 15 to 21 days. People don't understand. They ask for a discount, or they ghost me after I tell them the price. But I put my body and soul into it. They don't understand the hard work.' She begs for patience, respect, and kindness. 'Give me time,' she says, 'I want to do it well.'
For years, no one in her neighbourhood recognised her work. Now, after her story went public through social media, she gets some recognition. Some offer support, while some even question her existence. 'Someone called me on video call just to see if I'm real,' she says. 'My mom and I cried that day. I am not fake. I'm real. Please don't do that.'
She recalls how people stare at her in public, 'like I'm a zoo animal'. They look at her like she's 'an alien that came to the city.' But she wants to be heard; she insists, 'I am a human being. You respect me; I will respect you. That's all.'
Growing up, every movement posed a risk. Fractures were frequent; hospital visits were routine. 'In one harrowing episode, I was in the ICU once in 2016. Even doctors told my mom—that's it. But I told myself, 'Don't give up'. That is what I keep saying to myself even now,' she recalls.
Defying both social and physical constraints, Girija now runs a small but thriving business from home, crafting handmade jewellery and clay artwork. Each piece is the result of long hours, immense precision, and physical effort many would take for granted. She speaks of art as something that gave her dignity and a future.
And her message to other young girls and artists? 'Search for your goals. Whatever you want to become—doctor, artist, or musician—don't stop. Just keep doing hard work.'
Her dream is simple: to turn her art into a business. She wants people to see her not as a girl with a disease but as an artist, a woman, a normal person. It's her way of standing up, even when she can't stand. Girija doesn't ask for sympathy. She only asks to be seen for who she really is.
Mehak Singh and Bhoomika Roy Banerjee and interns with the Indian Express