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Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Unsung Heroes: How Girija defies odds using art to reshape her dignity and livelihood
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
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank scam: 5 years on, victims demand deposit insurance hike from Rs 5-lakh limit
According to the bank data accessed by The Indian Express, 31,376 individuals had invested up to Rs 5 lakh, totaling Rs 84.57 crore, and 5,853 individual accounts had more than Rs 5 lakh, totalling up to Rs 1,350 by Bhoomika Roy Banerjee and Mehak Singh Five-and-a-half years after the Reserve Bank of India imposed a moratorium on Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank Niyamita (SGRSBN) in Basavanagudi, the affected depositors have intensified their demand for enhanced deposit insurance coverage. The victims, in a meeting held on Friday, have sought an increase from the current Rs 5-lakh limit imposed by the RBI under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). Harish V, joint secretary of the United Forum of Depositors — a group of SGRSBN depositors who are fighting to get back their money — stated that the government is doing little for their returns. In 2023, the Karnataka government ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe to look into the case where Rs 2,500 crore was allegedly misappropriated by the bank management. So far, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 159 crore as part of its probe into the alleged scam. However, Harish said, 'A Right To Information (RTI) query revealed that CBI had never taken the case to investigate. Thousands of them (depositors) are still in trouble and are unable to lead their lives.' He pointed out that even after five years there has been no attempt to recover the money by the defaulters or even by those from the management that led to the collapse of the bank. The administrators appointed by the government have changed but nothing has yielded any results, he added. According to the bank data accessed by The Indian Express, 31,376 individuals had invested up to Rs 5 lakh, totaling Rs 84.57 crore, and 5,853 individual accounts had more than Rs 5 lakh, totalling up to Rs 1,350 crore. Out of the 45,000 depositors, most of them got the Rs 5 lakh insurance amount from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). However, over 15,000 depositors who have deposited more than Rs 6 lakh are yet to get the complete relief amount. G K Gururaj, another joint secretary, said that the current DICGC insurance limit of ₹5 lakh provides inadequate protection for depositors who have lost their savings, running into lakhs and crores of rupees. 'A forensic report submitted to RBI has been passed to the administration for assessment. Preliminary estimates suggest losses of ₹1,944 crore, though depositors have expressed willingness to forgo nearly Rs 650 crore in accumulated interest if their principal amounts can be recovered,' he added. More than 60 of the depositors, mainly elderly citizens, have died after the bank fell into controversy, according to the forum. Among the depositors who attended the meeting was 76-year-old Usha Devi, a retired BBMP employee. Her husband died six months ago. Vasudev, an active member of the forum and a depositor, shared how his brother was recently denied hospital admission due to lack of funds. He also talks about the plight of elderly depositors whose basic medical necessities aren't met. He said, 'This is a humanitarian issue here; it's more than the money. Most of us are frustrated.' The RBI imposed withdrawal restrictions on SGRSBN in January 2020. (Bhoomika Roy Banerjee and Mehak Singh Interns with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Bengaluru stampede: Cubbon Park in shambles, walkers' association files complaint
Written by Mehak Singh, The Bengaluru stampede that recently claimed 11 lives has also left one of the city's largest open spaces, Cubbon Park, grappling with significant damage. A quiet walk through Cubbon Park revealed subtle but telling signs of the chaos. Bent and broken fences, snapped branches, and tree trunks marked with caution tape silently narrated the story of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations gone wrong, which resulted in the stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. While Bengaluru has largely returned to its usual pace, the scars left behind in its green lungs remain visible. The Cubbon Park Walkers Association, a group that has long advocated for the protection of the park, has filed a formal complaint demanding accountability. According to the complaint, the celebration was poorly managed, resulting in a large crowd spilling over into the adjoining Cubbon Park. The Association has alleged that the gathering resulted in damage to park fences, the uprooting of ornamental plants, broken branches on trees and even defecation in the area. Advocate Umesh S, counsel for and also the president of the Association, said in the complaint, 'There has been a complete lack of preventive measures, and till date, no official damage assessment has been made. This is a serious failure on the part of the authorities.' 'We get good oxygen in Cubbon Park and Lalbagh only. We can't go anywhere in Bengaluru for that. At least, we can save the park for future generations,' he added. Umesh also raised a larger urban planning issue, calling the location of the Chinnaswamy Stadium 'outdated'. 'The stadium deal was signed in 1970, but Bengaluru has changed. The current setup no longer suits the traffic and civic demands of today,' he said. Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the stampede, one noticeable shift is the increased presence of police vans and personnel in and around Cubbon Park. Speaking to The Indian Express, Kusuma G, Deputy Director, Cubbon Park, Horticulture department, said a lot of ornamental plants which were planted on Dr Ambedkar Veedi (between Karnataka High Court and Vidhana Soudha) and railings have been destroyed. 'The department is accessing the damages caused and an estimation will be made before communicating it to the government,' she added. (Mehak Singh is an intern with The Indian Express)
