Unveiling the Unsung Heroes - 1

 

Unveiling the Unsung Heroes  - 1

Join me on this Mother's Day as we delve into the real life story of an ordinary woman navigating through extraordinary challenges, guided by the mantra "Life is tough but I am tougher". Let's explore the journey of a mother who defies all odds and even surprised the universe.

I am delighted to introduce Mrs Sridevi D R, a remarkable and determined individual whom I had the pleasure of meeting by chance, and an instant connection was formed. Among the people who constantly inspire me, alongside my mother and family, Mrs Sridevi holds a special place.

Sridevi belongs to  Nellamaru, Tamilnadu, and was the eldest daughter among her three sisters and one brother. Unfortunately, at the tender age of eight, she lost her father. Following this tragic event, Sridevi and her siblings were taken care of by her aunts. Her mother along with extended family members played a crucial role in supporting their education. After completing her 10th grade, Sridevi got married to Sri Sampangi Rama Reddy and moved to her husband's place. Her husband's family were farmers living in Mayanayakanahalli, Tamilnadu. On Sridevi's 18th year birthday she gave birth to her first son, Manju Kiran, bringing immense joy to the family. However, it took two years for them to realize that Manju Kiran was a special child. It was during the Deepavali festival when a family member noticed that he did not react to any of the firecracker sounds. After a diagnosis, they discovered that Manju Kiran was DEAF & MUTE.  Three years later, their second child, Shakthi, was born. Sridevi, as a mother, was extremely careful to ensure that Shakthi was a Hearing child. However, to their astonishment, Shakthi was also DEAF & MUTE. This created a significant void in their family. It took some time for Sridevi and her husband to come to terms with this reality, but they were resolute in not letting this hinder their children from living a normal life.

Sridevi relocated to Bangalore in order to provide education, while her husband remained in their hometown and commuted between the two places to support their family. They decided to enroll their children at "The Sheila Kothavala Institute for the Deaf," a school dedicated to bridging the gap between hearing-impaired children and the rest of the world. The school's motto, "They can, if they think they can," empowers these children to succeed in society. At the age of 26, Sridevi and her husband embarked on their own business venture and were gradually settling into their new life. Little did they anticipate that fate had other plans for her. Tragically, she lost her husband in a horrific road accident, leaving her completely devastated.

With the help of her mother, children and siblings, she reconstructed her life and gradually returned to her regular routine. However, her life took an unexpected turn when Manju Kiran enrolled in SRN Adarsh College to pursue his PUC. Recognizing Sridevi's proficiency in sign language, Mrs. Sukanya Chattopadhyaya, the then prinicipal encouraged her to pursue a career in Sign Language. Sridevi successfully obtained certification as a Sign Language Interpreter, which opened doors to a new chapter in her life. Utilizing her skills, she joined SRN Adarsh College as a Sign Language Interpreter, where she dedicated herself to teaching specially abled students, including her two sons. 

The late Sri Premraj Jain, founder of SRN Adarsh College, played a key role in promoting education for specially abled students. The college provides 50% scholarship on the fees for these students. Sridevi, accompanied by her son Manju Kiran, spearheaded a campaign to visit different villages and cities in Karnataka which had limited educational resources for these students. Their efforts aimed to persuade parents and students to enroll specially abled children in SRN College for higher education. Thanks to this initiative, the student population grew from 6 to 120.  

The task involved a significant challenge of persuading both parents and students, as well as ensuring the safety and accommodation of the students. In response, she collaborated with various NGOs to offer assistance. Samarthana Trust and Cheshire Home stepped up to support these students by providing financial aid and housing for those in need.

In the meantime, Manjukiran completed his BCom and enrolled in KLE College to pursue a Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM). He made history as the first specially abled student in KLE College to pursue BHM. Similarly, Shakthi finished his BCom, MCom, and joined Infosys as a Senior Process Executive. Just as life seemed to be taking a positive turn, Manjukiran was diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of immune system cancer), bringing everything to a halt. Despite the challenges, Manjukiran remained resilient, much like his mother. He persevered through his treatment and successfully completed his BHM with outstanding results. Realizing that his time was limited, he ensured his brother's well-being by arranging his marriage to a specially abled girl. Shakthi tied the knot with Sahana on December 5, 2022. Having fulfilled his final wish, Manjukiran peacefully departed away on December 25, 2022.   

The obstacles she has faced in life have only served to make her stronger and more resilient. Today, she is not only a mother to two children but also to hundreds of students. I have had the privilege of interacting with these students, who refer to her as "Mom" in sign language instead of "Mam" due to the profound impact she has on them. As a sign language interpreter, Sridevi assists students during job interviews, acts as a liaison between parents and students, students and teachers and also interprets for the specially abled events, Court cases etc. Sridevi has approached many Central & State ministers with an appeal to add Sign Language into the curriculum so that the number of interpreters will increase and fill the gap of scarcity for Signers. Meanwhile she takes up the initiative of teaching Sign Language at hospitals, police stations, Courts, IT Sectors, Schools,  Colleges & Govt offices to make this world a better place for the DEAF people to live.  Sridevi also has a mission to start an NGO in the memory of her son Manjukiran to support the specially abled children.

Sridevi has been a motivational speaker to youngsters & women at the workplaces and was chosen to speak on Inclusive Education at IIMB. Her contribution to this field is vast, and my admiration for her and her unwavering determination knows no bounds.

Of course her contributions have brought her loads of appreciation and awards.

1) Change Maker Award from Rotary Bengaluru IT Corridor

2) Award of Excellence from DEAF Leader's Foundation (Coimbatore)

3) Best Teacher Award from Rotary Bengaluru Garden City

4) Award of Appreciation by Samarthanam Trust

5) Pinnacle Award from Vani Charitable Trust

6) Nari Shakthi Puraskar by Bengaluru Mayor Sri. Goutham Kumar

 7) Mover of Mountains Award by Diya Welfare Trust

8) Guru Vandana by Samarthanam Trust

9) DEI Catalyst Award for Social Impact by Rotary DEI Bengaluru

10) Appreciation by DEAF Women's Association

 

As I am winding up this incredible story and contemplating the fairness of creator, I am amazed how Sridevi, on the other hand, has fully embraced this circumstance with unwavering faith in a higher meaning in life. She truly deserves a round of applause, and I humbly acknowledge her remarkable attitude.

 

Please note : composing this uplifting narrative was incredibly moving and inspiring. I am confident that it will equally inspire you as well.  I urge you to also share this story with others, as there may be someone out there who needs to hear it in order to find strength and persevere.