Manjula, 24

The daughter of a prostitute and alcoholic, Manjula was the first child to be rescued by Odanadi, 17 years ago.

She recalls, ‘my earliest memories are of waiting outside bars and hotels for my mother where she worked. I was too young to understand exactly what she was doing inside, but I had a sense that it was wrong.’ She describes her earlychildhood sleeping on the streets, scavenging for food and money outside the TB sanitarium in Mysore – where her mother eventually died on the steps, ravaged by disease. It was outside the hospital, that she was eventually discovered by Odanadi founders Stanly and Parashu, aged 7. She says

‘I was singing and dancing for money in the streets, when Stanly came and took me into his parents’ home; clothed me, fed me and taught me to read and write. It was there that I had my first singing and dancing lessons, which was my lifelong dream.’

Today Manjula, a drama graduate, remains at Odanadi and has just launched her career as a professional actress. Having recently completed her first Indian art house film, she believes

‘If it wasn’t for Odanadi I would be on the streets right now doing the same as my mother.’ She adds, ‘I am a stronger person now; performing has helped me recover, to forget the pain. When I think of my life I feel lucky to have had these opportunities, but there are others who are suffering more, young women and children who are still on the streets. My greatest compassion is for them.’
 

Gowri, 20

Now a budding journalist and social activist, Gowri spent much of her early childhood severely crippled and begging for money on the streets of Mysore.

She says

‘I consider myself a lucky girl. There are many children like me, but not many will get the opportunities I have had. I feel victorious.’

When she was just eight-years-old Gowri’sown father sold her into domestic slavery to pay for his drinking habit –without her mother’s knowledge. One day while she was working, Gowri fell,broke her hip and was abandoned by her employer (a doctor) at Bangalore railway station. She recalls

‘I couldn’t walk and was in terrible pain, but the doctor promised that he would come and get me. I sat there and waited for hours. All I can remember thinking was that I wanted my mother very badly.’

Eventually shedragged herself onto a train to Mysore where she was found lying in the streetby a begging racket. Her injuries proved lucrative for them, so they continually threatened her with burns and disfigurement if she tried to escape. She spent the next two years sitting on a piece of cloth, and dragging herself around the city to beg for money, dodging sexual aggression, beating and abuse.

Gowri was rescued by Odanadi field workers in 1999, and received extensive orthopedic treatment to correct her injuries.She says,

‘I never dreamt that I would walk properly again. I was happier than a person who doesn’t have a limb, who then gets one magically. I even learnt to dance.’

Gowri went on to complete seven years of schooling in just three years and has recently graduated from the Government Women’s Pre-University, earned herself a place at college to study journalism.She is a brown belt in karate, a singer, dancer and keen social activist andhas spoken on children’s rights at a convention in Delhi.

Last year, Gowri appeared on a TV programmeand was identified by her mother, who had no idea that her husband had sold her into slavery and just presumed her missing. Gowri has since been reacquainted with her family, but chooses to stay at Odanadi, which she considers to be her home. 

 


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