An autobiography written at 19 would raise eyebrows, but not when it is the story of an escape from beggary to accomplishments.
The story begins on the streets of Mundgod and Ankola in Uttara Kannada, where the child of alcoholic parents had to beg as a teen. Seven years later, at 19, the same girl has acquired vocational skills and written her autobiography.
G.C. Durga overcame tough barriers and found her feet with the help of a rehabilitation programme. She was rescued at 12 from her parents who were beggars themselves. She struggled to complete school, and qualified as a beautician. Her literary effort, titled Vyatheya Kathe , documents the tough road she has traversed. She recalled the early days, when her mother sold hooch in Mundgod. “My father used to beg and I was forced to go along,” she said.
One day, her father took her to Ankola, and she escaped. As she roamed the streets alone, a Good Samaritan got her admitted to the Children’s Home in Karwar. This enabled an initial education. Her luck ran out when her mother came and took her away. Determined to get away again, she escaped and boarded a bus to Udupi, and found shelter at the Government Children’s Home.
B.K. Narayan, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, heard of her plight and helped her enrol at Namma Bhoomi, a vocational training centre at Kanyana, near Kundapur. This opened doors to tailoring and beautician’s courses. Yet, her persistent mother tracked her down and took her back.
Saved by free course
Durga struggled her way back to Udupi and took up a free beautician’s course at the Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute at Brahmavar. She then got a job at a Bengaluru boutique. “I am happy at the boutique,” she said.“I thought I should write my story. I was always interested in writing. So I told Papa (Mr. Narayan) and he encouraged me,” the young woman said. “I want to be a tailor and continue to write,” she said. The book,, priced at ₹25, from Somayaji Prakashana has an afterword by Umashree, Minister for Women and Child Development.
