When she was born, everyone used to say that she will not live long. When she grew up defying death, the school refused to admit her.
With great difficulty, she got admission in a government school, so she could neither write fast nor could participate in sports with her classmates.
After crossing all such hurdles, she is now doing post graduation in commerce and is also taking training to become a professional singer.
23-year-old Bhargavi, who has been overcoming difficulties, is the ‘Kalodion Baby’ of Madurai (Tamil Nadu).
clodion baby
This is a rare disease, in which a person’s skin keeps peeling off continuously. One out of one lakh babies can get this disease.
According to the medical literature, babies born with such symptoms do not survive for more than a few weeks. Those who survive become victims of ‘ichthyosis’.
This is a condition when a person’s skin becomes completely dry. That is, the skin starts to look like a crust.
This disease badly affected Bhargavi’s bones too. It was also difficult for him to write or walk fast. If she stayed in the sun even for a while, her skin started bleeding.
Bhargavi says that the family members tried to get her treated in every way. He was given medicines of homeopathy, Ayurveda and Siddha treatment method but to no avail.
She says, “All the doctors said that there is no cure for it. It is a genetic condition. The doctors said that they could fix my face with plastic surgery. But my family did not have that much money.”
Bhargavi
teachers supported
Bhargavi’s body became the subject of people’s jokes. For him it was like a ‘social stigma’. It plunged them into inferiority complex. People did not talk to him. He even stopped coming to her house.
But there was no way for Bhargavi and her family to escape this ‘disgrace’. He had to live with it. Struggling with this problem, Bhargavi turned to studies. After getting engrossed in the study, he started feeling relieved.
Bhargavi’s parents went to several schools for her admission. But he could not be heard from everywhere. Some schools even said that if they admitted Bhargavi, then this disease could spread to other children as well.
But Bhargavi’s parents did not give up. After wandering from school to school, Bhargavi finally got admission in the first class of a government school in Madurai.
Bhargavi says that because of her condition, she cannot write or walk fast. But the teachers took full care of it and did not put pressure on them.
Bhargavi says, “Because of the attention of the teachers, I started enjoying studies. I used to sweat a lot in summer. But like ordinary people, I could not wipe the sweat. At that time, some teachers used to fan me.”
Bhargavi gave her class 10th and 12th exams with the help of a scribe. After this he graduated in commerce from a college in Madurai. Now she is doing post graduation in commerce from this college.
Bhargavi
love music
Like studies, Bhargavi is also interested in music. She wanted to become a singer since childhood. In school, he participated in music competitions and won prizes. She wants to become a professional singer.
Bhargavi says, “I wanted to become a professional singer. That’s why I decided to take professional training. I told my parents about my heart. After that they got me enrolled in music class. Now I am playing music for the last three years. I am learning the nuances of
Bhargavi also wants to become a radio jockey. She says that she learns to speak like a radio jockey by watching YouTube videos.
He told, “I have also contacted some radio stations. But no one has responded yet.”
Bhargavi’s mother says, “I could not study much but I want my daughter to study.”
Bhargavi’s mother and grandmother help them in every possible way.
Bhargavi cannot use public transport to go to school, so her mother learned to drive a two-wheeler so that she could take him to school and then bring him home after school.
Now she drops her daughter to college and then brings her home.
Bhargavi
mother’s wish
Bhargavi’s mother says, “I have studied only till tenth standard. I wanted to study further but when my baby girl was born, everyone said that it would not be easy to bring up such a baby girl.”
Bhargavi’s mother Bhuvaneshwari says, “I, along with my husband, do everything for her to make her life easier. We want her to study more.”
Bhuvaneshwari says, “Earlier people used to say that we are wasting our time trying to raise such children. But now we are seeing the height our girl child has achieved.”
On the other hand, Bhargavi’s goal is clear. She wants to become a professional singer in any case.