Mariappa

“Samuha helped me discover the artist in me.”
Mariappa was a dalit, poor, and disabled.
“I was ok when I was born. But when I was around 6 years old, I developed a high fever.
My family took me to the hospital where they gave some injection. Because of that, I lost
the use of one leg. I was taken to a doctor in Koppal who prescribed a one-year course of
medication. But after six months, my family couldn’t afford to keep buying the medication.
When they finally went back to the doctor, he said it was too late and nothing could be
done.”
Mariappa was allowed to go to school until the 7th standard but was then sent to
tend his family’s cattle and goats in the fields. That was when Samuha spotted him.
“The Samuha team came to my house and spoke to my family about having my leg operated.
My father sold our cattle to raise [our share of the costs]. Samuha took me to Bangalore
where I underwent five operations. After that, they gave me a caliper.”
Samuha continued to encourage and support Mariappa.
“I enrolled in high school and graduated with good results. Samuha then helped me to
enroll in a teacher training course (D.Ed) and even paid the fees. Now I work in a private
school as a teacher, and I am also pursuing my BA in Education.”
Studying away from home at Koppal, Samuha was Mariappa’s home-away-from-
home and he began to get involved in various Samuha activities. He joined a
street theatre group focusing on education and people with disabilities and soon
discovered his hidden talents.
“I learnt singing, instruments, dhol [drumming], and everything. When I was doing my
D. Ed, I placed first in a ‘Janapadageet’ folk song competition. Then I met a well-known
Kannada-language singer, and we performed in various programs together. Our street play
was featured on TV.
I am now recognized and respected as an artiste. The Kannada and Cultural Affairs
Department even has a photo file documenting my development!”