I am Mrs.Gunavathy Chandrasekaran aged about 40 years, residing at Chinnalapatti village, Dindigul District. I had polio attack at my age of 2 years and subsequently developed limbing gait due to shortening of one of my lower limb, so that I could not walk even 20 feet without the help of others. Due to this same reason I got married at my age of 16 and my educational qualification is 10th standard.
All my family members are very well educated ie. My father is a MBBS doctor, my elder brother is M.S. Surgeon, my sister-in-law is D.G.O. and my second brother is a mechanical Engineer. I have the thrust on learning and want to achieve something great.
I am an art lover, I have learned the art of paper quilling with my own effort and enthusiasm and the inbuilt imagination power in me I myself started creating lots of paper quilling products like wall arts, greeting cards, wedding cards, miniatures, company logo’s, name boards, jewellery and much more in a very attractive manner.
I want to learn more about quilling. Due to my passion on paper quilling now, I am one of the members in the Quilling Guild, UK. One fine day, I have attended the British Council workshop on July 2014. I am really more proud to say, In July 2015, I was invited by the British Council to give a guest lecture regarding “How I was able to grow as a successful entrepreneur within a short period”.
I gave motivational speech in the gathering of 250 working staffs at Arvind Eye Hospital, Madurai. I took one week class to the students about the art of paper quilling at Sowbagya Orphanage Illam at Gandhigram . The rural livelihood Director, collectorate Dindigul District invited me to give a guest lecturer at youth mobilization program, at Natham, Dindigul District regarding, “How a person can be a successful entrepreneur with their own effort”.
With the help of schools and college authorities I have conducted workshops at Jaycees Matriculation School, Sivakasi, AKDR Darmakrishna Raja College, Rajapalayam and GVG College, Udumalpet. As an social entrepreneur I have given training for many house wife’s and among them I gave jobs for eight women who has got no support on any angle from their family and friends circle.
The Lions Club of Thirunagar, Madurai honoured me by giving the “WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE” award and Government of Tamilnadu, Poombuhar gave me the “District Award” to my hand made creations. I was honoured by Dindigul Queencity Club. NABARD regional office Chennai honoured me on women’s day celebration. Also Innerwheel club of Sivakasi honoured me as with women of empowerment award. Media supported me a lot and they published articles about me in many leading newspapers, this gave me a good publicity and I got more business orders.
The Government of Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka gave me the opportunity to conduct stalls at free of cost in various places in their states. It is my great honor to say that the CRAFT COUNCIL OF TAMILNADU and the CRAFT COUNCIL OF INDIA invited me to conduct stalls at Coimbatore and Chennai on many occasions.
My ambition is making BEST OUT OF WASTE. So, with great vision I am looking forward a long way in the art of paper quilling and attempting to make handmade materials in a very beautiful and unique manner. Also I strongly believe that definitely with my dedication and hard work I will grow as a successful entrepreneur and try to uplift the livelihood of the destitute women of my village.
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Gunavathy Chandrasekaran
Email : gunasquilling@gmail.com
