CHILDHOOD:
D. Anila Jyothi Reddy was born in Narasimhula Gudem in Hanumakonda mandal, Warangal District as eldest of four children to a common peasant who has lost his employment during emergency. His father was joined in Army but could not continue because of his attachment with the family. The military training that he had, the attitude that he developed, was given to her as inheritance. As it was very difficult for the family to meet the both the ends, he was forced to join Jyothi Reddy BALASADAN, a government orphanage at Hanumakonda as amother less child.
From 5th class to 10th class Jyothi Reddy stayed in orphanage by having solitary life away from home. She used to await if anyone would come and render some help. Particularly during winter season when she used to shiver like anything as her blankets were torn. May be this had a strong influence in her sub conscious and drive her to orphanages often and help the children with all that they require among all the love and feeling of belongingness. Even during summer she never used to go to her village, she used to stay in warden’s house and did all the house hold work for which she was fed.
The empathy that she shows on all the orphans is gained through her own bitter experiences. Recently she made a representation to the Government of India with all her allies to legislate the Rights of the Orphans. She strongly believes the words of Mother Teresa… “ The worst disease in the world is neither poverty nor other, lack of feeling of belongingness, being unwanted is the worst ”. Whenever she visits the Orphanages in India she prefers to spend more time with the orphans. Even they rejoice her company… “ she is more than mother to me’’ says Ranjitha, an orphan who is being sponsored by Jyothi. If you see many college students keep on blaming their environment and parents when they fail to satisfy their wants. A sincere advice to them to visit any orphanage at least once in a year. You better understand the real pain of the life and appreciate what you really have.
MARRIAGE: Mrs Jyothi Reddy passed 10th class with good marks and she dreamed to continue her education. But her parents have contrary plans. At the age of just 16 they performed her marriage with Mr. SangiReddy because of their dire financial position. It is quiet common in rural India, many parents of girl child treat them as burden and try to remove the burden as soon as possible and perform marriage at an early stage. She was innocent and not knowing much about marital life.. time passed ..by the age of eighteen she became mother of two girls. It was very difficult for her to provide the basic needs of her children to feed them and to look after.
EARLY CAREER :
Strong determination to take care of her children made her to persuade her mother-in-law and husband to work in the agriculture to work for money. She worked for Rs. 5 per day as agriculture labour. Many other people who worked along with her on field were impressed by her attitude taught her the basics of hard work of peasants. She worked from 1986 to 89 on field till she got an interesting turn in 1989. Nehru Yuvak Kendra (NYK) started a night school in the village to teach the basic education for adults. As there was no graduate from the village and Jyothi was the only available option, they appointed her as the volunteer to educate the adults after giving some training. It fetched her Rupees 150 per month. She gathered all the co workers in the evenings to the Centre and taught them the basic education with unique play way methods. The Inspection authorities were very much impressed by the initiative and dedication of Jyothi as the volunteer and appointed her Mandal Prerak of Hanumakonda.
ACADEMIC PURSUIT :
After being appointed as Mandal Prerak Jyothi had to visit all the centres of the Warangal district and realized the importance of education and without higher education she can not grow to next levels in life. She completed her graduation and post graduation Distance Mode from Ambedkar Open University. Even University authorities were impressed by her urge for education. She did B. Ed from Anna University and become a
government teacher. But it was not a cake walk for her. She had to cross over all obstacles at home as well as in society. Leaving her village and staying at her work place with her children and husband and balancing family and work and making money by doing all alternative sources as the salary was not sufficient etc,, these were all the different problems higher than the Everests for any rural Indian women. Patience, perseverance and commitment are the secrets of her energy behind this passionate effort.
AMERICAN DREAM :
If the story stopped here there would be nothing much to inspire others. When Jyothi was working as inspector of schools, a relative of her who settled in America came to her place. Jyothi accompanied her during her stay and observed how much change had been taken in the life style of her America settled relative. The way her American relative was spending money for her daughters laid seeds of desires in her. She thought even she could give great future to her daughter if she would go to America and earn there. That time onwards she made up her mind and learnt computers and started saving money for her passport and visa. After series of early failures she could get a visiting visa and flew to America with a little amount but heart filled dreams.
EARLY TRAILS IN AMERICA: As soon as she landed in America she realized it was not an easy task to settle in America. The people whom she believed would give her shelter and support turned off their faces. As money she brought from India was running off she joined as a salesperson in “ Movie Time ’’ a video shop in New Jersey. She stayed as paying guest in gujarathi family. While she was working iin Video Time a known Indian from Warangal saw her and recommended her name to his brother who owned a company called “ CSAMERICA” and she was appointed as recruiter after being trained. Later a well know company ICSA offered her a good job with handsome salary. Again she faced some problems as her visa was not approved and she went for H1 visa. She had to resign her job in ICSA and again had to work for $5 per hour in nominal jobs till she got her H1 visa.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: She went to Mexico for her VISA stamping. All the hardships of obtaining visa gave her an idea of establish her first entrepreneurship to assist the people to get their Visas. Thus Keys software solutions was initiated. It extended it services like developing software solutions and recruitment and other job providing areas. Jyothi came to America in May 2OOO and by September, 2001 she became entrepreneur. She made her cousin as partner as his partner and extended her business to become more profitable.
FULFILMENT OF DREAMS:
Her hard work, commitment and dedication fetched her the success she dreamed for. She made enough money to take care of her children and her near relatives. Her two daughters could finish higher education in America from prestigious universities and got married to well settled bridegrooms. Her dream to provide good living conditions to her daughters was fulfilled. But she thought it was not here mere responsibility. She has been always thankful to all the people who supported her. She never forgets the pains that she had throughout her life. So she decided to start helping all the needy. She wants to shed tears from the needy orphans who suffer from all inadequacies. She wants to give warmth heart to the pain tinted lives. These thoughts ushered her to take an inspiring turn to extend her service to the humanity.
SERVING HUMANITY:
It is not just a lady went to America and making some money.. and people started calling it as success. It is the attitude and humbleness of Jyothi Reddy which really made the people to notice her and started extending their service to fellow human kind. Jyothi Reddy never forgot her roots. In every visit to India she visits Orphanages, Old age homes and spends time with them, provides them financial assistance. She visits Women’s colleges and empowers them with her life experience. She stands for the orphans and represented to the government to make a legislation to safeguard their rights. She takes her success to heart and not to head. She helped many Indians to settle in America by providing initial shelter and guidance.
FUTURE VISION :
Jyothi Reddy has a vivid and constructive vision to extend her service to needy people. She wants to provide educational facilities and long term result oriented service activities. Everyone should accept the self responsibility and try to be courageous enough to face the challenges. Struggle in life strengthens the caliber of the people. She visits colleges and inspire girl students to take up the self responsibility to empower themselves. She strongly feels that every individual should stop blaming the environment and start helping themselves. God always sends his hidden helping hand through different unexpected sources. We need not to look back when we realize we are responsible for our lives. This is the message that she wants to share with everyone she meets.
