Ms Veenadhari, one of the first HIV victims to openly admit she was HIV positive and an activist who dedicated her life to create awareness on HIV/Aids since 1993, finally lost the battle to the dreaded infection. She died in a private hospital here on Friday. She was 45.
Born to a middle-class family in Palakkad district of Kerala, Ms Veenadhari settled in Mangalore after she married. Though she served as a teacher, she quit her job when was tested positive for HIV, having contracted the disease from her husband. After recovering from the initial shock, she joined VALORED, an NGO in Mangalore.
It was at VALORED that she decided to work for HIV victims, and joined the Karavali Positive Women and Children Network (KPWCN). As she became popular, tens and hundreds of HIV/Aids victims started approaching Ms Veenadhari for consultation. At this juncture, she started organising camps for HIV victims. Victims from all over the State were attending her camps. Said to be the first of its kind in the State, the camp “By the HIV victims - for the HIV victims” was regarded as a ray of hope for a huge number of people.
After Veenadhari made it public that she was a victim of HIV, stories on her started appearing in print as well as electronic media. Her inspiring lifestyle (such as developing resistance power in her body without taking anti-retro viral drugs) inspired a number of people across the State.
The speciality of the camp was that no person but resource persons and the participants (the HIV victims) were allowed inside the premises, which probably made the participants heave a sigh of relief. The ‘no entry’ to others also made the participants take part in all the activities freely without any ‘fear’ of others recognising them.
Recognising her work for the victims, Ms Veenadhari was conferred State Rajyotsava award. She also took part in World HIV victims’ conference in Bangkok two years ago, and later intensified her campaign for the victims.
Veenadhari is survived by her only son Samarth, who is a well-known
magician.
