S G Susheelamma: A quiet force that shapes many futures

Nemichandra writes about a Padma Shri awardee whose lifelong work has focused on uplifting the disadvantaged

The year was 1997. It was past 10 pm when Jyothi, a young woman in her 20s, arrived at my house in Bengaluru leaving behind a traumatic past. I did not know what to do except call S G Susheelamma and request that Jyothi be accommodated at Sumangali Seva Ashrama, a home for women and children in distress, in Bengaluru. The ashrama gave Jyothi not just shelter, but also an education and the confidence to rebuild her life. Inspired by Susheelamma, Jyothi went on to start Thayi Mane, a small home with 12 destitute children, in 2007. 

Susheelamma has touched many lives and continues to reflect on ways to improve the lives of the underprivileged. 

I first met Susheelamma in the early 1990s and visited the ashrama in Cholanayakanahalli, which then felt far away from Bengaluru city. The moment I entered the ashrama, to the left stood a relic of the past: a mud hut with a thatched roof, a symbol of the struggles Susheelamma faced when she established it in 1975. 

She believes in ‘Kayakave Kailasa’, finding utmost joy in relentless work. Her efforts are not limited to running the ashrama, a challenge in itself, but extends to driving social change. She actively involves in literacy campaigns, women’s movements and broader people’s movements.

S G Susheelamma guides a child at the Sumangali Seva Ashrama. Photo by author

The vermicompost project

As the second wave of Covid-19 receded in 2022, I visited the ashrama with my husband. I sat with Amma, then 83, as she enthusiastically explained her new vermicompost project.

She said, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iruliga tribal communities in Magadi taluk faced severe problems of hunger and survival. They do not own land and work on others’ fields.” The Ashrama had helped them the previous year with seeds, manure and pesticides so they could cultivate ragi, ensuring at least basic food security. However, income from cultivation on leased land was not sufficient to support their families and
their children’s education. 

The project was conceived as a way to create a self-sustaining source of income for tribal families. Vermicomposting, an eco-friendly process that uses earthworms to convert waste into nutrient-rich organic fertiliser and soil conditioner, was identified as a viable solution with strong demand. The Ashrama planned to construct three vermi pits for each family. “Each pit is estimated to produce one tonne of vermicompost in 35 days. With three pits per family, they can earn between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 a month,” she explained.

The Sumangali Seva Ashrama in Bengaluru. Photos by author

The Ashrama had already surveyed villages in Magadi taluk and identified 25 tribal women. It had also prepared a detailed estimate for constructing pits with protective covers to safeguard the earthworms from birds. 

 S G Susheelamma with a child. Photo by author

Participating in Amma’s initiatives has always been a privilege. “Can I sponsor a pit?” I asked eagerly. In April 2023, I received a call from Amma saying that funds had been raised to construct three pits each for 25 Iruliga tribal women. 

S G Susheelamma during the inauguration of vermicompost pits at Kalegowdana Doddi in Magadi taluk April 2023. Photo by author

This year’s conferment of the Padma Shri on Susheelamma is a tribute to her boundless compassion, which remains undiminished even at 87.