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GRIT: The JyothiKalai Story: A Graphic Memoir of Disability and a Mother's Unshakeable Belief

C. Kalaiselvi

V.R. Ferose

Sriram Jagannathan

AN EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF LOVE, FAITH AND RESILIENCE

The third installment in the GRIT series, The JyothiKalai Story is an evocative graphic memoir of caregiving and the transformative power of belief. Born visually impaired and later diagnosed with autism, Jyothi finds her voice and her feet in the world through music, guided by the love, patience and resolve of her mother, Kalai, who refused to let dire circumstances dictate her daughter's fate. What began as an act of belief in the thick of hardship and pain, grows into an incredible artistic journey.

Today, Jyothi is a National Award recipient honoured by the President of India, a playback singer discovered by G.V. Prakash, and a musician whose performances move audiences. Her story is one of extraordinary dedication.

Beautifully illustrated and evocatively told, this graphic biography is a blazing account of unconditional love between a mother who raised a gifted daughter and a daughter whose music continues to touch hearts far beyond the limits others once imagined.

A Story for Parents, Caregivers and Anyone Who Needs Hope

  • Classification : Biography
  • Pub Date : SEP 17, 2026
  • Imprint : Hachette India
  • Page Extent : 152
  • Binding : PB
  • ISBN : 9788198910479
  • Price : INR 499
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C. Kalaiselvi

C. KALAISELVI lives in Chennai with her daughter, Jyothi, whose remarkable journey inspired this book. For over 25 years, she has devoted herself to raising, teaching, and empowering Jyothi, turning seemingly impossible challenges into a story of hope, resilience, and achievement. A talented musician, Jyothi is Kalaiselvi's greatest achievement and a testament to unconditional love and perseverance. Kalaiselvi hopes their story will inspire greater empathy, acceptance, and inclusion for people with disabilities, and encourage families to believe in the transformative power of love and compassion.

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V.R. Ferose

V.R. FEROSE is the founder of the India Inclusion Foundation, a Bengaluru-based nonprofit that aims to bring inclusion to the forefront in all sectors across India. He has co-authored several bestsellers, most notably The Invisible Majority: India's Abled Disabled, Gifted: Inspiring Stories of People with Disabilities, and the GRIT series. Ferose has been included in various international lists of significance, such as 'India's Top 40 under 40' in 2014 by Economic Times and Spencer Stuart and was conferred 'Young Global Leader' in 2012 by the World Economic Forum. He currently heads the SAP Institute for Product and Engineering in San Ramon (California) and writes the bi-weekly column 'Flyleaf' for The New Indian Express. A passionate bibliophile, he has over three thousand rare books in his collection and is a member of The Grolier Club. He is on the board of the California publishing house Heyday Books and the only printer in the United States to make books entirely by hand, Arion Press.

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Sriram Jagannathan

SRIRAM JAGANNATHAN is a creative director, writer, illustrator, and designer based in Chennai, with 25 years of experience across branding, storytelling, UX, and innovation. As a founding team member and Head of Design at Random Walk, he leads multidisciplinary teams and creates meaningful products and experiences. A trusted UX consultant and mentor, Sriram champions human-focused design. His work spans fashion, animation, digital learning, sportswear, branding, and graphic novels. He is the author of Mai (2018) and co-author of GRIT: The Major Story (2019) and GRIT: The Vishwas Story (2022). This is his fourth book.

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