Jyoti Dhawale
Jyoti Dhawale | |
---|---|
Born |
Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand | 24 July 1976
Residence | Mumbai |
Nationality | Indian |
Ethnicity | Asian |
Alma mater |
Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute, New Delhi Holy Innocents High, Wellington, Coimbatore Kendriya Vidhyalaya Agra, Secunderabad Saint George's Convent Agra, The Air Force School Bagdogra, Sherwood Public Shool Hyderabad |
Occupation | Community advisor, motivational speaker, writer/blogger |
Years active | 2005 present |
Height | 170cm (5 ft 6 in) |
Jyoti Dhawale (born 24 July 1976) known mononymously as Jo is HIV Activist, dedicated for the betterment of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) across India and the world.
Early life
Jyoti was born in 1976 at Namkum Military Hospital – Ranchi, Jharkhand. Her father Late Retired Group Captain J. N. Dhawale was an officer in the Indian Air Force and her Christian mother a homemaker. Dhawale grew up and was schooled in various parts of India. She finished her secondary schooling from National Institute of Open Schooling, New Delhi.
Childhood tragedy
It was said that she suffered from hearing loss at the age of 3 years due to a freak vehicular accident that took place in Pahalgam. Dhawale strongly rely on lip-reading to follow the conversations and instead of phone calls, she use text messaging or video calls.
Medical negligence
Dhawale was detected HIV Positive in 2005 due to medical negligence when she was admitted to hospital for forced abortion by her "ex" husband three times. On her fourth forced attempt, she was tested positive, and decided to go ahead with her pregnancy. On 31 March 2006, a healthy HIV negative baby boy was born to them via Cesarean section.
Career
Humanitarian work
Dhawale is a staunch supporter of the rights and equality of PLWHA, LGBT community and supports LGBT movement in India. She has been involved in various activities concerning human rights, human trafficking, sex workers, women and child health etc since 2007. Through the medium of internet and personal meetings, she has counselled and guided many HIV (infected/affected) and suicide related cases. She has supported Bapuji Center for AIDS Research & Education, (B'CARE) since 2012 as a Regional Co-Ordinator for its Hyderabad-Mumbai AIDS Ride 2014.[1] She is also a motivational speaker at Deep Griha Society based in Pune.
Activism
Dhawale use Facebook as a medium to promote awareness and education of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and is in connect with other international activists as well as PLWHA survivors. A photography workshop and short documentary film showcased by Through Positive Eyes in collaboration with Heroes Project held in Mumbai on December 2012 featuring her and other 13 HIV positive people propelled her to recognition. She grew her wings under the guidance of Roy Wadia, brother of Riyad Vinci Wadia who worked for World Health Organization.
Featured in publications
Dhawale interview was published in Times of India stating an example of successful and satisfied life of a couple mixed-status couple.[1] She regularly inspires, motivates and encourage people living with HIV in a healthy lifestyle.[2] Her interview articles have been published in various sites.[3][4][5] Dhawale's responsibility as The Stigma Project Ambassador enables her to create and spread awareness, art, provocation, education in wide scale.[6] In her documentary video about Life After HIV, for Through Positive Eyes, she speaks in brief how her journey had been. The project is co-directed by London-based South African photographer and AIDS activist Gideon Mendel[7]
Endorsements
Indian Goodwill ambassador of The Stigma Project since 2012 which provides insight into HIV stigma within countries/communities and it enables her to create and spread awareness, art, provocation, education in wide scale.[8] Dhawale is also a face of RiseUpToHIV campaign with a tagline NoShameAboutBeingHIVPositive.
Personal life
Dhawale currently resides in Powai, Mumbai. Highly fluent in English, Hindi and a bit of Marathi which is her mother tongue. Got into HIV Activism since 2011. She states Mother Teresa and Princess Diana as her role models. Mother Teresa who inspires her how to love unconditionally and Princess Diana who inspires her how to give selflessly. Upon her death, she want her epitaph that read " Here lie a woman who lived life in such a way that she didn't die in vain"!
References
- ↑ The author has posted comments on this article (1 December 2013). "Staying positive: On finding love after HIV". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Jyoti Dhawale – I am HIV Positive whereas my husband is...". Facebook. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Mumbaiyyagal". The Well Project. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ Login to post your comment. "Fight against HIV: I am Positive!". Jaagore. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "The Alternative". Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Asia Ambassadors". The Stigma Project. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Jyoti Dhawale". Through Positive Eyes. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Asia Ambassadors". The Stigma Project. Retrieved 31 July 2014.