India Untold

JA Radhika: Turning a doll-making hobby into a business venture

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Radhika is a patient of brittle bones disease

This condition causes her bones to fracture even without any doing significant activity. This disease made it difficult for her to attend school regularly. 

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School education

The doctors advised her not to walk or sit for extended periods. Due to this reason, she could not continue her school education after kindergarten.

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The challenges

Radhika’s father worked as a supervisor in a textile mill. His yearly salary was equivalent to Radhika’s one-time surgery cost i.e. Rs 35,000.

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Radhika experienced intense pain during her surgeries.

 

 

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Eco-friendly dolls

At the age of 14, Radhika’s brother introduced her to the concept of making African dolls. This sparked her interest in crafting dolls from newspapers.

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Radhika shared pictures of the dolls on Instagram

Her neighbour was the first customer who purchased her doll. 

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Radhika’s brother displayed her dolls at his stall

She recived an order of 25 dolls and made Rs 1500, marking a promising start to her venture. 

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A successful young entrepreneur

Radhika began receiving orders from overseas via social media platforms. By the age of 20, she became an independent entrepreneur. 

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The dedication

It takes three days to make a doll. With around 50 orders per month, Radhika earns Rs 15,000. 

 

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Renowned as the ‘Doll Girl of India’

Radhika began crafting dolls as a therapeutic activity for her mental health, which eventually turned into a business venture. Today, she holds a record of making 3500 dolls.

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