On 28 February 2022, life changed forever for 19-year-old Sagaya Angelin Shalini. What began as an ordinary trip to her hostel turned into a nightmare when she witnessed the most painful moment of her life — losing her father before her eyes. Left to cope with the immense loss, she turned to Instagram, not just to share her grief but to heal — both herself and others.

What started as a personal outlet to express her sorrow gradually transformed into something much bigger. Through sharing her journey of loss and healing, Sagaya found not just her own strength but also a purpose: to become a source of comfort for others who were struggling.

Today, she has built a community rooted in compassion and support, helping over 100 people across Tamil Nadu cope with their own battles, offering financial assistance, emotional encouragement, and a reminder that even in the depths of pain, kindness can bloom.

Seed of helping sown early

Growing up in Chennai, Shalini (22) was raised in a middle-class family that placed a strong emphasis on compassion and community service. Her family had a tradition of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries by visiting orphanages and old-age homes, where they would share meals and spend meaningful time with the residents. “We used to spend quality time with them after providing food,” adds Shalini.

Slowly developing an interest in community work, Shalini started volunteering at Jeeva Ratchanai in 2021 while pursuing her bachelor’s in civil engineering. “I started working part-time as a content writer to earn and help the children as well,” shares Shalini, whose first salary was Rs 5000.

Shalini used to visit the orphanage often, talk to the kids, understand their needs, and help them in whatever financial capacity she could. “Spending time with the kids, I could see that while their basic amenities like food were given, I sensed something was missing in them, and that was love,” recalls Shalini, which pushed her to be kind and provide her support.

But one life-altering incident changed everything for Shalini and has created the person she is today.

‘Life brought us down – financially and emotionally’

In 2022, Shalini’s world was torn apart in an unimaginable way. While travelling to her hostel with her father, they were involved in a tragic accident. In that instant, Shalini watched her father’s life slip away before her eyes.

“In 2022, my father and I were travelling to my hostel when we met with an accident, and I tragically lost him,” Shalini shares, her voice trembling with the weight of the memory.

The impact of that moment was overwhelming, a blur of disbelief and heartache. “I did not go near my dad because I knew that he was no more, and I did not want to confirm it further,” she adds, as if keeping a distance from the truth was the only way to protect herself from fully accepting it.

Standing there, in her bloodstained clothes, Shalini begged for help. For what felt like an eternity, she was alone on that road, surrounded by people who seemed more interested in her pain than in offering assistance.

“While a few people came and asked me what had happened, most of them were taking videos of me crying on the road, and that created a huge impact,” Shalini recalls, the cruelty of being reduced to a spectacle searing into her heart.

© The Better India