The Heart and Soul of Jugnista

Jugnista isn't just an online shop for us; it's a testament to our resilience, an inspiration from the radiant life of our son Jugnu, and a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges. But it's also a testament to the power of rediscovering hidden talents and the potential that lies within each of us.

Our journey began with a life-changing diagnosis when Jugnu was just a year old. Our beloved son was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder that affects muscle strength and movement.

This news turned our world upside down, and we knew we had to prioritize his care above all else.

Sadik made the difficult decision to leave a lucrative career in the UAE to return to our home in the remote village of Karulai, nestled in the teak forests of Nilambur, Kerala, India. He tried his hand at a software venture but failed. The years that followed were filled with challenges and financial uncertainty.

When we hit rock bottom, we realized how vast and untapped the Indian market was for unique, handcrafted products. This sparked a renewed hope in us, and we started looking inwards, rediscovering our hidden talents.

Late at night, as Jugnu slept peacefully, we would stay up, whispering about our future. How could we provide for our family while staying close to our son? How could we channel our passions into something meaningful?

Though Jugnu couldn't participate in these conversations with words, as he can't speak, his presence was always felt. He would watch us intently, his eyes reflecting a silent understanding of our worries and hopes. It was in those moments that we realized we weren't alone in this journey. We had each other, and we had Jugnu, a guiding light, whose name, aptly meaning "firefly" in Hindi was given to him by his loving grandmother, inspired by the popular song "JugnuRe Jugnu Re" which was trending on TV during the months of his birth.

That's when the idea for Jugnista was born. Sadik rediscovered his childhood love for art and his uncanny ability to replicate any piece he set his eyes on, a skill he had honed since his school days sketching celebrities. Safoora, with her established Instagram page Safucraft and a following of over 12k craft enthusiasts, realized she can steer the social media part of Jugnista. We decided to combine our skills and create beautiful, unique resin and woodturning pieces that would delight and inspire.

The name "Jugnista" came naturally to us. It's a fusion of Jugnu's name with the word "artista," a nod to our artistic pursuits. But more importantly, it's a celebration of the unwavering strength and resilience that our son embodies.

We believe that Jugnista has the power to do more than just provide for our family. We want to inspire others facing adversity, to show them that it's possible to find strength and beauty in the face of challenges. We aim to create a community where everyone feels welcome and supported, and to empower women in our neighborhood by offering employment opportunities as our business grows.

Our vision for Jugnista is to be a brand for unique, customizable resin and woodturning creations. We invite you to send us your ideas and inspirations, and we'll bring them to life. We also hope to raise awareness about SMA, and contribute to finding a cure for this debilitating disease.

This is our story, the story of a family who found purpose in the face of adversity. We invite you to join us on this journey, to support our small business, to support SMA awareness programs by CureSMA India and to become a part of the Jugnista family.

Jugnu with parents, Safoora and Sadik