# How to rise after a fall and create impact by recording it | Jija M Harisingh | TEDxSJCC Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srUgJUbzKfo Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/srUgJUbzKfo Generated: 2026-02-13T18:01:23.463+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The speaker shares her personal journey of overcoming professional and personal crises, specifically detailing how initial failures and societal prejudice against women in the Indian Police Service (IPS) were transformed into a rise by focusing on her core values and finding purpose in art and social work, culminating in the founding of an art village for tribal women. **Key Points:** - The speaker decided to join the Indian Police Service (IPS) despite facing prejudice and her family's protests, viewing it as a necessary step to make a difference. - Her initial experience in the IPS was marked by a 'fall' where her engagement collapsed and her superior, the CID officer, was biased against women in the police force. - The speaker refused to conform to societal expectations, choosing to pursue her passion for art by taking a year's leave to paint and eventually holding exhibitions in places like Australia and Washington. - The speaker's art served as a form of healing, allowing her to process sorrow, bitterness, and anxiety, which was reflected in her work. - She established the first unique Art Village, 'Drishyam,' in Karnataka on Kanakapura Road, near Bangalore, to teach life skills through art to tribal women and children. - The speaker emphasizes that a 'fall' is not failure but 'redirection,' as evidenced by her transition from a difficult police career to impactful art and social empowerment work. - She mentions that her initial salary as an IPS officer was 25,000 rupees, which she gave to the Kagal widows, contrasting this with the richness she found in her later endeavors. ![Screenshot at 00:19: The introductory slide for the talk is displayed, featuring the title "Falling Into Your Rise" alongside a photograph of a woman in an IPS uniform, setting the stage for a story about overcoming professional adversity.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/srUgJUbzKfo/00-00-19.jpg) **Context:** This TEDx talk features Jija M Harisingh, an IPS officer, sharing her transformative story titled 'Falling Into Your Rise.' The narrative centers on confronting systemic prejudice and personal crises, particularly during her time in the police service in the 1970s, and how she ultimately chose to pivot her career towards art and social empowerment, dedicating herself to nurturing creativity and skills among tribal communities. ## Detailed Analysis The speaker begins by addressing the audience and introducing the theme of 'Falling Into Your Rise,' contrasting the concept of a 'fall' with the reality that she never actually fell, but rather experienced redirection. She recounts the societal resistance and patriarchal mindset she faced when she chose to join the IPS in 1975, noting that her family protested and her superior officer exhibited prejudice, even cursing women in the police service. During a crisis involving her engagement breaking apart and facing negative reports from the government, she refused to comply with demands to take paternity leave or quit. Instead, she channeled her negative emotions—sorrow, bitterness, anxiety—into her art, which she had been practicing since her youth (Tanjore paintings). This artistic outlet became a profound source of healing, with her paintings reflecting her internal turmoil. She ultimately resigned from the police force (after a period of leave) and pursued her passion, leading to exhibitions globally (including in Australia and Washington) and the establishment of the 'Drishyam' Art Village near Bangalore, dedicated to teaching life skills through art to tribal women and children. She concludes by stating that what felt like a massive fall was actually the beginning of something larger than herself: her rise through art and social impact. ### Personal Crisis and Resistance - Speaker recounts facing prejudice and familial opposition upon joining the IPS in 1975 - Her superior officer displayed bias, cursing women in the police force - She refused to quit despite personal crises and negative official reports. ### The Power of Art as Healing - Speaker channeled her sorrow, bitterness, and anxiety into painting, specifically Tanjore paintings - The art became a powerful, beautiful reflection of her internal state, growing into something larger than herself. ### Career Transition and Impact - After her tenure, she took a year's leave and continued exhibiting her art internationally (Australia, Washington, etc.) - She founded the 'Drishyam' Art Village in Kanakapura Road, near Bangalore. ### Social Empowerment Work - The Art Village teaches life skills to tribal women and children, bridging ancient and modern knowledge and enriching each other. ### The Lesson of Falling - The speaker redefines a 'fall' not as failure, but as 'redirection,' stating that her perceived professional collapse led directly to her most significant impact. ![Screenshot at 00:19: The introductory slide for the talk is displayed, featuring the title "Falling Into Your Rise" alongside a photograph of a woman in an IPS uniform, setting the stage for a story about overcoming professional adversity.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/srUgJUbzKfo/00-00-19.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:59: A slide displays various photos under the title 'My paintings & exhibitions,' showcasing group photos and several examples of her artwork, including traditional Indian paintings.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/srUgJUbzKfo/00-01-59.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:53: A slide titled 'Policing - Fall' shows a collage of images related to police work and public service, illustrating the environment the speaker was navigating.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/srUgJUbzKfo/00-04-53.jpg) ![Screenshot at 12:05: The slide changes to show a collage of photos under the heading 'Presenting Art & Culture,' depicting various cultural events and group achievements related to her artistic and social endeavors.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/srUgJUbzKfo/00-12-05.jpg) ![Screenshot at 13:41: The final slide shown displays images related to her social work, titled 'Tribal Bandipur Projects - Women Empowerment Project / Training of Natarathi classes / Medical S...' illustrating community-focused initiatives.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/srUgJUbzKfo/00-13-41.jpg)