Sister Jesme was born on 11 June 1956, in Kerala. Sister Jesme decided to become a nun when she was in college. She graduated with rank from the University of Calicut and completed M. Phil. She worked as a teacher and joined as vice principal of Vimala College, Thrissur from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, she joined St. Mary's College, Thrissur as Principal and served there till 2008. She resigned from her post as Principal. She was a member of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) which she was forced to leave because of emotional torment, after 33 years as a nun. Her life as a nun and her experiences within the Catholic Church in Kerala are recounted in her book, Amen - The Autobiography of a Nun, The Indian Express reviewing the book states, it "details the humiliation, sexual abuse and mental torture at the seminary (Congregation of the Mother of Carmelites). Sister Jesme has a doctorate in English Literature.
