Even though Delhi has been my home since 1995, I quite vividly remember the narrow lanes of my birthplace, Arrah Jila, in Bihar, where I grew up as the only sister of three brothers. In my chirpy neighborhood, everyone knew each other, elders chatted for hours, and kids played till their feet hurt, but people were mostly happy and content with what they had. My parents were farmers, and we led a tough life. Despite that, they never really compromised on our education and taught us as much as possible. Since I was an all-rounder from the beginning, they never stopped me from participating in any school activities. They educated me until the age of 14, and then, following our village’s tradition, I was married within our community.
In Delhi, the bustling capital city of India, my husband, who works with a private firm, and I started our journey together. We were soon blessed with three children, all of whom are now in college. When I look at my daughter and how she carries herself, I see a huge contrast from when I was in my adolescent years. Young girls and women here enjoy so much freedom. In my village, women used to be confined to the kitchen. They would veil themselves and manage all household chores while men would go out and earn. I, too, followed suit without complaints. However, since I had learned sewing, with the willingness of all the family members, I started to stitch blouses from a tiny corner of our living room.
After I moved to Punjabi Bagh, my world started to expand. I heard neighboring women talk about SSMI. Something struck, and I thought maybe I should also explore if there’s any opportunity for me. That was it. Thus began my association with Swami Sivananda Institute of Art & Craft. It’s been over a decade, and SSMI has become my second home. I have grown so much after being a part of this institute.
Sometimes, I wonder about the life I might have led if I hadn’t gotten married so early. I would have pursued higher education and had a steady job, perhaps. But destiny had other plans. I even brushed with joining the Jharkhand Police force, meeting every requirement, but was ultimately thwarted by recruitment cancellations. Yet, life has been kind, with a supportive husband and family by my side.
Now, at 40, with weakening eyesight, I harbor no regrets because somewhere SSMI gives me a sense of independence. Instead, I hope my children catch the dreams I once chased. My only wish is to see them fly high and flourish.
