Five days before the New Year’s Eve, Aarti Didi came to me saying, “Didi ghar ki chhat ka kaam poora ho gaya hai, naye saal ki raat aap ghr pe aana, apan mast party karenge,” with a wide smile on her face and pride in eyes.
In that moment, I could deeply feel with her happiness. I could see the countless hours of effort she had poured into building her home, a journey she had been on for quite some time. I felt a sense of connection, as if I had been a small part of her story.
Ten months ago, when I first arrived in Maheshwar, I remember a knock at my door every day at 10 in the morning. It’s common practice as a fellow to reside in the office premise itself, and since I had come from another town, the organization arranged for me to stay at the office for the 18-month duration of my fellowship. At that time, Aarti Didi was learning to drive. There was an organization dedicated to training women in driving skills to help them generate livelihood opportunities. Aarti Didi enrolled herself in the program.
Aarti Malakar was appointed as the field staff at the organization and has been working here for almost 2 years now. The office time starts at 10:30AM, but she always arrived half an hour early. This allowed her to leave during lunch breaks to attend her driving lessons adjusting her working hours. She joyously shared this with me when I joined.
Our Initial Interactions
I remember how she would prepare something for lunch every day and cook for me until I set up my own kitchen and started cooking for myself. She would invite me to her home daily for dinner or suggest coming over on Sundays for special meals. Initially, I couldn’t find the time to visit, but after about a month, I finally went with her to her place. Her home is about 1.5 KM from the office, and she used to walk there and back every day.
That day we went there by a scooty together. When I entered her home, I remember her mentioning, “Yeh raha mera chhota sa ghar, kesa laga?”
I replied in a smile saying, “Are chhota sa kahan hai, mere office ke kamre se toh bahut bada or khula hai.”
“Abhi na ghar me chhat dalna baaki hai, wo na ab dalwaungi mein,” she added.
Her husband works in handloom, weaving sarees on contract for major sellers in Maheshwar. Before joining the organization, Aarti Didi used to assist him with the weaving. They have set up a handloom in their home, which takes up a significant portion of the space.
“Arey Aarti Didi, aap bhi handloom chala lete ho?” I asked with surprise.
“Haan,” she replied.
“Toh aap toh Kalamaitri me loom set karwane me madad kyun nahi karte,” I asked.
“Didi me toh bas loom chalana jaanti hu, baaki or kaam samajh nahi aata mujhe,” she tells.
As Of Today
From this statement, today Kalamaitri operates three fully functional handlooms. None of its credit can be taken away from Aarti Didi. With her limited knowledge on handloom and my little understanding of markets and business, we came all this way.
She taught me about the parts of the handloom, how they are designed differently to produce fabrics of varying GSMs, the thread counts required for different reeds, and much more. In return, I guided her on connecting with vendors, improving communication skills, collecting quotations, and understanding basic business terms. I also helped her learn how to draft budgets, perform data entry, and navigate other essential processes. Today, she independently handles everything—from proposing budgets to selecting fabric designs and overseeing the final production from the loom.
She is now learning to manage data using a computer and Excel sheets. And I would not fail to mention that the lady is studied till 8th class and just recently learned to send an email from mobile phone, which again is a proud achievement for her. As a field staff member at Chaitanya, she manages meetings for approximately 40 Self-Help Groups every month. Her responsibilities include collecting savings from the women, disbursing loans, and efficiently managing all the federation’s data using specialized software.
Building Dreams Brick By Brick
After my first visit, I began visiting her place regularly for casual meet-ups. Then, during one of my visits, I noticed that she had built a room attached to the front wall of her house, which opens to the main gate. This area had previously been covered with tarpaulin on all four sides.
“Maine or inhone mil kar ke ye kamra poora kar diya didi,” she mentioned.
I praised her, “bahut accha hai.”
“Bas ab chhat ka kaam karana baaki hai, thand aane se pehle ho jayega,” she added, this time more hopeful.
Through her work with the federation, Aarti Didi has inspired many women to take loans and start their own businesses, offering them various ideas for earning a livelihood. Several women have even built their homes with loans from the federation. Now, it’s her turn to build a house. However, due to certain regulations tied to her work with the federation, she was unable to take a loan from them, which delayed her building process by two months.
I could sense her frustration and worry over this. She was eager to arrange the funds as quickly as possible. I tried to help, but things didn’t work out. Finally, after seeking advice from a few people and speaking with some banks, she was able to secure a loan. The day was the happiest for her, she couldn’t stop telling this to everyone. She began the construction process, and one day, I asked her, “Kya baat hai Aarti Didi, aajkal aap ghar nahi bulate?”
“Ab to jab chhat dal jayegi tabhi bulaungi me aapko,” she replied. Finally, in mid-December, her house was ready, and she invited everyone for a grand dinner at her place on New Year’s Eve.
Self Reflection
As I look back, I realize how much I have learned from Aarti Didi. She taught me that empowerment is not always about grand gestures but about taking small, determined steps toward one’s dreams. The dinner which was arranges that day shows the true meaning of celebration. It was the simplest and one of the most happiest party I have attended that day.
Watching her celebrate her accomplishments, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for being able to witness her journey. As I prepare for the year ahead, I carry with me the invaluable lessons she has unknowingly taught me: that true progress is built not just with resources but with the courage to start, the resilience to persevere, and the joy of celebrating each small success.
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