Shivani worked at
Nomad's Dehradun unit for a year and a half as a craftsperson. She took up working
because of her artsy spirit and an urge to create the best world for her 7 year old son.
The freedom to spend
her own money, the newfound respect in her household and the joy of self sustainability
inspired her to evolve further. Two months back she was with me to conduct a toy making
workshop at Wynberg Allen boarding school in Mussorie.
"
Seeing her amazing learning caliber and an appetite for teaching herself new and newer
things, I made a point of pushing her to apply for art & craft positions in various
schools. “Tum mere kehne pe kardo. Ek baar apply kardo bas”, I said to her one day.
Being quiet apprehensive at first but when motivated,she finally applied with a few
schools.
Seeing her portfolio with experience in making creative products out of fabric scraps
and other projects with Nomad, she was granted the position at one of them. And today
she is an art and craft teacher at a primary school. Her joy knew no bounds that day as
she broke the news with me- “Mam, mujhe teacher ki job mil gayi.
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Swiftly she arose
into the soaring wings and took flight as if in a hurry to meet the sky. Carefree, she
had left all the care to the winds and us puny humans I guess. Oh am talking of the kite
we flew and not me. Or perhaps a part of my soul went to the sky with chakori.
Coming back to the ground, she was more herself...more of the sky...more of
freedom.
Freedom was everything Chakori was about. Don't the smallest of things teach
you the biggest lessons sometimes?
CHAKORI
"
I'll break your legs if you fall down! Come downstairs, now!"
Baamni (lady who
cooked food at my Naani’s house in Teetro) was bellowing at her son Chhotu, who was
upstairs. Looking upto the terrace and ofcourse, upto another mischief me and Golu
itched to join him in whatever he was upto.
Perplexed with a rather amusing and hyped
shoutings, we looked at each other with a question mark!
Just as she went out to hang
newly washed clothes, we sneaked our way to the terrace. Golu looked in awe as Chhotu
expertly tied the kite and the strings together.
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