Shama’s house was tastefully done with little art and artifacts in different parts of her large living room. One corner of this room had a baithak (seating arrangements on the floor) with a sitar (an Indian musical instrument) and tablas placed in one corner. Our assumption was that one of the kids must be learning it. We were surprised when she said;
“I used play the sitar many years ago. Almost 10 years ago. I used to learn it from a renowned sitar player. Once the kids came along, I just didn’t find the time to play it. And it kept playing on my mind, that I was ignoring it”
The beautiful sitar has now become more of a show piece in her living room. She had forgotten herself in the 10 years since she had children, raised them and devoted her life to them. Now that they were a little grown up, she has resolved that this year she would get back to her passion - MUSIC. Not just that, this year she took part in a regional play and even won the best actress award for it. She had also started making pretty hand made cards with dry pressed flowers and leaves. We felt that there was an artist in her dying to come out.
There were very few women who we met, who had time for anything besides their family and children. While it came as a natural instinct for Anuja who was an electrical engineer, to give up her career to become what she always wanted to be - a housewife, for most of the other moms, they had no choice, no time. They were relegated to their homes before they knew. Few like Maitrin can afford a holiday in the hills in Kanchanjunga – away from her children, away from the world to find themselves.
Opportunity: Reignite the forgotten passion.
By Hinoti and Vipasha.
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