"I Love My Handloom", Jyoti (Saheli Women Centre, Bikhamkhor)
TANVI GOELShare
She settles into her work with focus and intention- learning, practicing, and improving with each passing day.
But her journey here didn’t start with confidence. It started with curiosity.
Learning, slowly and steadily
Jyoti began with three months of training at the centre.
“In the beginning, it was new for me,” she says. “But slowly, I started enjoying learning.”
That rhythm - slow, steady, consistent - became the foundation of her work.
Today, she’s learning four-pedal handloom techniques, a skill that demands both patience and precision.
And she’s thinking ahead.
“One day, I want to set up a handloom in my own home.”
A place that feels like family
For Jyoti, the centre is more than just a workplace.
“The women here - we live and work like a family.”
There’s a sense of togetherness that shapes her experience every day.
Guidance plays a big role too.
She speaks warmly about Madhu ma’am.
“She is very supportive. She always encourages us. That makes us very happy.”
That encouragement shows up in moments big and small - especially when new work arrives.
“When we get new orders, we feel very happy that we can work.”
Working with honesty
Jyoti approaches her work with a clear mindset.
“I work as hard as possible. I want to work with honesty.”
There’s pride in the way she talks about her craft - especially the finishing of each piece.
“I love it when people wear the clothes I’ve worked on. I always try to give a good finishing.”
For her, the work doesn’t end at making - it ends when someone wears it, and loves it.
Why she does it
Jyoti is a mother of three - two daughters and a son.
Her motivation is deeply rooted in their future.
“I want my daughter to study. I want to make her independent, strong, and confident.”
She wants the same for all her children - and she’s committed to working hard to make that possible.
At home, she finds encouragement.
“My family supports me a lot. They motivate me. That makes things easier.”
More than just work
Over time, the centre has become an important part of Jyoti’s life.
Her days are filled with learning, conversations, and shared effort.
And with that, a growing sense of independence.
She discovered the handloom here - and fell in love with it.
So much so that she now dreams of building something of her own.
“I want to learn everything on my own.”
A future she’s building
Today, Jyoti is not just learning a craft.
She’s building a future - one where she can:
- stand on her own feet
- support her children
- and one day, run a handloom from her own home
Step by step. Thread by thread.
And she’s only just getting started.