The Women of Anoothi

Can you see them?
Strong, fierce passionate women
Yet quick to smile, laugh, hug a child
United in desire
To build a better life for themselves and their children
After long hours in the fields, they come
To work yet again, beautiful jewelry, lush textiles
Art forged from deep heritage
To be sent around the world
That others may see and know
And partner away their impoverishment

These are the women of Anoothi. They live in poor, rural villages in the State of Rajasthan in Northwestern India. They will rise before dawn and prepare their household for the day. Many will spend their days in the field, backbreaking work, with little rest and no recognition. Often their young children come with them to the fields. While public school is free in India, many of these village families cannot afford the uniforms and book fees and so their children perpetuate the cycle of illiteracy. When they finish in the fields, they will return home to do all the evening chores. They lead a meager existence.

At Anoothi they are paid a fair wage, encouraged to bring their children and trained in the production of semi-precious jewelry making and native handicrafts. It has not been an easy journey or one without sacrifice. For some women it is an hour’s walk to the Anoothi center. Yet, they continue to come.

I have sat with these women over three years now. I’ve watched them move from suspicion and hesitancy with a stranger to a graceful acceptance, allowing and encouraging me to be in their midst. The invisible boundary seemed to break when I held one of their toddlers. He had been born with a disfigured hand. I watched them closely watch me as I reached out for him, held him against my hip, and began to sing a nursery rhyme to him. Suddenly, I was one of them, a woman, a mother who loves her children – different and yet the same.

The women of Anoothi have learned to make stunningly beautiful jewelry and table runners, wall hangings and pillow covers out of recycled sarees. Another women’s co-op that has recently become part of Anoothi creates beautiful cards out of handmade paper and vegetable dyes. There are many women waiting in the wings and it is our deep hope to create a sustainable desire for their artistic products around the world, in order to help these women, these families, climb out of the pit of poverty with dignity and hope.

To learn more about Anoothi, please see http://anoothi.org/. To place orders in the US, please contact delta[at]anoothi.org.

Delta Donohue is the Voices of India Editor for Wandering Educators