Against the odds: Investing in the future
Woman from Bahawalpur financing children’s education.
Shahida Bibi hard at work, while keeping an eye out for customers. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Shahida Bibi is tucked away in a stall of women’s ethnic wear at the Punjab Pavilion at the ongoing Folk Festival at Lok Virsa. It is drizzling while she rearranges some of the unstitched appliqué pieces that she has brought along from Bahawalpur.
Some lingering women browse through the ornamented gota, aar and mukesh patterns on silken chunri or plain chiffons by other designers but only briefly glance at the cut-work on cotton that Shahida has displayed in a corner. A shirt costs over Rs1,000. She prepares an average of 20 pieces a month.
“I resorted to designing as an outlet after domestic disputes drove me into severe depression,” said Shahida, who has been designing the traditional rilli-patterned clothes for about 17 years now. She feels lucky to have earned a diploma in stitching before marriage which improved her work prospects.
After buying cloth from Faisalabad, she managed to hold an exhibition in Lahore with Rs10,000 that she received from a non-governmental organisation. She also attended a 15-day workshop where she was able to hone her skills.
Shahida stood up to her husband to educate her children. “Ever since my husband retired from his job, he has not given me a single penny,” she added, wiping off tears that had trickled down her cheeks.
The festival presents Shahida an opportunity to showcase her craft but she has a long way to go in order to cater for her five daughters and three sons. She prides herself for financing her children’s education single-handedly; something few people can afford to do in the poverty-stricken area.
“My eldest daughter holds a master of psychology from Islamia University. I married her off and she had two children before getting divorced. Now she part-times with me and is pursuing her career simultaneously,” said Shahida.
Meanwhile, another one of her daughters has earned an MSc in Physics and is happily married with two children in Muzzafargarh.
Shahida talks fondly about her youngest daughter, Fatima, after whom she has named her modest setup. “She is still pursuing FSc and helps me out. She realises the gravity of our situation and the fact hat we must persevere in order to earn a decent living,” she added.
One of her sons Mohsin is in his final year at an engineering varsity. “I work relentlessly to be able to afford my son’s fees which I pay every six months. His monthly pocket money is Rs1,000. How can I give him more when I’m still under debt?”
While times are hard for her family, Shahida adds, her children are motivated to get an education and lead respectable lives. She wouldn’t mind monetary assistance to help ease off her burdens. “I’ve never had to beg anyone and for that I’m grateful,” she said, on the verge of breaking down again.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2014.
Shahida Bibi is tucked away in a stall of women’s ethnic wear at the Punjab Pavilion at the ongoing Folk Festival at Lok Virsa. It is drizzling while she rearranges some of the unstitched appliqué pieces that she has brought along from Bahawalpur.
Some lingering women browse through the ornamented gota, aar and mukesh patterns on silken chunri or plain chiffons by other designers but only briefly glance at the cut-work on cotton that Shahida has displayed in a corner. A shirt costs over Rs1,000. She prepares an average of 20 pieces a month.
“I resorted to designing as an outlet after domestic disputes drove me into severe depression,” said Shahida, who has been designing the traditional rilli-patterned clothes for about 17 years now. She feels lucky to have earned a diploma in stitching before marriage which improved her work prospects.
After buying cloth from Faisalabad, she managed to hold an exhibition in Lahore with Rs10,000 that she received from a non-governmental organisation. She also attended a 15-day workshop where she was able to hone her skills.
Shahida stood up to her husband to educate her children. “Ever since my husband retired from his job, he has not given me a single penny,” she added, wiping off tears that had trickled down her cheeks.
The festival presents Shahida an opportunity to showcase her craft but she has a long way to go in order to cater for her five daughters and three sons. She prides herself for financing her children’s education single-handedly; something few people can afford to do in the poverty-stricken area.
“My eldest daughter holds a master of psychology from Islamia University. I married her off and she had two children before getting divorced. Now she part-times with me and is pursuing her career simultaneously,” said Shahida.
Meanwhile, another one of her daughters has earned an MSc in Physics and is happily married with two children in Muzzafargarh.
Shahida talks fondly about her youngest daughter, Fatima, after whom she has named her modest setup. “She is still pursuing FSc and helps me out. She realises the gravity of our situation and the fact hat we must persevere in order to earn a decent living,” she added.
One of her sons Mohsin is in his final year at an engineering varsity. “I work relentlessly to be able to afford my son’s fees which I pay every six months. His monthly pocket money is Rs1,000. How can I give him more when I’m still under debt?”
While times are hard for her family, Shahida adds, her children are motivated to get an education and lead respectable lives. She wouldn’t mind monetary assistance to help ease off her burdens. “I’ve never had to beg anyone and for that I’m grateful,” she said, on the verge of breaking down again.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2014.