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Women of Meesu Crafts are women of pride and honor, who know no boundaries can stop them. They are fierce to challenge their existing lifestyle and go beyond the limitations. Same is the story of Mrs Urmila Devi . The mother of three Children, continued her life as a housewife for the last 17 years. She never thought her extravagant knitting skills would fetch her money some day. She used to be satisfied knitting sweaters for her kids but today she says she is happy doing this for Meesu crafts. Urmila Devi skills are boon for Meesu Crafts. This is her story in a way she potrayed us yesterday.
 

Urmila Devi
 

Twice a child bride, Urmila Devi – a single mother of three now – makes living as a farm labourer. But her passion in Handknitting and crochet preserving her Family and making it commercially sustainable.

grew up in Berra village on the outskirts of Patna city. From the time I can remember, I was very fond of dancing. I would break into a dance whenever I heard a song.

I always dreamt of becoming a famous dancer. I used to watch a couple of girls in our community and of course my mother and aunt dance.

I was probably in class 5 when I became a child bride. He was much older. So, he married someone else. I was married again. A child marriage of course!

When I was in 9th, we lived Bodh Gaya (Tourist Place ) city for a few years, where I worked in tourist hotel. Bodhgaya is mainly known as place for Buddhist, and I was earning enough for my family, the tourist paid me good while they are returning to their home place, I do remember all the Buddhist to whom I served, but unfortunately, I never get a chance to meet them again,

every evening I used to sit in front of Buddhist temple and making handknitted cap and small accessories, many tourists started to buy my hand knitted accessories, and I get paid for that, this helps me a lot to save few amounts for my future,  

 

When I turned 18, I was sent to my husband’s house. The first few months of my married life were fine. Then my husband turned abusive. And getting addicted with alcohol and started using my savings.

My husband wasn’t keen to work. But how could we live without working? Things became so intense that in 2006, and he theft my saving and run away to city and leave me alone in Bodhgaya, I consumed poison. My husband was unconcerned even then.
A hotel worker told my family, who rushed me to hospital, got me treated and took me home.
 

When my husband came after a few months and promised my parents to mend his ways, I returned with him. However, my troubles didn’t stop even after my daughter Priya and son Ravi were born.

I must have been eight when my mother gave me an unfinished Handknitted sweater. I created my own pattern. My mother was very happy with my work, now wherever she is I miss her a lot and I remember every day.

When I was pregnant with my third child Madhu, my husband left me at my parents’ house. He hasn’t returned since.

That was five years ago.

Urmila Devi stringing Handknitting with her daughter Priya and sitting behind the Buddhist Temple every evening after hotel cleaning and saving small amount to educate my Girl, Priya is in class 7th , Ravi is going to enter class 4th and my small daughter Madhu lives with all the time.

And I never decide to marry my any child before he gets dependent on them self,  

 

In the start of covid, I get paid one month only from the hotel where I was working, but later he never asked me my condition and a day meal for my three kids, things were getting worst and I decided to returned back to my village, my neighbours really helped me four month to my kids and me to get good meal every day, and I am very thank full to government of India, who supported us a lot to provide every day meal to my family.

I meet the team of Meesu crafts in Feb 2021, team was on field survey to know their problems, I remember while they discussed with me about my hand skills, I show to them my all previously knitted sweater and accessories, and the journey with Meesu crafts started from that day, in beginning around six to eight months I was not getting work from them on daily basis, so yes I was in doubt all the time for my child education. But yes, later in year of 2022, I am getting enough work from Meesu crafts and started savings for my all three kids.

My day usually begins at 5 am, I start to make breakfast and lunch for my all kids, then I do clean my house and drop my child to their school.

I want my children to study. I want them to make it good in their lives, so I let them focus on their studies. I believe if they get educated, they’ll be able to do what they want and live a life of dignity.

At the same time, I want them to learn the art of hand knitting and crochet. I would like my sons also to learn.

You know, I didn’t even complete class 10th. But at 30 years of age, I have another dream now.
I’m learning English from my kids. :-)