Becoming Muskaan

Muskaan is 18. Every morning, she walks into a quiet classroom filled with eager eyes from the Gondi tribe. She anchors their lessons with patience and confidence – two qualities that don’t come from textbooks, but from lived experience. Her work begins at 9:00 AM, but her day starts long before that.

Once her class ends at noon, she returns to a home full of siblings and shared duties. There, between washing dishes and sweeping floors, another part of her quietly comes alive. That’s when she picks up the threads – literally.
Muskaan’s journey with Rang Bazaar began during the stillness of COVID. Where most saw pause, she found possibility. She was attending coaching at Samvedna when she first heard about the creative collective. She didn’t hesitate. She simply said yes.

That “yes” became her turning point.

Through Rang Bazaar, Muskaan learned embroidery that isn’t just decorative – it speaks.

She explored stitches like sitti and katha that carry tradition and innovation in the same breath. Her needle became her voice, her fabric a quiet storyteller. She began shaping pieces that were not only beautiful, but bold.

But creativity alone doesn’t build identity – courage does.

Muskaan carries that courage into her work every day. Whether she’s leading a class or finishing a hemline, she brings a sharp eye and a steady hand. She’s not just finishing tasks – she’s crafting a version of herself that reflects intention, strength, and joy.

She dreams of becoming a fashion designer – one with formal training, skill, and a strong sense of voice. She often speaks to her colleague Tanya about possible courses. What she’s looking for isn’t just a certificate, but a deeper understanding of design as a way of expression. One day, she hopes her creations will carry stories like hers – rooted,
resilient, and unapologetically real.

Her time at the library, where she worked for many years, added another layer to her journey. Surrounded by books, she observed people, absorbed stories, and found comfort in structure. It taught her the rhythm of responsibility. It taught her to show up – whether or not someone was watching.

The third strand in Muskaan’s story came from her experience with gender awareness workshops through Neembadi. For the first time, she gave language to the quiet discomfort she had grown up with – how girls are expected to serve before they’re seen, how appreciation often feels foreign. But something shifted in her. She saw how those
patterns could change, starting with her.

After a three-day workshop, Muskaan made a quiet decision. She would live differently. Not louder, but freer. She began practicing equality at home, speaking up when needed, and slowly unlearning the habit of shrinking herself.

When someone recently praised her work, she found herself hesitating. “It’s hard to receive appreciation,” she admitted, “because we’re trained to prove our worth, not believe in it.” And yet, she’s learning. She’s learning that recognising your own growth isn’t arrogance – it’s truth.

When asked what others would miss in her absence, she didn’t hesitate: “Main daat ke kaam karwati hu… jab main bachchon ko padhati hu, toh sab bachpan se jure lagte hain.”

It’s that rare blend of care and discipline that makes her memorable – not just as a worker, but as a person.

Today, Muskaan stands at a unique intersection: a teacher, a creator, a learner. Each part of her journey – Rang Bazaar, the library, the workshops – has stitched something into her. Together, they are shaping not just her career, but her identity.

She’s not waiting for a perfect moment. She’s already begun – with her hands, her choices, and her voice. And with every stitch, she’s designing a life that reflects who she truly is: intentional, imaginative, and full of quiet power.