Day 7
12/12/16
The Iron Lady!
Yesterday I had spotted some interesting person involved in
different jobs. One of them was a lady who owned a beauty parlor and tattoo shop. That
lady had helped me on the first day to find the directions. I felt that I should
talk to her. She smiled at me and told her name is Laxmi. I went up to her house. It was a small house
in which two rooms were congested together. But within that such a small area
she had set up her parlor and her house stuff as well. She gave me a warm
welcome and offered me some breakfast of her own. I spent a lot of time with
her watching how she handles clients and how she works. While doing her work
she shared about her whole life with me. I didn’t know what comfort I gave her but
she let her heart out and talked. She was taking care of her aged mother all by
herself. She faced a hard life after her father passed away. She graduated by
earning for her and her family. Laxmi got married to a man he loved. He was
from Himachal. But even her marriage didn’t work out. Her husband got trapped
in drinking and her son was in his custody. She divorced him on a condition
that permitted her to see her own son only once in a year. Surprisingly her in laws
were supportive in this. She started her beauty shop. Eventually she learnt a
lot of things such as hair wrap, tattoos etc. She had diploma in tourism and
also works as a guide. Tenants suffer here a lot as the landlords get richer
every year and they have to pay increment in the rent every year she said. She
told me about how Hampi has witnessed change over the years. Social life there
is not settled. As foreign tourist visit the place in a large number, sometimes young children adapt wrong habits.
They either run after these tourists or try to imitate them. She feels that
Hampi is no longer safe.
Despite from the family crisis she went through, working 2
jobs for living, living alone, she seemed as if she enjoys her life. She doesn’t
complain nor does she have any regrets about her decisions in life. Living independently
has given her confidence, she has foreigner friends that visited her shop and
she learns different craft forms from them. All she was concerned about now she
is living in her hometown with her mother and she is happy. She spoke to me for
almost 2 hours. It was a great experience. A conversation to a stranger that
turned into a lifetime inspiration. She appreciated the work and research we
all were trying to do there but also she reminded me that now you know the
situations of Hampi, so try to do something for the locals suffering here. Make
sure some good changes will happen.
Laxmi's small house cum parlor.
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