“I was born and brought up in a small village in Vikarabad district in Telangana. We belong to the potter community, and our ancestors have been in this trade for over 120 years. My husband and I moved here to the city after our third child was born. He used to work in a small factory while I would manage the household chores. Initially, it all went well but as the years passed by and our children grew up, I realized that we needed more. That’s when I decided to step up to support our family. I didn’t have many options left apart from turning to our family profession. I wanted to start a business that gave me flexible working hours, so this sounded like the perfect setup for me. That’s when we both decided to open a pottery center here in Rampally village with our savings.

Every morning, I would wake up early, cook, clean, get my children ready for school and then come here for work. Gradually our business picked up and this continued for the last 25 years. We make all kinds of pots, vessels, diyas, and vases out of clay. Our customers want new, innovative designs and so we constantly experiment during the making process. At times, retailers come to us with their ideas and designs so unless it’s absolutely impossible, we take up the orders.

Today, I feel like all my hard work has paid off; my children are well settled, leading happy lives. Two of our sons have joined our business as well. Now that my children have started earning, they constantly ask me to stop working. But for me, it’s my work that keeps me going. I thoroughly enjoy the process of making earthenware, and I wish to persist in this field as long as I can. My biggest achievement so far has been the fact that I have managed to raise three intelligent, independent children whose futures are secure, and I take immense pride in it!”