This collection is still a work in Progress, so far I have only made illustrations of my Nani(Grandma), my Mom and myself. All artworks are followed by a piece a wrote to signify the importance of that person, in my life and also in general.
This artwork was made for Woman's Day. This is a painting of my nani(my moms mom), and she is the first person who truly appreciated my passion for art and made me want to pursue it! Although she is long gone now I still remember her quite fondly and I miss her a lot! So why did a choose to mention her on woman’s day and not any other is because she is the reason why I am here, quite literally and doing what I love, not only because she encouraged me but also because she was the first woman in her entire family to get a formal education and in her time it was a big deal. Not only was she from a village where women weren't allowed to even go to school, she was also a Muslim and Muslims in India were even more backward and orthodox when it came to women and their rights. She didn't get to go to school but learnt from her brothers and after getting permission from her father she gave her 10th and 12th exams privately. Since she was a topper, she was allowed to go college, get a masters degree and became a teacher! She was also a gold medalist. She supported my mom in her dream to go to IIT Delhi, even though she she had recently become a widow and she was going to be all by herself! She was a great woman and she raised a great woman and I love these two women and they have been my motivation and inspiration my whole life! They taught me how to be humble and kind, and be independent and pursue what you love also their shared love of reading books is something I carry on! She had a fondness for sweet things and we used to cook together whenever she came to visit. I am also grateful as she was my only link to religion and she taught me how to pray. Thinking about these small but significant things makes me realize how much of an influence she had on me. She was my confidant and my guide and because of her today I also want to be able to make a difference and help break the taboos that hold women back
This was made to celebrate mothers day. The illustration is from the day my mom got her PhD from IIT Delhi. For as long as I can remember I always looked up to her, her achievements, her humbleness and her open heart! She was like my superwoman, unbreakable and so so strong! I remember her not even crying on Nani’s funeral instead consoling everyone else! And then one day the illusion broke, she was not a goddess anymore but a mere mortal, with flaws and weaknesses! Granted I must have really hyped her up in my head! But as we argued more, the more I despised her but when I saw her cry it would break my heart and I would think it was all somehow my fault and if I disappeared she wouldn’t be sad anymore or at least I wouldn’t have to see her sad! She wouldn't let me have a boyfriend or go on trips with my friends and I used to think she was the worst person on the planet. Then we both grew up a little, she gave me more freedom and I understood her reasons for being strict, we both tried to see things from each others point of view and there weren't so many clashes anymore. I was so proud of the progress we made, we would understand each other, give each other space, be there for each other and slowly she became my best friend!
My mother has always been a strong woman, fighting against the odds, carrying everyone's burden and always self sacrificing, these are some qualities that we are told women are supposed to have and men always value these and pressure women into following these norms. Mom always gave her 100% for everyone else but no one did the same for her, and due to her always bottling up her pain and never complaining we didn't find out she had cancer till it became terminal. But being the brave self sacrificing person that she is, she fought on, not wanting to upset or disappoint her children. She kind of won the war but it took a toll on her, as cancers do. Finally my mom learnt that killing herself to serve everyone is not the way to go and that it is okay to be selfish and to want things for herself, and I am so proud of her for that, even if it means I won't be her top priority all the time. I want her to be upset to make demands, to want time to herself and to say no to people and put herself first. It has been an amazing journey knowing you, growing up with you, fighting and making up with you. I cherish this bond so much and I hope we remain the best of friends forever.
Coming back to my moms achievements and how proud I am of her as a Muslim woman. Women in my moms family never studied or got jobs even when given the opportunity, maybe they were brainwashed into thinking it was a mans job or they simply thought it was easier to just sit at home and do house chores, than work and do the house chores, because South Asian men are useless and pampered. Despite whatever the world thought my mother was and still is a woman of high self respect and doesn't ask others for things or live beyond her means, some might even call her frugal(I do), but she has always worked really hard for everything in her life from her studies, always a scholarship student, to her job, never once did anything unethical and tried to help her students always, never took bribes(you won't believe how common it is in India), her relationships, she was the best mother and wife we could have asked for, loyal and caring and supportive. She even went out of her way to help her not so privileged relatives and just a lot of people in general. Sometimes it frustrates me how nice she is because I know others are taking advantage of that, but I guess people are who they are, but I do wish that this world gives her all the happiness that she deserves
