Working Domestic
Narratives, Immersion and Information
ANTHROPOLOGY | CHILDREN'S POETRY WRITING | ILLUSTRATION
This project was sparked by noticing events happening at my own home. Gradually more gap areas started coming into view – job insecurity, mental stress, emotional turmoil, lack of legal acknowledgment of domestic workers. Also because of my personal interest in making children’s books, I wanted to take up the challenge of communicating the research and message to a child. The output is an anthology (2 poems yet) of poems along with illustration. The output is aimed at children of age greater than 4 years. Research methodology used was a combination and primary and secondary research. I started by reading papers and statistics and common problems documented about domestic workers. From there I was able to frame my questionnaire which I used to interview 3 domestic workers who work at my own house in Delhi. After transcribing the interviews and analysing the secondary data along with the data from the interviews, I identified themes that I can portray in this short time. Domestic employment as empowerment, coping with constant change and empathy were the main themes covered.
Being Busybody
You might think that your mother or father are real busybodies,
and you don’t get to play with them often!
But have you thought of the busybody didi
who makes your life easy?
Makes your sandwich extra cheesy?
Keeps your room clean and squeaky?
Helps your granny put on her pyjami?
And even does your laundry?
Somewhere there is a kid just like you,
who doesn’t get to play with their mother because
she is busy being a busybody at your home!
How does she do it?
How does she overcome the mountain of vessels
she has to rinse and soap and wash every day?
How does she tackle the heap of clothes
she must rinse and soap and wash every week?
How does she handle all the bundles without a single bungle?
I might have an answer
She does it to make herself stand taller
Indeed, it’s a lot of hard work, being a domestic worker.
Shakuntala
There are hardworking house hoppers among us!
They work in multiple places.
Their timetable looks too busy.
Shakuntala is one among many who doesn’t leave any work semi.
Her workplace is quite funny – small kids, hidden humans,
old aunties, dogs, the list has plenty.
Her mission is plain – leave no stain.
Her dreams are pure – never let my children go hungry to sleep, that’s for sure!
She is an expert of learning and relearning…
It comes in handy since the place she works at,
sadly, has no guarantee
Oh, she must learn again where the things are kept, where the cups go
Who the people are, and will they also let go?
Research Methodology
