Instant gratification always fuels commitment.
The sight of a beautiful ‘dupatta’ off the loom is my reward. It gives me great pleasure to be able to bring a smile to as many faces as I can. I see women weavers who had come to me in a torn sari, with messed-up hair, surviving on one meal a day; now they are financially secure and have educated children with a positive attitude. That's what keeps me going.

You are only a spoke in the wheel.
No one is indispensable. To be important is a deep human desire, but to give in to this means to lose perspective. I never look for appreciation. My aim is to strike a healthy balance in life — through an equal emphasis on relationships and goals.

My deepest desire is to melt into a web of relationships. I want to work with the younger generation of skilled artisans all over India. And I am in the process of realising this.

Life is a tiny stage in the evolution of your soul.

Sally Holkar spoke to Shilpi Kakkar