Dynamic and dedicated, she has woven hope into the dreams of thousands of weavers in the hamlet of Maheshwar. Her efforts over 25 years have resurrected the dying whirr of handlooms and have made the Maheshwari sari an enviable heirloom. Sally Holkar is an unusual blend of royalty with humility. Here, she reveals what fuels her passion for life

When you follow your heart, you walk the road that’s right for you. My foray into reviving the handloom industry in Maheshwar was purely unexpected. My inner voice told me I was on the right path. I am happy I listened to it.

Freedom means the psychological, physical and economic ability to listen to my inner voice and follow it.
It is a huge luxury not everyone can afford.

I have been lucky enough to have the choice. I want to help build the financial muscle of the deserving so they can secure their dreams.

Dreams can come true.
I believe, when in pain, wait. One door closes, others open. And they really do open in the right direction. This has happened time and again. The turning point came in 1992 when we got professionals to assess the financial progress of our efforts.

It was a huge assurance that the hopes of thousands were slowly turning into reality. Eighteen months ago, we also engaged professional services to chart a business plan to take the weavers, endeavour from Maheshwar to all across India. The response has been heartening.

I resent the word ‘charity’.
Working together towards common goals is what we are doing.

Coming from a different culture doesn’t have to limit you. It just means you live life from more than one world view.

Even though I was born and brought up in the US, the cultural disparity was never an impediment. I belong here. The fact that I was free from bias and was purely objective in my outlook helped me blend with our people.

Working at the grassroots brings you closer to humanity. I have been able to join my heart with those of the weavers I’ve worked with. I can bask in the sunshine of the results of my hard work by playing with the grandchildren of the people I managed to help.

There is such a thing as destiny.
I have faced very few disappointments at the human level. It has been a long journey, from being a Stanford graduate wanting to become a hotshot lawyer to helping out the deserving. I feel I was meant to do this. Call it destiny.

You cannot solve everyone's every problem.
I don’t feel burdened by people pinning their hopes on me. When I started out, a leading social worker told me, “You will encounter all sorts of people during the course of your work. Some of their problems will not be solvable. And the earlier you recognise this and distance yourself from these problems, the sooner you will be able to successfully direct your energies into solving other problems that require your attention.”

Each experience in life is unique and rewarding.
I went for the Stanford reunion in the US recently where I met my illustrious peers, whom I had met last when I was 19. While talking to them I realised, and so did they, that my level of satisfaction with life was higher. There was a sense of 'wholeness', of being complete. This is what they feel they are lacking even in their retirement years.

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