Rajender Kaur has the grit we all Punjabis are famous for. At an age when most consider a woman past her prime, she decided to begin hers afresh.
Rajinder Kaur got married in 2005 to a man who she discovered was a drug addict. Like in all such situations, the problem did not end there. He would often beat her up. She bore the brunt of domestic violence for four years, returning to her parents’ house in 2009. With a divorce.
A divorce is never really well received in our society. Everybody around her coaxed her to give her husband another chance. She met them with a brave face for 7 years. Then in 2016, she gave in.
She went back to her husband’s house hoping to live a better life. But it just got worse. The violence got more severe. And he refused to support his family financially. Rajender was worried about her children’s school fees. She started stitching clothes for her neighbors and would earn Rs. 2000 every month. Enough to cover the school fees. Once again destiny had other plans. Her husband would often steal this money from her.
When her children’s life and future started getting affected, she made a final decision. To go back to her parents’ house, this time never to return. The year was 2020.
Rajender’s father is a gardener at RoundGlass Foundation nursey. She started learning about plants, trees, and seeds from him. He would also teach her with a lot of interest. Slowly she gathered enough knowledge and displayed relevant skills to join the nursery at a monthly salary of Rs. 8000. With money in hand, she saw her life change. And that of her children too.
She says, “My life has changed drastically. Work gave me the courage to stand on my feet again. Before this, I was always stressed. I enjoy the time I spend at the nursery, it makes me a calm and happy person. Also, I am proud of myself that I am giving a better future to my children.”
At the age of 41, she learned a new skill and started her life again. It gives us immense pride in saying that this new and prosperous journey of hers began with us.