Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her Feet

Class 06 English

When you enter a tiny room in Moti Vavdi village, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, you will see lots of bright colours. There are many lovely things like cushions, bedcovers, pillows, and more, with beautiful designs.

Ila Sachani, a wonderful lady with a big smile, makes all these using a shiny needle to create these designs. She is very good at Kathiawar embroidery — a style that needs a lot of skill.

Ila Sachani’s journey began in the quiet settings of Amreli, Gujarat, where she was born into a farmer’s family. From the beginning, life presented its challenges, as Ila was born with her hands hanging loose by her sides. Unlike other children, she could not use her hands in the usual way. While other small hands drew figures in the sand or plucked wild flowers, she wondered why she could not join them. She too wanted to hold a chalk in her hands and draw figures on a slate.

Ila’s mother and grandmother encouraged the little girl and were single-minded to help her overcome her challenge. They were skilled in the traditional art of Kathiawar embroidery and decided to share this art with Ila. They taught her to create many beautiful patterns using her feet! It was certainly not an easy task, but Ila accepted the challenge with determination. Her parents also helped her learn to do things with her legs, like eating and combing her hair.

Threading a needle was hard, but Ila did not give up and became an expert at a young age. Her younger brother and sister helped her too. She learned many styles, even ones from outside Gujarat — Kachhi, Kashmiri, Lucknawi and others.

For Ila, embroidery became a way to express herself. At first, she crafted fine designs only for her family and friends, who were awestruck by her talent. They talked about those designs to others. Soon, the people in the village, too, discovered Ila’s special skill and the admiration for her work began to spread.

Word reached the government office in Surat. They were moved by Ila’s story and impressed by her work. They decided to display some samples of her embroidery at a state exhibition. This experience opened new doors for Ila. People observed the beauty woven by her feet and readily purchased the creations. Ila was no more a hidden talent, but famous!

Encouraged by this popularity, Ila participated in more exhibitions, not just within the state but at the national level. She received many awards and honours, not just for her art but also the willpower and creativity that her work showed. Ila Sachani, once a farmer’s daughter facing a tough challenge, worked hard and became a celebrated artist and receiver of the President’s Medal.

The most important change for Ila was the new independence. Through her skill, she not only earned a regular income but also found joy in doing what she loved. She proved, through her creations, that challenges can be turned into victories with focus, hard work, positivity and never giving up.

Her embroidery, created with her feet, reminds us that art has the power to rise above physical boundaries and touch the soul.