RUMA DEVI: Weaving Empowerment, Stich by Stich


In the small desert village of Barmer, Rajasthan, Ruma Devi’s story begins with hardship and unfolds with quiet courage. Born in 1988 into a humble family, she lost her mother at a young age and was forced to leave school after class eight due to poverty. With limited means but boundless spirit, she found expression in the age-old craft of Rajasthani embroidery. A needle and thread became her instruments of resilience.

In 2008, she gathered a handful of women from her village and began stitching simple handbags. Their first earnings were modest, but it was enough to ignite belief. Supported by the NGO Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan, Ruma expanded her efforts, training rural women in traditional embroidery and design. Over the years, her small group grew into a collective of over 30,000 women across 300 villages in Rajasthan.

Her work travelled far beyond the sands of Barmer, reaching fashion runways in Germany, London, and Singapore. Each piece of fabric carried the story of heritage, perseverance, and womanhood. In 2018, she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian honour for women, recognizing her contribution to rural development and empowerment.

Ruma often recalls the verse from the Bhagavad Gita, “Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana.” For her, it is not just scripture but a way of life. She worked with devotion, never expecting fame, and yet her craft brought dignity to thousands of women who once had none. Her life is proof that when purpose guides action, even the smallest stitch can weave a revolution.

References
Wikipedia. (2025). Ruma Devi. In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruma_Devi
The Better India. (2021). How Ruma Devi empowered 30,000 rural women through embroidery. Retrieved from https://www.thebetterindia.com
Times of India. (2019). From Barmer to Berlin: Ruma Devi’s handcrafted journey. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NDTV. (2020). Meet Ruma Devi, the artisan changing lives in rural Rajasthan. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com 
https://www.womenonwings.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/190308_Ruma-Devi-Nari-Shakti-Puraskar-2018-CUT.jpg

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