Mural of the story? Helping women reclaim their lost space

New Delhi: In an ever-evolving urban space, can a mural depicting two women holding hands challenge the gendered spaces where women remain invisible and empower them to leave their homes and voice their needs? Eight curious master's degree programme students from Ambedkar University Delhi's School of Social Design found exactly such a space when they spent some days researching Guru Nanak Market, a wholesale hub for automotive spare parts in old Delhi’s Chabi Ganj.Picture around 10,000 shops, mostly run by generational ownership, tightly packed, ageing and decaying, rising three or four storeys tall. The lanes are narrow, barely accommodating the head loaders who transport goods from the market to distribution points on carts. And a predominantly male workforce, mostly migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with some women employed to handle accounts and packaging.“During our research, we found that the men at Guru Nanak Market, which is near Kashmere Gate, liked their women indoors, restricted to the terraces of the buildings there,” said student Alfia, who uses only her first name. “We found three toilets in the market accessible by the head loaders. Of them, two provided paid access though none was maintained properly. There is a single toilet for women, but it’s designated for the Valmiki community, so women from other castes prefer not to use it.”Another student disclosed, “We chanced upon a panchayati pyaau there.” The pyaau, a post-independence facility meant to offer drinking water to people, stands neglected, like many others in old Delhi. It was then that the students decided to transform the pyaau into a community hub, particularly for the women of Chabi Ganj.Venugopal Maddipati, studio director at the School of Social Design, AUD, explained, “The pyaau is a big earthen pot installed on the streets to store drinking water for wayfarers. It is a true representation of the community's collective welfare ethics. Historically, a pyaau was a spot where women congregated.”The students thought painting murals at the panchayati pyaau would resonate with women and engage them. “We decided to draw the two women on the mural,” said Alifa. Another student Rinki, who also declined to use her surname, added, “I hope every time the women see the mural, they will feel seen. It is a way for them to reclaim their space.”The youngsters held an informal meeting with women residents of the area. The mural was discussed with the community. “Itne saalo baad hamare pyaau pe kuchh ho raha hai,” smiled one woman. Another said, "Ab pyaau pyaau lag raha hai.” Some wondered, however, if water supply would prove a problem.A shopkeeper right next to the pyaau is the grandson of the man who built the pyaau in the first place. He said, “I am so glad that it's working after such a long time. People who work here are not a vote bank so political leaders don’t take an interest in our issues. In the summer heat, the pyaau will be so useful for the people.”The students' efforts drew attention and prompted the locals to repair the taps and offer much-needed relief to the labourers working daily in the heat. Housewife Aarti said, “I loved the new look and took a selfie with the painting when I visited the pyaau with my daughter. It is so inspiring to see young people think so deeply about us and our existence and make us believe we matter.”Maddipati said, “I believe that the murals are a catalyst. First, the visual images can raise awareness of pressing social concerns and secondly, they can start a dialogue that leads to change. I am proud of my students for executing the project so well. I will ensure they do more of this work.”