About the Worker
“My labor today is for a better tomorrow.”
Construction Worker | Bengaluru | Since 2005
Journey of Hard Work
My name is Devi, and I come from a small village in Tamil Nadu. My childhood was simple, surrounded by family, nature, and peaceful village life. But everything changed when I was in the 9th grade, when my parents told me I would be married soon.
In 2005, I got married to Thirumalai, a relative who worked in Bengaluru as a civil construction worker. Soon after marriage, I left behind my home, my friends, and my education—and stepped into a completely new life.
Bengaluru felt loud, crowded, and unfamiliar. Tall buildings surrounded me, and life moved faster than I had ever known. My husband worked long hours at construction sites, and slowly, I began working alongside him. At first, my hands trembled while lifting bricks and mixing cement. My body ached every night, but I kept telling myself that this was my new reality—and I had to become strong.
Over time, I learned the work. I learned how to carry heavy loads, how to balance carefully on narrow scaffolding, and how to keep going even when the sun burned my skin and exhaustion filled my bones.
My day begins before sunrise. By 8:30 a.m., I am already working—mixing mortar, stacking bricks, and lifting dreams built from cement and sweat. We work until 6:00 p.m., with only a one-hour lunch break. We take leave only when it is truly necessary—during illness, school admissions, or rare festival holidays.
I don’t know how to use mobile phones or gadgets. The world is changing quickly, but my life still moves with the rhythm of footsteps on concrete and hands covered in dust.
My husband and I live at the construction site itself, in a small temporary room. It is just enough space for us to cook, sleep, and dream. At night, a single bulb lights our room, and its glow feels like the only star that belongs to us.
We have three children—one boy and two girls. They live in our village with my father-in-law and mother-in-law. They are studying there, and their education is the biggest reason I continue working. Every time I hear their voices through a neighbor’s phone, my eyes fill with tears.
Life at the site is dusty, noisy, and full of struggle. But when I imagine my children wearing clean uniforms, holding books instead of bricks, I feel strength rise inside me.
We may not have much, but we have hope. And that hope is what keeps me and Thirumalai working side by side—every single day.
Watch the Story
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