How art and a simple act of kindness helped transform this tea-stall and the fate of its owner

Dipti Joshi, a resident of Uttarakhand, India, got widowed at a young age, bringing the responsibility of supporting her family of three squarely on her shoulders. She somehow managed to make ends meet by opening a small roadside tea-stall where a few truck drivers and travelers would halt occasionally.

Little did she know that a chance halt by a group of people at her stall would forever end up changing her life. The folks belonged to Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Delhi, who were on an off-site trip to the hills of Uttarakhand.

Upon hearing her heartrending story, they decided to step in by bringing colors to the blank, lifeless walls of Dipti’s tea-stall with the help of few enthusiastic local school students, and that too for free. Keeping the spirit of the local culture and tradition of Kumaon hills, the ‘painters’ team decided to incorporate Aipan, the traditional painting style from Kumaon, on the walls of the tea-stall.

Today, ‘Joshi tea-stall’ is called ‘Josh Cafe’ and its more than impressive appearance is attracting more and more customers, promising a steady and better flow of income for Dipti.

Read full news here: https://www.thebetterindia.com/136077/josh-cafe-kindness-tea-stall-widow-uttarakhand/