For Champabai, who made the invisible visible

Champabai, a jhapa, devoted her life to caring for families in her community. She began teaching the writer about childcare when she first brought her newborn home, and over the next 18 years, she raised the writer's children, becoming a surrogate family member. After a heartache, the writer reluctantly allowed Champabai to leave, and she passed away unexpectedly at the age of sixty.

Beyond being a nanny, Champabai was the writer's friend, sister, and ally, providing invaluable emotional and practical support. Her life's work remains largely uncelebrated, as domestic helpers' contributions often go unnoticed. The writer has taken steps to honor Champabai's memory through a photo album, prayers, and a request for her family to receive support.

Moreover, the writer collaborated with artist Saviya Lopes to create a painting that captures the essence of Champabai's role in the writer's life. This artwork serves as a reminder that the writer's success was made possible through the labor of women like Champabai, who remain largely invisible in society's collective memory.