Munni Begum/Guwahati

At the height of a successful career as an English teacher, Shamima Rahman had to choose between taking care of her health and pursuing a full-time job. She quit her job, but the setback could not stop her. Drawing on her lifelong love for plants and her interest in art and craft, she established ‘Tiny Planters - A Gift That Grows’, which encourages green gifting.

Today, she not only runs her small venture as a business, but also as a concept of a green way of life and meaningful gifting.

Shamima is a postgraduate in English from AMU. Later, she completed her doctoral degree from the Shillong campus of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU).

She started teaching in 2011 in the English Department of ADP College, Nagaon. After her marriage, she moved to Guwahati and joined the English Department of Assam Engineering Institute at Chandmari.

In 2018, she took charge as Head of the Department (HOD) of English at NEF College.

Her career was progressing beautifully, bringing together teaching, research and academic life. However, just a few months after the birth of her twin daughters in January 2019, she faced serious health issues.

On the advice of doctors, she had to take prolonged rest. As she underwent treatment for two to three years while also caring for her children, she had to step away from regular teaching.

Speaking to Awaz-The Voice, Shamima Rahman says, “Teaching was the profession I loved most in my life. Having to leave my job because of health issues was not easy for me. Initially, I went through a lot of emotional distress. But I believed that life would certainly allow me to do something new. That belief kept me moving forward.”

Shamima with her husband and children

Initially, she began beautifully arranging small indoor plants as gifts for her family, relatives, friends and colleagues. These green gifts, prepared for birthdays, special occasions and for college colleagues and students, attracted considerable attention.

Gradually, word of her work began to spread by word of mouth, and she started receiving a growing number of orders from educational institutions, events and even cultural programmes at the national level.

Shamima said: “Initially, I had never thought about starting an entrepreneurship. I was simply doing something I enjoyed. When people began taking my plants as gifts and started appreciating them so much, I realised that this hobby of mine could become my new identity.”

Shamima mainly creates and beautifully decorates indoor plants such as jade plants, snake plants, spider plants and Zebra Haworthia, and delivers them to customers.

These plants can survive for long periods with minimal care. Besides enhancing the beauty of homes, they also help purify air. Jade plants and snake plants, in particular, are among the most popular choices for gifting and home décor.

Her planters start from ₹250. However, for bulk orders, they are also available for around ₹170 to ₹180, making these green gifts more affordable for a larger number of people.

Her designs bring together elements such as gamosa (traditional Assamese scarf), japi (traditional Assamese hat), jute, mirror work, colours, ribbons and flowers, creating an appealing blend of Assamese heritage and contemporary décor. She also prepares customised designs according to customers’ requirements.

On one occasion, she received an order from a college to create gamosa-themed planters within just two days. Despite the tight deadline, she completed the work. Since then, she has received many more orders of a similar nature.

Shamima Akhtar's plants and pots

About her designs, Shamima said: “I do not copy any design from others. I prepare most of the designs myself, and they are often created from an idea that suddenly comes to my mind. Every planter is a piece of artwork for me. I try to give each pot a completely distinctive appearance by using the gamosa, japi, jute and various elements of Assam’s culture.”

Shamima personally handles every stage of making the planters. From washing and painting the pots to decorating them, planting the plants in coco peat and packaging the finished products, she does everything herself.

With every planter, she also includes a special message card titled “Write Your Wish Note”, allowing customers to write their own wishes or personal messages and make the gift even more memorable.

Shamima accepts orders through Instagram and WhatsApp and also offers home-delivery services.

“Sometimes it takes up to two days to complete a beautifully decorated plant pot or planter. When there are bulk orders, I can prepare only around 10 pots a day. The cost is somewhat higher because of high-quality packaging, my own brand logo and quality materials, but customer satisfaction makes the efforts worthwhile.”

“Many people tell me that the pots I make are very beautiful and that I could increase their prices a little if I wanted to. But for me, in the beginning, earning trust was more important than making a profit. Even today, I try to provide customers with high-quality and creative products at affordable prices,” She added.

Shamima also offers instructions for the care of each plant and is also available on the phone for any advice for her customers. Many customers affectionately refer to her as the ‘Plant Doctor’.

About this, Shamima said: “I do not simply sell plants. My wish is for the plant to remain healthy for many years. That is why I explain to every customer how to take care of their plant. Many people affectionately call me the ‘Plant Doctor’, and that name is my greatest source of inspiration.”

Alongside the business aspect, Shamima is equally interested in contributing to the social side of entrepreneurship. Recently, she included a handmade rakhi made by an acquaintance who is a small-time entrepreneur in her own gift boxes as a gift.

Through this initiative, she is attempting not only to promote her own business but also to provide financial support to another small entrepreneur.

“I believe that business should not be only about one’s own profit. If, through my work, I can also help another small entrepreneur, then that is true success for me,” she said.

Speaking about her plans, Shamima said: “My goal is not limited to Tiny Planters. Going forward, I want to develop a Green Decor Service, where people can get not just plants but also the opportunity to create a complete green environment.”

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The journey of this woman, who has successfully carried the identities of teacher, researcher, mother and entrepreneur together, proves one thing: every challenge in life carries new possibilities within it.