What do you want to become? They ask you as a child. We mouthed things like Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher etc. I sure did. For Role models, we would mouth names like Indira Gandhi, Kiran Bedi and all other freedom fighters and great leaders and scientists that we have been taught.
As you grow older, everything changes. The role models now cease to be characters from our history books but rather people who have lived alongside us and influenced our thoughts, words and deeds.
It takes age and time to realise this and when you do, something like this comes about.
My Grandmother
One of my oldest memory of my times with her are the ones when she would try to oil my hair. We (me and my sister) would run around the house, hide under the bed sheets and do everything in our power to escape and she would in turn ensure that she drenched us in oil.
The vision of her scooping farex in to my sister's mouth still plays fresh in front of my eyes. I would sit beside her and wait for a spoonful for myself, which I would never get. I can even remember her lining my eyes with kohl, her coated finger meeting my eyes, my eye lashes fluttering and finally watering.
She always had us under her watchful eyes. She would get us ready for school and if my sister missed her breakfast, would get it up to the school gates and ensure that she was well fed. After school we would come home to fresh and tasty steamed bananas. If we were ever late, she would be there to fetch us at the gate.
She even managed the next generation of kids. Her great-grandson and great-granddaughter. Bathing the new born, changing the wet diapers, potty training and what not.
And then old age caught up with her. After spending all her younger years toiling for everyone else's welfare, she finally had to take rest.
She will always remain an inspiration to all her beloved daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her will power when she was just a penniless widow with 5 young kids. Her determination when she clothed, fed and educated them. Her grit when she got all her daughters married with whatever she owned. Her heart with which she loved and cared for everyone.
She passed away yesterday (10th November 2013) after spending her last years in contrast to the very active life she had lead.
The woman who got married at 12, widowed in her 40s, chased me around at 80 and changed diapers at 90, finally left her physical self when she was still pulling on a 100.
My grandmother Seethalakshmi (Thangam).
Fondly remembered by her favourite daughters, her son-in-laws, her loving son, her darling grand-daughters and grand-sons and great-grandsons and great-daughters.
As you grow older, everything changes. The role models now cease to be characters from our history books but rather people who have lived alongside us and influenced our thoughts, words and deeds.
It takes age and time to realise this and when you do, something like this comes about.
My Grandmother
One of my oldest memory of my times with her are the ones when she would try to oil my hair. We (me and my sister) would run around the house, hide under the bed sheets and do everything in our power to escape and she would in turn ensure that she drenched us in oil.
The vision of her scooping farex in to my sister's mouth still plays fresh in front of my eyes. I would sit beside her and wait for a spoonful for myself, which I would never get. I can even remember her lining my eyes with kohl, her coated finger meeting my eyes, my eye lashes fluttering and finally watering.
She always had us under her watchful eyes. She would get us ready for school and if my sister missed her breakfast, would get it up to the school gates and ensure that she was well fed. After school we would come home to fresh and tasty steamed bananas. If we were ever late, she would be there to fetch us at the gate.
She even managed the next generation of kids. Her great-grandson and great-granddaughter. Bathing the new born, changing the wet diapers, potty training and what not.
And then old age caught up with her. After spending all her younger years toiling for everyone else's welfare, she finally had to take rest.
She will always remain an inspiration to all her beloved daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her will power when she was just a penniless widow with 5 young kids. Her determination when she clothed, fed and educated them. Her grit when she got all her daughters married with whatever she owned. Her heart with which she loved and cared for everyone.
She passed away yesterday (10th November 2013) after spending her last years in contrast to the very active life she had lead.
The woman who got married at 12, widowed in her 40s, chased me around at 80 and changed diapers at 90, finally left her physical self when she was still pulling on a 100.
My grandmother Seethalakshmi (Thangam).
Fondly remembered by her favourite daughters, her son-in-laws, her loving son, her darling grand-daughters and grand-sons and great-grandsons and great-daughters.
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