The word “ATHHAI” in Tamil language means aunt. Aunt who is
sister of one’s father! Unlike English where every- one is an aunt here the
relationship is too unique and revered very much! The relationship of an Aunt
and Uncle..”Uncle” meaning brother of one’s mother are held in very high
esteem! Any good or bad event in one’s life the ceremonies are incomplete
without the presence of these two relations! This is more so in South Indian
culture!
My father was the youngest among his siblings. He had seven
elder sisters and an elder brother. Due to the demise of my paternal
grandmother during my father’s birth, he was nurtured by his sisters and he was
therefore very fond of them. Unfortunately, when we were born, amongst the
seven aunts we were to have only three remained.
Sundari Athhai was the youngest of the aunts from my
paternal side. She was short by any standard and she was hardly 5 feet 3 inches
in height. Very fair in complexion and she had inherited the typical money
purse of my paternal grandfather. It is another matter I had hardly seen him
alive but whatever I could see in some photographs I can say the same with
confidence! Sundari Athhai used to wear a white blouse always. She would not
put typical vermilion mark on her forehead as she was widow. She used to apply
oil liberally on her hair and comb the same into a nice and tight bun! She used
to wear simple cotton sarees nicely starched and ironed.
Legend says that Sundari Athhai was born in the birth star
of “Bharani” and as per Hindu astrology people born in that star would rule the
world! True to that my aunt was literally ruling her own world with ease and to
the admiration of all and sundry!
Sundari Athhai was married to someone for hardly a few weeks. Before her marriage would get consummated
this gentle man died of Cholera outbreak in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu
in late forties. My grandfather on hearing the news of the death of the
Son-in-law fell down with a sudden heart attack and never recovered. Sundari
Athhai had no one to take care of her in her widowhood as her brothers were
younger to her and she had no parents to support her.
In those days, when a lady that too from conservative
Brahmin household would never venture out to work she took a bold decision to
work that too in government service. She became a sewing teacher and started working
in rural development department in their extension wing. Thus my aunt ruled the
entire Udumalpet district of Tamil Nadu. The area was predominantly dominated
by Gownder and Naicker community people. Among them she was so very popular. I
and my younger brother started visiting her in mid seventies. By then Aunt was
in her late forties and became a Grama Sevikha! She was supposed to travel from
village to village teaching rural women things like personal hygiene,
nutrition, sanitation etc. Being an emancipated and empowered personality these
things came naturally to her. She had given up her tailoring classes to her juniors!
When we landed up in a small village by name Gudimangalam in
Udamalpet district, where Aunt was based then, we were welcomed by the entire
village. As a Brahmin Widow, aunt would never eat anything from anywhere.
Therefore the entire village brought fruits, vegetables, ground nuts, milk,
curd and ghee to fill her house so that she could feed her nephews. We were
thrilled to see the affection showered on her by all the village folks. She
would proudly take us to one house after another as if we were some deservedly
won trophies by her. Where ever we went we were received with abundant love and
give nice goodies to eat and enjoy. In one house we saw truck loads of pumpkin
being stacked in a corner. We had never seen such a sight and we described to our
aunt that probably they were the richest folk in the whole village! Our aunt
was amused!!
We used to be fed with lot of love by her. She was not used
to cooking big elaborate meals by her as she was always staying alone.
Therefore the food used to sometime too bland, sometime too spicy but the
affection of her was always too much so we would enjoy the dishes with great
love in her company.
She had a very small portion for her to stay. The flooring
was made of mud, with a small lower level room used as a kitchen. The same were
sufficient for a single individual. A small bath room was there to be used by
her. We were made to go to some pump sets to take bath in the fields. We looked
forward to the same as the same was great fun! There was no toilet and so it
was free for all in the village set up!!
……………………..
To be concluded..
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