KALLIDAIKURICHI STORIES…….SUBBU MAMI :-

KALLIDAIKURICHI STORIES…….SUBBU MAMI :-

Subbu Mami was one of the interesting characters of Mudaliyappapuram Street of Kallidaikurichi ! We moved to Kallidaikurichi in 1972 and were there till 1975. We were surprised and appalled to find that exploitation of a living human being could take place to such an extent after watching the pitiable plight of Subbu Mami. For Subbu Mami Kallidaikurichi was “PUKKAAM”--meaning her in law’s place. She was probably born in Ambur a nearby village. She came to live with her in law’s place.  Subbu Mami had her good old days which she was not even able to remember when we had met in seventies.She was just a skeleton which was mobile! She was totally reduced to a pathetic plight. She had by then become a widow.

She had a son who was a vagabond. He was into some catering work and would be hardly in home to take care of her. Most of the time moving from village to village with fellow workers involved in catering work. As for him work was hard to find. So he would give little money to Subbu Mami. With totally prohibition free condition in Tamilnadu, he was free to drink and fall far and wide in around the small village leaving the unenviable task for Subbu mami to bring him home and take care of him. In inebriated condition he would curse Subbu mami in very abusive cuss words which used to amuse the on lookers, who would not step into her. They would offer her interesting suggestions to disown the son and what not! Subbu mami would not  even murmur anything but would in all fairness and earnest love tender to her son and lock the front door on the face of onlookers with a big bang!

Our families association with Subbu mami began when we wanted to make KAI MURUKKU…( Murukku is Tamil Chakli..(in HINDI) made by hand) at home. It is one of the unique snacks which is made by hand by grinding red rice and urad dal. The intricate design on Murukku is a very difficult one and all process should be synchronized to perfection! Subbu mami was amazing and was doing everything to perfection like a master choreographer! The result was amazing! We children were given Murukku which was not fully fried and half done which we tasted for the first time! Then after a few hours another round of fully fried Murukkus! We had a gala time!

Subbu Mami was given a cup of hot coffee by my mother that day and she started crying that she tasted the hot brew for the first time after a span of years as she could ill afford such a luxury! She used to do all such sundry errands like grinding idly batter by hand in a few household. People would give her one and kilogram of rice and cheat saying that the same was one Kg and what not. She was also into making appalam in a few places.

One day, I was asked to invite Subbu Mami home to do some errand at home. I went to her home which was bang opposite the Bhajan Mutt in Muddaliappapuram Street. It was nearly seven in the morning. One had to catch her early as otherwise if she had moved out on some assignment it would be difficult to track her. Subbu Mami was not up, probably sick. The house was not locked. There was a mound of earth on one corner of the floor. There was no light or fan. One corner I could find the hurricane lantern which was probably the sole source of light for the family at night. 

I could find a few rats nibbling Subbu mami’s fingers in her feet. Probably she was diabetic and they were happy for her condition. Plenty of cockroaches were all around her household. Her matted hair was providing shelter to a few!A few were nestled on her eyes and settled on her mouth from which saliva was oozing out. My repeated shouts did not wake her up and from her condition I did understand that she would no longer be there to make Murukkus anymore and her exploitation by the rich and unsympathetic had come to an end as she had become dearer to God!