Parvathi:
I always felt proud that Thikkavva (Mad granny) was there during my birth. I have heard so many disjointed stories about her, regaling in how mad she was, she was this and that... What I came to know over the years make me feel like I am digging into the past of a radical feminist. She was far ahead of her times ..
She was my grandfather's sister (mother's father). Her story as I know through my mother ...
She was born at seven months after 3 still births,…She was rolled in cotton, placed amidst Castor leaves and was fed through cotton swabs soaked in her mother's milk. This went on till she gained weight and seemed like a human baby. She was 14 when she was married off to Grama Purohit of Alampur Taluk. He was a rich man with 250 acres of land. In her days of glory, it is said that she had different jewelery for different days of the week (Yedu vaaraala sommu) and her hair was adorned with golden leaves that could be fastened to the length of the plait. When she gave birth to her first child, her husband ordered lorry loads of flowers for decoration of the house. Sadly none of her two off springs survived.
She became a widow when she was 20. Husband succumbed to 'medicine less illness'. By the time her parents got the news of the tragedy and went there, her head was already sheared, she was wearing red Saree covering her bald head. Her mother in law who was the picture of greed took hold of all the jewelery and showed some relative as the adopted son and tried to get all the property.
My grandfather entered the scene, had a fair idea of the law and registered a case on behalf of her. Warangal court gave decision in her favour and she got all her property over the years.
My grandfather suggested that she adopt a boy and he will be her support in her old age as well as he can take care of the property as he grows up. He volunteered to take care of the land till then.
She was a well read woman for her times and was not a believer of traditions. She was against adoption for the sake of security and asked my grandfather to maintain the property for her. As this thought clashed with his value system, he was adamant that she adopt and convinced her some how for that.
She would have been any other forgotten woman if she had followed what was expected out of her, content while rearing her boy, being of assistance in all the ceremonies in the near and far relative circles, blending in the background, being the last to eat in auspicious occasions...
Instead.....
She decided to venture out of the safe heaven of her Street (Which is till today called 'The -------caste Street) and into the Pataan geri full of muslims, into SC colony, wherever she went people were stunned and welcomed her with awe. She started going there and started talking to the men,women and children. She spoke to them about sending their children to school, counselled pregnant women to go to hospitals, scolded drunk men. They revered her presence.
She woke up at the wee hours of the morning to make a huge flask full of coffee, carried it to the Govt. hospital general ward, where the poor relatives of patients from far off places used to be. She was the friendly localite with a smile on her face, lending friendly ear to their woes and serving them hot coffee. Her presence was a balm for many souls.
Everybody thought if she is doing these outrageous things, then surely she is mad! She got the prefix to her name 'Mad' at this period and she knew it. There was a huge dam construction project taken up by the Govt. which would have submerged the town. Govt. offered resettlement lands and monetary benefits. My grandfather decided to fight against Govt. as the town is a historically important place with ancient temples and Scriptures. He was doing signature campaigns, strikes and applying for stay order in court etc.
She started making up catchy songs about the horrors of losing the town and how the lives are going to be affected. She walked through out the town and nearby villages singing. If people showed interest, then spoke about what is going to happen, generated lot of interest and support for the anti project efforts.
She never minced her words and was periodically angry at my grandfather for making her adopt. Some say instead she wished to be remarried.
When I was born, she came to be with my mother and help. Once my father remarked how come this dish tastes like this? And she told him, this is the only way I know to cook, if you want it better, you can cook yourself. My mom says only for my birth, my father took a long leave of absence from his work. I wonder why :-)
I remember her smell of Vibuthi and Camphor. Though she is not supposed to touch anybody till her bed time, she never hesitated to touch and kiss us.
She died when she was 75…..
Kamala:
She was the daughter of RajaVaidya of Gadwal province. She was born during the British Raj. She was an exceptional beauty with a hint of a blue in her eyes. People always turned their heads to look at her. She was married off when she was 8 years old. She had not attained menarchy so was still at her parents house and in a year she was told that her husband died and she is a widow now. She was 9.
Relatives started asking her parents to send her for ceremonies and functions. She came to Alampur on a visit to her uncle's house. She stayed on helping them. The sight of a waifish beauty in her teens carrying huge pots of water from the river became familiar in the street.
Ramakrishna was one of the idealistic freedom fighter who was stationed at Alampur to help settle his sister's property dispute. He used to wake up at 4 in the morning and used to do Yoga in the Thungabadra river bed. He always wondered about this girl who fetched water endlessly in such huge pots.
She always observed this man who did strange Aasanas so early in the morning.
One day, she was walking home with a pot of water, a horse driven carriage comes and stands next to her, a stranger climbs out and asks her “Do you know Ramakrishna?” She says yes I have seen him and I know about him. The stranger tells her, “Ramakrishna sent us to tell you that he wishes to marry you”, Kamala is all flustered and does not know what to say, and the stranger continues “he wishes to marry you TODAY, so if you are in agreement then you come with us in the carriage, if not he completely understands and will never trouble you again”.
She stood there for how long and thought about what all I don't know......
She went in the carriage and married the intriguing man on that very day!
Oh by the way she is my grandmother... I wouldn't be here writing this if she did not go in that carriage that day :-)
