It is a year today, since our mother (Syamala. S) left us. For me, not a day passes without thinking about her. Born among six siblings, and married into a large family, she was always active around people. From my childhood days I have seen her as a very active person. Procrastination is a quality that I have never seen in her. Before her marriage, Amma used to travel from Ambattur to her work place everyday by electric train. She worked for “Handloom Export Promotion council” for more than three decades and took a voluntary retirement at the age of 55, just to spend time with her ailing mother. Unfortunately, her mom passed away within a month of her retirement.
Nowadays we
have all praise for women who balance their career and family. Coming to think of it
my mom balanced it effortlessly. In my living memory, she had never missed any
family events; and festivals, whether it is religious or ritualistic.
Since 2017, She
was down with COPD, since then, she was unable to move out of the house without
support. During this period, she made her mobile phone as her companion.
Listening to Carnatic songs, especially Tamil songs sung by Sanjay Subrahmanyam
was her favourite pass time. “Ezhundaale poom kodai “ was the last song she listened
to before she left us.
Everyday, after her morning coffee, reading The Hindu newspaper without missing any column (including the obituary column),
was part of her daily routine. She never missed calling her dearest sister
Rajalakshmi, and the siblings would discuss the “World politics”.
Last year on
July 31st She was so keen on
visiting us here in Bangalore and I’m not sure what she had in mind!! She came
to Bangalore, spent two weeks with us and on 20th August she left
this mortal world.
She has advised
me on many occasions. The one thing she always tells me is “Serve people with
good food, we may not satisfy people but we can definitely satisfy their
appetite ” (வாய் வாழ்த்தாட்டியும் வயிறு வாழ்த்தும்) I don’t know how I spent this one year without
her... and this void can never be filled… Miss you Amma.
