Whenever we siblings had a dance programme or any cultural activity, Ma would visit her friends and neighbours to assemble costumes for us. This was my childhood and I thought that's what everyone's mothers did. Till one day, Ma told me a story.
Mom's mother and grandmother were both teachers and in my grandmom's case, a principal. So, Ma started going to school from the time she was two years old. As a result, she was always two years younger for her grade. Her mother was a busy principal and she had five younger siblings, so Ma was mostly left to her own devices.
One day, Ma saw something interesting on her school notice board. The Education Director from Thiruvananthapuram, Mr Mahabala Rao, was due to visit Valavannur panchayat (village council) in Kalpakanchery (where Ma's school was). And so, all students were allowed to go home early so the school could make the required arrangements.
Now, Mom wondered what she should do with the extra time she had in her hands. She got an idea and ran straight to her friend Krishnan Unni's house. Krishnan Unni's mother, whom Mom fondly addressed as Nethyar Amma, happened to be the president of the local Mahila Samaj and a panchayat member.
In Mom's mind, it was her duty to inform Nethyar Amma about these developments. She asked Nethyar Amma's help to make arrangements for the traditional vilakku and thaalam (lamps and flowers to welcome someone on an auspicious occasion). She also needed a line-up of girls dressed in the traditional mundu-veshti (gold-bordered white garments) for the procession. Then she ran home to get dressed to be a part of the procession. Her friend, Zohra, quite kindly lent her a gold chain to complete her look.
It was a lovely welcome at a pandal constructed for the occasion. Everyone must have assumed that the panchayat office or Ma's school had made the arrangements because... no one had asked Mom to run around and do all this. :D Her own mother didn't have a clue. Ma just took it upon herself and guess what? She was all of 11! I marvel at my mom's pluck and resourcefulness and also the graciousness of Nethyar Amma in helping this young girl to make all these arrangements.
Knowing my mother, I am not surprised. She is quite enthusiastic about arts, crafts, culture, gardening and trees and given the chance can go all out. :D My dad on the other hand was quite the little Gerald Durrell, taking care of creatures great and small, usually small. More on this... next time. :)
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