When the ‘inevitable’ thing happened the flashback ushered in my mind was the bold, bravo, nobody can mow me down attitude of my mother who passed away silently without giving any clue regarding her death. The long life span of ninety years –a sequence of triumphs, tragedies and tribulations proves the wise saying right-‘None but the brave deserves the fair’. A mother is precious to all, but a mother imparting moral lessons, do’s and don’ts through her life is something to ponder over.
When I was in school final, she was at the fag end of her teaching career. Under amma (Queen Victoria’s regime) all the (subjects) children are expected to get up by 6’o’ clock (sometimes it is her roaring alert for us to wake up. Our daily chorus starts with sweeping, drawing water from forty feet depth well, washing clothes, grinding coconut and chillies for two hours. Anybody failing to do the job allotted for them will have to meet with dire consequences. In those days, beating with coconut ‘mattals’, ‘choorals’ were very common. No child would take the beatings as a criminal act, but only as solemn, serious warnings from thoughtful parents. Being ambitious, amma knew that it is impossible for her children to master the winds, the waves and gravity but she wanted them to learn responsibility for teach others welfare.
Nobody can skip the family prayer in the evenings, according to her ‘the family who pray together will stay together’. The prayers of one hour duration usually induce us to doze off, then a threatening-stern look from amma wards off our sleep. Intruders while prayer were never entertained. They have to wait outside till the prayer was over. Late comers like papa or brothers will have to undergo scrutiny-trial and prosecution afterwards.
I rarely saw amma going for a movie; neither are we allowed to see films. She accompanied us for the festivals of the neighbourhood.Apart from taking care of her children. She had no time for hobbies, no visits to her friends, no shopping .She finds time to read the Malayala Manorama daily in the evenings; that must have kept her knowledgeable about daily events.
Though amma was ambitious, she was pretty humble and desired God to grant her children the boom of good education. As a reward for her handwork and sincerity the almighty destined her children her children over and above what amma desired.
Sitting near the coffin with my two sisters, in which my mother was laid dressed all white, the colour she disliked. Bedecked like a bride with crown, net hand gloves and socks, her close companion, a black beaded rosary around her frail hands. She wore a successful smile on her pale lips which whispered to me that the strength and confidence should always come from within and not to search for it outside .Yes, her life is the proof. Death came to her like a thief without much suffering-indeed a crowning glory. Your long innings are over amma, now it is our turn to stand through life firm as a rock in the sea, undisturbed and unmoved by its ever-rising waves.
When I was in school final, she was at the fag end of her teaching career. Under amma (Queen Victoria’s regime) all the (subjects) children are expected to get up by 6’o’ clock (sometimes it is her roaring alert for us to wake up. Our daily chorus starts with sweeping, drawing water from forty feet depth well, washing clothes, grinding coconut and chillies for two hours. Anybody failing to do the job allotted for them will have to meet with dire consequences. In those days, beating with coconut ‘mattals’, ‘choorals’ were very common. No child would take the beatings as a criminal act, but only as solemn, serious warnings from thoughtful parents. Being ambitious, amma knew that it is impossible for her children to master the winds, the waves and gravity but she wanted them to learn responsibility for teach others welfare.
Nobody can skip the family prayer in the evenings, according to her ‘the family who pray together will stay together’. The prayers of one hour duration usually induce us to doze off, then a threatening-stern look from amma wards off our sleep. Intruders while prayer were never entertained. They have to wait outside till the prayer was over. Late comers like papa or brothers will have to undergo scrutiny-trial and prosecution afterwards.
I rarely saw amma going for a movie; neither are we allowed to see films. She accompanied us for the festivals of the neighbourhood.Apart from taking care of her children. She had no time for hobbies, no visits to her friends, no shopping .She finds time to read the Malayala Manorama daily in the evenings; that must have kept her knowledgeable about daily events.
Though amma was ambitious, she was pretty humble and desired God to grant her children the boom of good education. As a reward for her handwork and sincerity the almighty destined her children her children over and above what amma desired.
Sitting near the coffin with my two sisters, in which my mother was laid dressed all white, the colour she disliked. Bedecked like a bride with crown, net hand gloves and socks, her close companion, a black beaded rosary around her frail hands. She wore a successful smile on her pale lips which whispered to me that the strength and confidence should always come from within and not to search for it outside .Yes, her life is the proof. Death came to her like a thief without much suffering-indeed a crowning glory. Your long innings are over amma, now it is our turn to stand through life firm as a rock in the sea, undisturbed and unmoved by its ever-rising waves.
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