OUR BELOVED MOTHER (PARUKUTTY MAMI)
Pranams to our beloved mother. “Mathrudevo Bhava” is how "Thaithreya Upanishad" defines mother.
About 100 yrs ago from Tirunelveli Dist.in Tamilnadu, 25 to 30 families migrated to Ernakulam, now called Kochi for business purpose. My parents Shri A.S.SankarasubbaIyer and my mother Smt Parvathy Ammal (known as Parukutty Mami) were among them. My father started his business and kept his sincerity till his death. He expired at the age of 52, in the year 1947 leaving behind a huge family of 9 children with the youngest one being just 2 years old. My mother took charge of the responsibilities in her shoulder. The eldest son, who was just 18 years at that time took charge of my father's business. At the time of my father's death only 2 of his daughters were married. Over a period of time, she found it difficult to manage the household and feed or educate her children. But with little support from local people my mother managed to get her children married in respectable families in due course of time.
Without any formal school education, my mother was able to establish a name for herself in Ernakulam. She used to help people in making bhakshanams (savouries- particularly Murukku & sweets) for weddings, upanayanam and other religious functions, helping ladies in deliveries. These were not done with an expectation of any kind of monetary benefit but with the sheer intention of helping the society. In addition to the above she was an expert in ear and nose piercing with the thorn of lemon plant and extracting children’s tooth when there was no dentist available in near vicinity. Her skills and “kairasi” became so popular in Ernakulam and nearby districts that in her later days when she was little immobile, people use to send car to fetch her.
Without any formal school education, my mother was able to establish a name for herself in Ernakulam. She used to help people in making bhakshanams (savouries- particularly Murukku & sweets) for weddings, upanayanam and other religious functions, helping ladies in deliveries. These were not done with an expectation of any kind of monetary benefit but with the sheer intention of helping the society. In addition to the above she was an expert in ear and nose piercing with the thorn of lemon plant and extracting children’s tooth when there was no dentist available in near vicinity. Her skills and “kairasi” became so popular in Ernakulam and nearby districts that in her later days when she was little immobile, people use to send car to fetch her.
In 1986 at the age of 84, she passed away without giving any trouble to her children or being a burden to anyone.
Since then my elder brother Krishnan Iyer ( Radiobrain Krishnan) took the responsibilities of the family. At present he is 82 and but is still active in various social services. His wife Rajalakshmi came to our family at the age of 20 and has been taking care of the family and keeping the family united. My brothers, sisters, their children and their grand children continue to meet in the family house in Ernakulam at various occasions.
Since then my elder brother Krishnan Iyer ( Radiobrain Krishnan) took the responsibilities of the family. At present he is 82 and but is still active in various social services. His wife Rajalakshmi came to our family at the age of 20 and has been taking care of the family and keeping the family united. My brothers, sisters, their children and their grand children continue to meet in the family house in Ernakulam at various occasions.
I am proud to say that even after 25 years of my mother's death, people of Ernakulam still remember her and are full of praise for her talent.
With the blessings of ERNAKULATHAPPAN all the members of the family are well settled across the globe & today marks the arrival of the first great-great grand child of the family.
Once again Pranams to a great lady “Parvathy Ammal”.
“MATHRUDEVO BHAVA”
Excellent appa ,our humble pranams to our great pattima.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Write up..Came to know about Paru patty a lot.So blessed to be a part of her family...Jr.Raji is the first great great grand child of Paru patty..(So thoughtful Mama)Completely Loved it.
ReplyDeleteMy only memory of my patti is - wade through the heavy rains into the parambu in search of atleast one mango so that she can feed pachadi for her grand children all the way from delhi..
ReplyDeleteAnd i must say..nobody has ever made such delicious ones...
Nice Mama. Patty ma was more like a mother to me than a grand mother.She was like a well wisher and a roll model.She was there next to me since i was born till my daughter third birthday.She was the one who gave me confidence to do all types of work and service to others.I follow her till now and would be a same kind of patty ma to my grand daughter Anagha.With her blessings i feel she has reborn as Anagha.
ReplyDeleteVery nice write up. I remember Pattima as a dentist pulling out one of my tooth. She used to play pallanguli hours together with me to keep me entertained:)
ReplyDeleteVery nicely written. I had tears in my eyes after reading this blog.
ReplyDeleteI am the youngest one who was just 2 years old when we lost our father.
My mother is always in my thoughts .... everyday.
Sometimes when I feel lazy in the morning to make a cup of coffee, I always think about my mother who had to first get milk from the cow, then start a fire using dry wood and only then she could make coffee, breakfast, lunch etc for the family. They did not have the luxury of gas, readymade milk etc during those days. I want to proudly say that I inherited the art of making murukku, thatai etc from my mother. She also used to make excellent coconut thoghiyal podi for her son-in-law. I have wonderful memories that I cherish