The one and only relationship that stays with us for posterity is the one that we share with our mothers. They shape our destiny and personalities and are responsible for making us what we are today. They are the focal point of our lives.
Thanking her is something one should practice at every opportunity. Every individual has a different approach in paying his or her tribute to these amazing and great people in our lives be it our mothers, grandmothers or great grandmothers. Aren’t grandmas and great grandmas too gifts from God? Isn’t it great to have a great grandma? Three generations of rich experience is something that not many are fortunate to have.
Here’s a great grandma who is just 93, pretty active, young, energetic and lively with full of zest and cheer. She leads a happy and contented life, though in her earlier days she had struggled a lot to come up in life.
S R Nanjammanni, born in 1921, could only study till the 8th standard. She got married at the tender age of fourteen and had seven daughters and five sons. Her day used to begin very early in the wee hours. Without taking a break, she would be fully engaged in her hectic work of cooking on the ancient firewood stove, cleaning the house, utensils, washing clothes and looking after her children. Apart from that, she was also interested in stitching clothes and making savouries, sandiges and papads. This life went on for 38 years. Unfortunately, in the year 1973 she lost her husband. Alas! Now began her life of continuous struggle. Only four children were settled in life. Managing all the responsibilities, she supported her three daughters and three sons in providing them good education and settling them in life.
Every year in the month of May, in remembrance of her husband, she invites all her children and grand children for a gala get together. It usually falls in the second week of May which sometimes also coincides with the Mother’s Day celebrations. On this day, its a great occasion for all the children, grand children and great grand children to be with her and play chouka bhara and pagade, some of the traditional games played in this state. And do you know who is the winner? The great grand mother herself.
At this age, she is hale and hearty with no known afflictions. With the help of a walking stick, she is capable of doing her own work without anybody’s assistance. Her day begins with a morning walk and plucking flowers for the morning puja and singing devotional songs. Having breakfast around 9 am, she keeps a track on the news updates. Reading Kannada newspapers, magazines and watching TV are her favourite pastime.
Last but not in the least, she is quite humble, friendly, jovial and offers something or the other to eat, whoever visits her. Even today, she is very excited in making in different savouries like chakli, nippattu, kodubale, papads during her visit to the houses of children or grand children.
Even at this age, she stitches her own blouse and irons her saris. And do you know how many grand children and great grand children she has? She has 24 grandchildren and 20 great grand children. Indeed, she is an inspiration and a mother of all seasons too.