I don’t even know where to begin. There will never be enough words to describe how much I appreciate her, how blessed I am to have her, or to explain how much of a role model she has always been for me.
My Amma was born in Theni. Her father’s native is M. Kallupatti in Madurai district. but later settled in Mayavaram for his govt job. Her father passed away when she was just 7 years old, which also shut the wonderful future the whole family envisioned for themselves.
After her father’s passing away, the family of mother, daughter, and 26 days old son (my mama) was asked to move back to their hometown M. Kallupatti. Let’s not even get started on the oppressions a single young widowed mother with her children faces in the rural parts of India ( that too, decades back ). So it was a difficult path ahead for the family. And it was a bumpy ride for the family since then. And the journey hit a hard road for her when her family (paternal side ) was reluctant to let her study after 10th std and quoted the cliché, “education is not for women ” dialogue (sigh!).
But my amma was not ready to give up her studies and future. And big thanks to her amazing mother who stood her ground strong to make her children study and instill their future. So my strong aachi along with her two children left their village, house, family, and belongings to move into Theni to create their own future. And then nothing stopped her from studying. The thirst she has for studying is beyond my imagination. Now she is a proud degree holder of “12” degrees and is still studying in every opportunity she gets.
She started working at the age of 17, juggling between her teaching job, Hindi tuitions for kids, and her Typewriter instructor job. And later she got her government job as a teacher and since then has been an advert follower of her Teacher’s union ” TESTF “. And began her Union phase of attending innumerable protests, meetings, conferences, getting arrested for the protest. And with her relentless work and dedication to her union, she gradually got higher positions through the years which made her travel to different parts of the country and later to different countries. And her hard work earned her a stronghold and positions in Associations such as TESTF , AIPTF , STF, and EI .
And she earned the ultimate high of her hard work by attending the general assembly of the United Nations as the only candidate from India. As a kid, I wasn’t aware of her great achievements or her postings. All that I know is I was very proud of my mother and flaunted to my friends that my mother travels to places that I can’t even pronounce. And since my childhood, I had the coolest outfits that everyone envied and talked about. All thanks to my mom who got those from every place she traveled and also was experimental enough to try bold outfits on me.
As I grew up, I accompanied her to numerous of her protests, meetings, and conferences which made me awestruck with the power she has and the respect she received everywhere she went. And at that age, I badly wanted to be my amma when I grow up. To have that fierce independent aura around me. It’s been ages and I still want to yearn for that and to be the strong woman my amma is.
And as years came by, she is the person I want to travel the world with, the person I want to have deep conversations with, the person I want to do fun with, memorable things with, the person to have nonstop banters with, the person to make stupid jokes and laugh uncontrollably with and the person I want to have a deep human connection with.
I have lived away from home since the age of 15 when I left for the school hostel. Years have passed. I have stayed in different cities and states. But for me, home is where she is. When I’m away from her, I miss her at the most random times. When I’m stressed, anxious, afraid, vulnerable, or not feeling well, the first person I call is her and I wish for nothing more than for my amma to be there for me and help me in whatever way possible.
Thanks to you Amma, we always had more than plenty. Plenty of safety, security, food, shelter, and love. Most importantly, I always felt like I had plenty of space to grow and space to rest. I often think about how different things and our life would be if you weren’t the gracious, and hardworking mother that you are now. I grew up watching you handle all the obstacles life put upon you. You have not only been an amazing mother but have also shown us how to be a strong woman.
As I venture through my adulthood, I understand how much I’m eternally grateful for you. And I understand how much it is difficult to juggle between work, house chores, and life. I know how it’s hard for you to wake up every day and have all of us rely on you for the littlest of things. But you handled everything like a pro. I hugely respect and love you for that.
And I often wonder, if I asked you to name all the things you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself? You wouldn’t even think of yourself. So Amma, stop being selfless and love yourself, and live for yourself.
Another marvelous inheritance I have from you is that I can’t get through a day without reading something. Another thing to thank you for. As much as we can but heads over stupid things, I will always consider you my best friend. I’m so excited to navigate being an adult with you by my side and for you to continue shaping the woman I am, and the woman I will be.
I truly hope to be the woman you are someday.
I hope you reading this makes you feel loved and appreciated, and also helps you to realize what an impact you have made on your children! I can’t wait to see what memories we will continue to make. I love you!
Amma, You are my constant. You give stability to my world. All I ask of you is, don’t grow old!
To read the previous two generation women’s stories, click here:
About the author
Hey! I’m Booshitha Anand. I’m an Interior Designer by profession who loves to travel, rant, journal, make jokes that aren’t funny, shop, write and read!
