15th January,2008

                                             OUR BELOVED MOTHER


Chandrettan & Raviettan have awakened my memories once again about Amma. I wish to share a few instances where Amma acted as a very capable doctor. Some of you may remember our old house at Orallassery, Thiruvilwamala with Ara, Thalam, Kitchen and Verandahs and this particular incident happened in that old house some time in the year 1957-58. I have a vague memory that all of my elders are at school. I don't remember exactly where 'Ettan' was. Achchan was working as Devaswom manager at Sreekrishnapuram. After sending the elders to school Amma will finish rest of her work and make preparations for her bath. I still wonder that even though she is the daughter of a renowned Adithiripad, she used to take bath between 10 AM to 12 Noon. But she will insist all the kids to take bath early in the morning. We will go to the nearby river (Cheerakkuzhi Puzha) and have a nice bath after many hours of swimming and playing. That experience can never be forgotten and it is very unfortunate that coming generations cannot get such experience nor play in such pure water in any river!

Now I am going out of the way. I mentioned earlier about the 'preparations' of Amma before going to her bath. On working days all my elders were at school and no one was there to take care of me and Vijayan. After taking her toiletries, Amma will give one piece of jaggery for me and my brother. She will lock both of us in the Ara and will go to river. We used to lick this piece slowly and slowly until Amma returns. At times this piece may be panam chakkara bought from chettichiyar (mentioned earlier by Raviettan). This is indeed very tasty.... This process continued for months. One day I felt severe pain in my stomach followed by vomiting. With great surprise and fear I found a big worm in the vomit. I cried and shouted. "Amma, Amma there is one snake in my vomit" Amma suddenly came and examined and understood what it was. In those days all kids used to sit in the courtyard for all morning activities and we also followed the unhygienic practice. I found there were a number of small such worms like earth worm (6-8cm long!) in the stool also.

Amma suddenly went to the backyard and took some leaves of “Erukku” (a medicinal plant) and its milk spread on a 'pappadam' and toasted it. She asked me to eat the ‘pappadam’ along with ‘Kadukkamoru’ she offered. This remedy continued until I was recovered from stomach ache and vomiting.

Another incident I remember is that of my fall from one of the braches of a tree. While hanging on the tree I fell on a big stone and it pierced my chin and made a deep wound. Lot of blood came and everyone at home worried. Amma suddenly went to the kitchen and took some coffee powder and sugar and used the mixture to fill my wound. After two-three days I got relief. This wound scar on the chin became my identification mark.

In those days hospitals or primary health centers were inaccessible and usually Amma will take the role of a doctor. Now we can’t imagine such situations without the help of a medical practitioner. Amma was very courageous and bold enough to face any situations in life.


Thank God and to our loving Amma for keeping us safe and well.

Girija