Kaleeswaran’s Mother (7211), All Rounder, No More

Smt B.V. Meenakshi, Kaleeswaran’s mother, passed away last night. That was my mother’s name too, but K’s mother always called me her younger brother. The family celebrated her 97th birthday ten days ago in a nearby care-home.

Never in a hurry, communion with God in the prayer room takes the best part of her time before she takes her lunch around 2.30. During her free times she hums Carnatic songs, chants stotrams, and watches her favourite Tamil serials. In the last activity her one and only son Kaleeswaran  also joins her, sitting by her side. She is so much into Carnatic music that if someone is introduced to her, she would sing a song featuring his/her name. If it is Krishnan, she would sing, “Krishna nee begane baro….”  If it is Lalitha, she would sing “Lalithambika Chintayamyaham…”; or if it is Hari, it is, “Hari smarana mado niranthara…” Simply fantastic off-the-cuff utterances. 

In the home for the aged where she has been lodged for some months, she is a star attraction. Very popular not just among the nurses (to each of whom she has given a name of her own), but with the inmates as well. A great entertainer. The nurses would give her (and her alone) an affectionate hug and kiss on cheek before leaving for home. And during their spare time, they would chat with her and enjoy her jokes.

The family belongs to Madurai. Mami is Meenakshi; mama, Sundaram. How the names coincide with the presiding deity of Madurai – Meenakshi  Sundareswarar. Mami’s husband was a Carnatic music teacher, pedaling his way to various homes to take music classes to students. Mami is also a music teacher and an accomplished singer. She used to give performances to an audience of 50 to 100. On many occasions, the upcoming (and later famous) Madurai Somu would stealthily come and hide behind the architectural pillar in the temple to hear Mami, in order to absorb the nuances. Yes, this reminds me of the Tamil movie, Thillana Mohanambal, where Sivaji Ganesan, a nadaswaram player, would stealthily watch Padmini dancing. And the apt number: Maraindhirundhu Paarkum (read: ketkum – listening) Marumam Enna… Yes, a music family. No wonder, Kaleeswaran is the star attraction for Tamil and Hindi film songs at many get-togethers.

Till such time Mami stayed in SFV, Koma, a dutiful daughter-in-law, made sure her mother-in-law got her favourite item – Rasam. Herself a daughter of a hotel owner in Delhi (where I used to go daily for snacks at lunch in Jantar Mantar), Koma included Rasam in the menu everyday – paruppu rasam, jeera rasam, good rasam, Mysore rasam, pepper rasam, ginger rasam…

On Mami’s 97th birthday, ten days ago, the Kaleeswarans ordered a two-kilo cake from an SFV expert and organized a get-together with all inmates. Many of them stretched their paper plate, “some more, please”. Unlike in Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist, where when the nine-year old Oliver asks Mr Bumble, “Please sir, I want some more,” the master aims a blow at Oliver’s head, here Kaleewaran and Koma happily obliged them without even ascertaining whether they had BP or sugar. Yes, on a joyous occasion such as that, a bit of indulgence doesn't go amiss.

Kaleeswaran’s elder daughter Swathi had landed from USA a few days ago with her baby and hubby; his second daughter Lavanya landed yesterday from Canada; his two younger sisters and one brother in law, all from Delhi, arrived today – all to be part of Swathi’s daughter’s first birthday tomorrow; not to speak of Kaleeswaran’s elder sister and brother in law from Chennai.  Yes, Almighty has his own way of organizing things. He arranged a peaceful end to the pious lady, and befitting farewell with all members present, be it in the garb of some other occasion. 

Om Shanti.