power of the ordinary woman

Years of clinical practise I have come across s many women many of them in their wrong side of 35yrs. I have come across women who are on a quest to find meaning in their life; they say there is a vacuum that they are not able to handle. They have done their rounds to various spiritual Gurus’ to fill that vacuum.


Maybe I should introduce them to Kannamma, many Manipalities may remember the wife of the Anatomy Professor Dr.Krishnaswamy. she was very dynamic and maybe slightly bossy too. She had spearheaded the Manipal Mahila samaj through its many activities.

Early in their married life without much ado she adopted her orphan niece.

Now at 89, she lives with her older sister Kuppamma. When both of them were mobile they went everyday to the hospital to help out people who needed simple help like someone to write a letter or someone to relieve their caregiver till she had a bath and lunch, the nurses would keep some of the work aside for them. Since neither sister could drive they had hired an auto.

Now Kuppamma is bed ridden and Kannamma is weaker than before so she goes once a week. She says it makes her humble to see the privileged life that she has lived. And it also gives her immense joy that people look forward to her coming.

amma

This write up is not about Mrs.SrinivasaRao P.N. but about Mrs.Shyla.S.Rao who has emerged from the shadow of her husband and come to her own. If one were to ask me about my mother as Mrs.SrinivasaRao she was like the water, which is apparently without force, but its own quiet strength can carve a mountain. She was the sense of practicality in my dreamer father; she let him fly by keeping the nest secure.
If one were to capture the character of my mother Shyla.S.Rao in an Asterix comic it would be difficult to choose between arachnia(spider) looking at the massive network of friends and family she has nurtured like a the intricate delicate web of the spider, or Formecia to honor her continuous hard work. Delegate is a word that does not exist in her vocabulary
Sometimes I wonder how she adjusted from a nuclear family in Delhi as the daughter of Mr. Krishna Rao a govt. servant and his wife Parvati to a rural joint family.
Life as the wife of an eminent ophthalmologist would not be simple, it meant being prepared for guests 24/7. It meant a large extended family. It meant single parenting to a large extent. She did it all dutifully.
A large chunk of energies went to her school, I assume she must have been as meticulous there too.
Her grandchildren Tanvi, Jahnavi, Madhav see her as out going, energetic, and hardworking and a great cook. While granddaughter Manasi thinks she is the best story teller and playmate that a 5 yr.old can have. My brother Shantaram, who is now in the states, sees her as his best friend, philosopher and guide. His wife Archana agrees with him, but she also knows that amma can be relied on for a good healthy gossip session.
To me she has handed the superwoman cape fortunately, it is too battered for use.
I’m glad she has found like minded friends, who love traveling, socializing and growing learning new skills. I would welcome it if you have another face of my mother to introduce to me.