govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
saMpraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati DukRiJNkaraNe
This was a song I heard, playing on the tape recorder, every single day for the years that I lived with Ammamma. I never bothered understanding the meaning but listening to it now, I know how appropriate it is to her approach to life as she grew older.
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| Visiting Ammamma in July |
At 108, she always had the brightest smile and sense of humour to try and keep an incoherent conversation alive with kids, grandkids, great grandkids & great-great grandkids. All she enjoyed even as she approached her century was prayers, watching the bustling street of Kingsway, a hello to her neighbours and the once in a while indulging herself in a piece of chocolate. Her food and other needs were super minimal. She lived by herself and on her terms. I won't go into the horrors of how adamant at times but instead...
My most memorable moments with her were spending time making pachchadi(pickle) using a traditional style stone grinder, cousins and I getting sweets and other prasadam from her daily, getting home remedies shoved down our throats, getting pampered with a loot of seasonal fruits from the farm, and once in a while getting yelled at for something naughty we did. The house was full with 2 families & 7 kids, so you can imagine how crazy it got. My first lesson of pranayama was with her and my first experience of a strong woman that could fight back(gaalis included at times) was with her. No wonder the spirit trickled down to my mom to some extent.
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| With kids, grandkids and a great grand kid (this is just part of the family!) |
Her incredible home remedies are known far and wide amongst relatives, the neighbourhood, and friends of friends. I feel that’s what has helped her get through this far with zero hospitalization and zero medical conditions. Simple living, body in motion and healthy eating. It's an incredible feat come to think of it given how people as young as in their 30s or 40s are getting diagnosed with the worst of health conditions.
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| Read perfectly fine with no glasses at 100! |
I spent some of my toughest and formative years in the Kingsway house and Ammamma’s passing away feels like the end of an era. A time that was filled with so many happy-go-lucky times despite the tough times. She was holding down the fort which is a mighty 3-storied building. This July when I visited her, the building started to fall apart due to the heavy rains. I wonder if that was a sign. Ammamma’s health deteriorated since her 108th birthday in August. She looked so happy with the chocolate cake just like a toddler with her toothless grin.
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| Ammamma celebrating 108! |
Some fun facts about this legend:
- She lived through WWI, WWII, India's Independence struggle, & Y2K
- She has 7 kids, 20 grand kids, 25 great grand kids & 2 great great grand kids
Ammamma, I miss your pachchadi, I miss enjoying Holi, Sankranthi, Diwali and all the other festivals with cousins in your house, I miss the cramped up get-togethers, I miss your payasam, I miss your fearlessness, I don’t want to miss your home remedies so I’ll try to use them and remember you through them but above all I will miss hugging your frail body.
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