My Grandmother

At the very beginning, it would do the memories of my grand mother a whole world of justice by knowing that I was brought up by my grand parents. 
              As with all journeys ,I take the liberty of thinking that my journey was special.
             So far as special  goes, it doesn't even begin to cover her. Clad in a white blue bordered sari(almost like the Missionaries of charity), she would flit around, from one place to another, lending an ear here, a helping hand there.She was addicted to supari(betel nut). Her clothes would smell of cloves and supari. Even now, nearly twenty years since her having passed away, the smell of cloves brings tears and memories flooding back.
              In keeping with the spirit of all great leaders she was a path breaker, a pioneer of sorts. In a world where girls were married off at the age of 13+, where girls going to college was deemed synonymous with promiscuity ,she put her foot down and gave all three of us sisters decent college education. The fact that these very girls brought home doctorates from reputed universities, domestic and foreign, and the fact that today i sit here blogging about this diminutive lady, is a befitting tribute to her great and progressive convictions.
               This of course did not deter her from laying emphasis on the importance of housework and "shunning laziness". She was a feared and admired "whip cracker", who had little regard for shoddy work.She ruled her home, hearth, fields, gardens,fish-ponds and a vast retinue of children and servants with an iron hand, proverbially velvet gloved.
                We addressed her as" thamma" (a shortened version of thakurmaa- bengali for granny). She was friend, philosopher, guide and "ringmaster" for all those whom she chose to take under her wings. We were proud to be the chosen ones.
                  Like all human beings, she too had a failing. She was more fond of her male offsprings. When my brother(her piece of the moon) descended into the chaotic and dark world of schizoprenia,it grieved her beyond words. She was shocked to be confronted by a problem whose nature was beyond her comprehension,solution beyond her means(she'd never agree to ECT).She passed away shortly afterwards 
                  I would like to think that she died because she was heart broken, not being able to fix things ,for once, rather than the simple explanation of old age.