I wrote this on our family blog. A letter to my nephew, introducing my dream woman ! I am just compelled to post it here by a strange force ! She was was a tremendous influence on me. And i am just telling the world !
Dear K !
Someday, I’ll talk to you about her. I need to.
For you ought to know that this was the lady that made me. And she had grown her ears. Gusty, fearless, compassionate, beautiful, wealthy, steeped in values and of course, ever loving. Those could be the traits of a dream woman. That she was one, i have no doubt. She also happens to be your great great grandmother !!
She told me stories. Of another time. She spanked me when i lied. She hugged me when i cried. She put the fear of God in me. She held me when i trembled at the distant sound of thunder. She urged me to stretch. She taught me to love and to laugh. She walked a fearless walk. And when she talked, the neighbourhood would rumble.
And of course, she fed me ! With a silver spoon !!
A lady with such class, that class would show, when she showed up ! Ever immaculately dressed. Notice all the jewellery in the photograph (clicked in her younger days ) ?!! I have seen them all, on her !! She always moved with great poise and dignity.
There is a story in the family that her husband whisked her away in a horse carriage to tie the knot !! ( In my time there weren’t horse carriages..so !!)
Would you believe that she was the first woman in the family to fly ! And no i am not kidding. She flew in the 1930s i am told. Taken to see her city from air, by a husband whose wealth and stature is talked of to this day !
And then, one day, this day, many years back, she passed away. There are a few people who continue to live despite them being long gone away ! She is one.
I somehow feel that she watches over us. Listens to every word that we speak. And to the words that we don’t as well. She didn’t grow her ears for nothing !!
And so when you step out into the sun, do so confidently. For a gusty, fearless, compassionate, beautiful, wealthy, loving dream woman is watching over you as well.
“Be bold, my boy. Do your duty. And The world is yours”. That was her most favourite line. That sounds valid till date ! Doesn’t it !?!
( The ‘Road Series’ continues from the next post on )
Salutations to your grand mom. What she was is seen the way we experience you.
Great acknowledgment for a great soul!
Beautiful! Was she your great great grandmom? I liked the way you shared that story. Nice:)
That was a great post to read and believe me, felt very nice. I can also share the feelings that you might have had while writing this post. Every family has one person (atleast) in every generation who is different and has been a major influence on the people around. We tend to forget about them and their qualities once they leave us and we get involved in our day to day life. In todays world, when we are exposed to so many things, books, internet etc, its just simple and common to be matured and have a bigger and broader perspective of things. Could you imagine, those days when the world was small and with no technology around, how did people emerge so dynamic?
It was considered extremely lucky if the ear lobes touched the shoulders. I can see in the pic that it almost did! She is one beautiful woman, Kavi! It radiates through even that old, old black and white. Thank you for sharing her story.
Beautifully written. I have to say that your words do her justice, she looks extremely poised, calm, balanced and sure of herself. She has a strong sense of style. Even before I read the post – I liked her, and felt as a person/younger person you wanted to listen to what this woman had to say because you just knew it would be good stuff.
Hats off to her and sure you have those skills witin you.
look at her ears ! 🙂
she IS a beautiful woman, in and out…and i love that letter you wrote..
do your duty and teh world is yours! a thought for our times…
Thanks for sharing about your Great Grand mother!
A woman of substance indeed!!
I can visualize her Up There, smiling and saying,”I knew he had it in him….and what a wonderful letter he has written for K !”…
Deepest respects and namaskaars to your great grandmom’s memory. And what a great way for K to learn…..
Truly inspiring… To complete the dreams one does need the accessories for that.. you can complete your dreams at any age, at any time…!!
Thanks for sharing, beautiful written about a beautiful woman!!
sweet and touching post .. !!!
🙂
some people manage to leave behind an influence that is everlasting…thank you for sharing your life’s inspiration with us! and yes, she sure is watching!
One of the most heart-warming and beautiful posts I’ve read in a long time… it has the fragrance of by-gone era as well as the roots of our value-system…
It reminded me of my ancestors – of people I knew and didn’t… of teachings I listended to and didn’t… of things I felt and didn’t…
This post left me with a rush of emotions of all that we are and all that we could be…
Thanks for this, Kavi…
Kavi, this post is a lovely tribute to a lovely woman! You’re very lucky to have had her in your life!
She’s pretty & very stylish even in those days! Probably you’ve inherited your intelligence and good looks from her!
She was indeed a lucky woman to have all those opportunities in the olden times and lucky also to have great grand-children who still remember her so fondly and with great “Sharddha”!
wonderfully sweet post…
ashok
NS Iyer : Thank you sir ! She was my great grand mother !
Naperville Mom: Yes. She was my great grand mother. My mothers grand mother !! thanks
Anon : That was one heck of a insightful comment. In the olden days, with so much going for them without technology, i guess life was simple ! And in the many generations that pass by, in the family, very few stand out ! Like hers ! You are right. Your comment makes me ponder hard !
Sujatha : I didnt know that. About that luck part. I just knew that it added a touch of glamour and beauty to her ! 🙂
SSQuo : Welcome here. Thanks for that generous comment. Her presence was imposing in a very subtle way. And ofcourse, i knew she intended the best for me.
Priya : thank you ! Thats very generous of you to say that.
Suma : Thank you ! Yes. It indeed is valid ! All through the years !!
SGD : Thank you ! Yes. A lady of great substance ! Indeed
Ugich Konitari : Thank you ! I am humbled by that comment. I think the generations to come need to pick up from threads like these !
Swatantra : Thank you ! Yes dreams can be scaled. any time !
dinu : thank you !
nachi : Bang on brother !! She left a mark on me. And she is an inspiration ! To date. And i believe she is watching. Indeed!
Dewdrop : That seems to me like deeply felt comment. Thank you. I am humbled by that. She left a mark on me. And in a quaint way, i see that this post has got you thinking.
“It reminded me of my ancestors – of people I knew and didn’t… of teachings I listended to and didn’t… of things I felt and didn’t…’
You cant get more honest than that ! thanks again for that lovely comment.
Manju : Thank you ! Yes indeed. I am lucky !
Kusum : Oh boy, she was sylish indeed !! Hers was a complete life. Of great joy, pain, suffering yet continously moving on !
And about the one thing that i did not inherit from her are her charming good looks !! 🙂 Or so i would like to believe !
Ashok : thank You !!