Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Real Award

Till the age of sixteen i was with my parents. Then after marriage settled at my husband's house. Being the first daughter-in-law of the house, I had much more responsibilities and more expectations from me. It was a very difficult job of balancing between responsibilities and expectations. They were very long days and hardly any time to think of anything else than dometic chorus.

Life was going on. We became parents of three children. Though we are not that educated, we gave them education as much we could afford. More than anything we trained them to live a life based on values.

Time ticked fast. The family tree grew and now i have little cute great grand children. Not much work to do at home. Ten years back, when I was 68, I was looking for a hobby. I have seen my papa writing in our mother tongue konkani, and preparing a hand-written magazine and distributing it among few konkani people. Those magazines changed from hand-to-hand and more people read them.

It is more than 50 years after my marriage. I have lot of free time. Nothing much to do. My son encouraged me to write something for a konkani magazine just started publishing in 1998. First I wrote a very short story and sent to the editor, requesting to publish. The readers accepted it. Then I started writing regularly. Now ten years passed. I got some awards for my writing. But my interest was to get a place in reader's heart.

Last month I attended a function celebrating tenth anniversary of the konkani magazine. They gave me two awards . My first novel in konkani also got released in that function. I was sitting in the audience and watching the program. On my way out, a middle-aged woman came to me with respect glittering in her eyes. She touched my feet as a gesture of respect and spoke to me about how she liked reading my stories and valued the morals in my stories. She came to the function just to see me and if possible, convey her appreciation and respect. When I came to know that she was just discharged from hospital and came all the way to meet me, I didn't know how to respond. I lost searching for words.

I had no words to express at that moment. No award can give me such a satisfaction, and I consider those gestures and words from that woman as the best award for my writing.

12 comments:

Jaishree Iyer said...

A woman with values, confidence, passion has got an award..Cheers to u Madam!!! Hearty congratulations On your Awards:)

Sum Raj said...

ammumma...u have a nice talent and u deserve these awards..hope i would have too joined the award funtion :(...keep writing ammumma...lov u hamesha..

Sum Raj said...

ammumma...a small award from my side tooo...:)

Cham said...

Wow, that is so touching, excellent work from your side ur write up has moved so many young hearts! Congrats :)

Uma said...

Wow, this is an inspirational article. Congratulations all on the awards! You deserve those and more. Best wishes and regards...:)

Recipeswap said...

wow good to read about you and your achievements.You are an inspiration.

Andhra Flavors said...

really inspiring article. congratulation on all awards

amritha said...

Dear maayee,
You may not know me. But I remember having met you during the last Year's Ganapati festival at Sion GSB Seva Mandal. That time I just passed it as the usual meeting with one of our relatives.
A couple of days back , to be precise on Diwali day, my sister-in law, Girija Naik , presented me the Book " Ayodhya', me being an avid reader of books, stories novels etc. Seeing the cover page (front) I could not make out that you were the author. But on turning the back side, I was surprised to see that you were the author. It was the first Konkani book (malayalam script) which I have read and after reading Sumitrakkaas story, literally I could not control my tears ,towards the end, when she leaves us forever. May the family be able to continue the values instilled in them by Sumitrakka. Hope you will take up a sequel in future . I would be eager to read that.
with best wishes and warm regards

Amritha Girish Pai
Shiv shakti CHS, Sector-17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai

AnandiMumbai said...

Thank you very much for all the comments.

Thank you jaishree for your nice words.

Suma, I imagined that all my loved ones were there in the award function... you too.

Cham, If the writeup moves young hearts, what other award I need for my work?

Uma, thanks for the nice words...

n33ma, happy to see your nice comments...

andhra flavors, thank you very much...

dear amritha, your comments were touching... I remember meeting you at gsb ganesh puja function, with girija and pai mam family... many people have told me over phone their opinion about the novel... but your words are so touching and happy to see that the values that the novel highlights are understood by the readers... thank you very much for your comments. i will try my best to continue writing.. and your suggestion for a sequel.. i am thinking on it after reading your comment...

chitra said...

came across your novel given to me by Jyothi kamath.though intially i found it difficult to read konkani in malayalam i found it was very very absorbing, and as pages went by reading became easy too . what i want to appreciate is the importance given to RELATIONSHIPS and LOVE. In this present world there is lot of competition bet' each and everybody. i did finish the novel in about 3-4 sittings and i did read some portions to my husband also as he doesn't know how to read mal.he too was appreciating your effort.
i only wish the world will become as beautiful as you have mentioned if everyone is concerned and not selfish.But we live in a diff. world. hence i liked Ayodhya very much. it was like a whiff of fresh air.
I appreciate you a lot for going in for this literary work at this age. hats off

AMRITHA said...

Dear maayee,
Sorry to know about the sudden demise of your dear brother. We got to know only now about this tragedy. Our Hearty Condolences ...

I got your second masterpiece from Girija . It was so nice of you to consider me for reading and giving my opinion. I have started reading and plan to finish it by this week-end. Another family story beautifully weaved intricately...... Have reached till Part five. Will get back to you soon.
Regards to all.
amritha pai

INDIAN said...

This comment is not particular to this POST, but so much ENTHRALLED By your SPIRITS, Ammumma! I always see retired employees, educated, highly lived people either gather talk about stupid politics and Do nothing about it.. or Sit in dark expecting their 'somebody' to give attention... I know youngsters are neglecting elders.. But as Elders, had seen life, They could again become Mother to motherless, father to fatherless, brother to brotherless...Teacher to Orphans.. Doctors/nurses to Sick... By creating their own life again... Come out of clutches of these (neglecting) relationships and build new country/world with BOLD decisions, nothing to loose kinda FEARLESS...A lot of change can be brought to this COUNTRY!.. and SLAP THE YOUNGSTERS who are neglecting them with their activities... It could be social, political, econonmical,educational, or Spiritual...
MAY GOD BLESS ALL THOSE ENERGIZED ELDERS 100YEARS... !!
WITH LOVE,
INDIAN grand Kid!