Mom's home nurse Manju has shifted to her new compact home built with government funds, their savings and some aid from us in cash and kind. Looking at pictures of the house with marble flooring, new shiny curtains, and appliances that make life easier, one would mistake it for a rich man's house. But it is a house built painstakingly with their sweat and blood, and dignity that has been made possible by the communist movement in Kerala which gave the oppressed classes equal rights and the freedom to dream of a better life.
Kerala lost one of its revolutionary stalwarts last week - former CM Achuthanandan, better known by his initials VS. Someone who came from modest and difficult surroundings, and who fought for the rights of the backward castes and classes and that of labourers. The massive crowds at his funeral though he died at the ripe old age of 101 was unprecedented. We might call him the last good communist but it might be better to say the last popular good communist.
If Manju's progeny can cut a birthday cake like any other rich kid or buy new clothes for Onam, the struggles of these mass leaders have not gone in vain.
M's husband Vish... spent 10 years of his growing up years in my family home. His father was our family help, a kind of man Friday who had some odd job around the house on a daily basis. He kept the yard and the fields tidy. Vish first came to chase away birds in the fields during sowing season. He then took up residence with us on granny's suggestion sleeping on the big table in the work area that doubled up as an ironing table on weekends. For the young lad of 10, it meant three square meals, wholesome and tasty, cooked under granny's guidance. He went to the government school nearby but also tended to the cattle at home, fetching hay for them or stoking the fire under the huge cauldron that cooked their special meal of puliyarikanji. Vish was also our playmate, joining us for football or badminton. He taught the masters' sons cycling and tree climbing as they would lovingly vouch years later. But books and studies were not his cup of tea, and he spent 2 years in every class. He quit goodbye to books after failing in Class 10.
Today his elder daughter is doing well in school, and her teachers expect her to pass with distinction in grade 10.