Mullu mama

A man who lived life on his own terms. A unique person in our family. Someone who introduced us to more than middle class life. Someone who was larger than life.  A man who began life with great ideals. A person of great intelligence  who could grasp situations in a minute. A person of great charm. A man with a wonderful sense of humor who could mock all bad situations and make you laugh.  A person who could talk to anyone, child or adult at each person’s level. A person who introduced the family to politics. And to Annadurai. And to  Karunanidhi. A mesmerizing public speaker.

Maybe  a man who was a bad husband and a bad father. A person who didn’t want to be tied down by domestic concerns. But a person who was interested in people and each  member of the family. A man who turned up for all family functions, popped up when ever a person was sick or died. A person who hated strife. Who disliked family dramas and did his best to diffuse them. Who would have hated the discussions going on around his bedside.

He took a lot, assumed a lot, made people curse and run with his demands.  But he also gave.

Since we are being denied a funeral where we can all meet, talk, grieve and let it out, let us share in this forum our good memories.

I remember the excitement when he came back from foreign trips in those early days. Bolts of cloth turned into a large number of uniform dresses for all the girls which set us apart. The ‘sorakkai’ shaped radio which still lies upstairs in a cupboard in Sivananda colony.  The crazy days  of the MLC elections which ranged high whoever had exams. The many car trips. The ease with which he drove.  A 2’ walkie talkie doll which he carried for Dachu all the way from Australia.  

We’ve lost a big chunk of our childhoods.

And he’s gone the day his beloved elder sister died, twenty years ago. Im glad I had the chance to see him while he was still alive, barely though and say 'mama' for the last time.