AN UNDAUNTED VILLAGE GIRL

At 10.30pm on 21.10.2010 I saw a program 'NIJAM'in Sun TV.It was about a girl in a small village somewhere [I tuned a bit late]in Tamilnadu who was not blessed by Nature at birth itself with both upper limbs..with blunted shoulders.Her name is PARAMESWARI.I was totally stunned to see this girl performing all sorts of household chores with extreme facility,with much precision and grace by training and tuning her legs, feet and toes.
She does cooking,even for 10 people,cuts vegetables with an upturned big sickle[I was mesmerised by her cutting the slipping tomatoes with the help of her toes that I forgot to notice how she held the sickle in a steady position!]
She is able to deftly tie a tight knot by collecting loose sticks of a broomstick after taking two rounds the jute rope.quite an unbelievable act!
She sticks a tilak at the right spot between her brows;
Washes her clothes by applying soap cake,beating them on the stone with effortless swings in the air,wrings them,dries them,folds into four folds,and puts all into a bureau neatly;
Washes her face with soap cake,cleans without any trace of the lather .
O..she lights a matchstick,kindles flame in a kerosene pump stove and pumps it to full pressure as powerfully as any of a full limbed individual can do.
She does all these sporting an innocent smile without cursing the god;
She draws kolam standing on one leg after dusting and wetting the area in front of her house...she says she is capable of drawing kolams of any size and dots,even without any rehearsals.
She is said to assist her father at his small eatery also.
She writes clearly on notebooks and slates.
She does all these works mainly with the help of her big toes and first toes of her legs.
It is beyond explanation how she holds the kolam powder in between these toes and expertly draws lines and dots.
It is to be seen to believe.
She asks why should people resort to end their lives-god has created us like this...it is he to take us back..till such time we have to live as ably as we could.
It is told by villagers that she expects only minimum help from others ,that too for lowering hot vessels from oven,for dressing her,combing,etc.,which is beyond her.she keeps her feet clean as they are her implements.
She practises hard and thinks that with hard practice nothing is beyond her.
I remained speechless for a long time after viewing the program.
I also felt why the govts.,which are happily squandering public money on worthless ribbon-cuttings and in lavish decorations for the mere publicity of ministers and politicians, should not think of helping this hapless girl who appeals for a job to keep herself engaged and for her livelihood.., as years go by when her parents would be nomore.
Her brother and sister say that parameswari helped them in the cause of higher education through her diligent work.
Any one listening..?thanks Sun TV.
They should rebroadcast this program in prime time so that many people would be able to view this wonderful girl.
There may be some good souls who may offer help to this girl who lives in the obscurity of a remote village,with no publicity, like a small earthern lamp kept deep inside a big pitcher.
THIS LONG ESSAY IS MY HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THIS UNDAUNTED VILLAGE GIRL.
I SALUTE HER INDOMITABLE SPIRIT MILLION TIMES.
--S.CHANDRAKALAADHAR

SEARCH THROUGH TORN LIFE

O my dear!

The Misery has a tight grasp
Of my shoulders.
The end opposite.?
Must only be Joy!

To the extent possible
I rid the thorns
From piercing your soles.

That day will dawn..

Then..
The torments underwent
As roots into our hearts..
The joys
As the blossoms on our faces..

Till then..
Through my torn life
Let us patiently search for
Our golden skies!

...S.CHANDRA KALADHAR