BALAMANI CHITTI , A LONG INNINGS AT KALPATHY

                                            An obituary for Balamani

Balamani,my chitti from my fathers side is no more. She lived and ruled the ancestoral house at Kalpathy for more than 50 long years .Thus she is synonym with the house.

Every life we come across and become close with we learn and understand some life lessons.

I came to know Balamani when I went to see her at Kalengkulankari , a small village near Palghat. She and her brother one of the last children of a village school teacher who had passed away were living in penury.

She agreed to marry Mani chitappa, as was the marriage those days for the security of living out of penury.

By nature she was a rebel. fighter nut full of spirit and wit.

Mani chitappa left the worldly abode early and she and chelli perimma lived together for some years, till perimma was brought to Mumbai in her end years when she she was ailing.

Now Balamani was left with the home and herself bereft of money. For quite long she had made the house boys hostel and was making food and taking care of the boys. She was rewarded with money and companionship of the boys.

But as wheels rolled, she started becoming feeble and often sick and she could not take care of the boys any more.

She used to then beg for money from relatives and family thought of giving off the house.

Thats when feelings for our root s woke up in me as most of the members of the next generation are getting scattered and not connected any more to their heritage and culture.

Hence i bought it from Balamani thanks to the donation of my athai's family headed by his eldest son Kannan who decided to relinquish the property to Balamani.

So I could buy half share of the property .

I made it than more livableT , by going for a major remodelling, closed the muthhom made it into a room, brought bath and  toilet inside the house, redid the roof  and flooring. water was brought into the kitchen. the well was motored,2 rooms were built in the back for later safety, also from then on I was providing extra to her needs with inflation she required more money for her up keep.

The matters went on, we thought she will live for long inspite of her health problem.

I could spend few quality time in the house and Balamani used to regale me with stories of the past with her wit and humor.

She could then spent last part of her life comfortably.

However the one up has given her the final call and she has left this world and her 'sangarsh over in life.

She was part of the house and ancestoral house. Self and Ravi my son  went and gave sent off to her mortal remains.

I thought of sharing this with you all. 

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